Posted by:
CA girl
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Date: January 07, 2014 04:18PM
What was the hardest Mormon belief, practice, dream whatever for you to let go of when you left Mormonism? I think dropping a lot of it is a relief (tithing, callings, guilt) but some of it is harder to let go of. Some things become a part of you like certain Mormon-approved hobbies (quilting, for example) or a preference for certain foods (cold caffeine won out over hot caffeine with me for years). Those things don't need to be ditched. But other things you realize are bad for you but you just can't overcome (like feeling guilty about certain things.)
For me, the last lingering bad Mormon brainwashing that I still struggle with is the idea of a one-and-only, Saturday's Warrior style, temple marriage, happily ever after. Clearly, the way the Mormons sell it, it's a mirage created to lure vulnerable young teen girls into their proper role as baby makers for Jesus. But even though I know with every intellectual brain cell that life doesn't work out that way - that no one needs a man (or woman) to complete them or validate their existence - it's still hard to get my inner Mormon teenager to drop it. Every other unholy and impure Mormon practice I've kicked to the curb relatively easily, keeping the good stuff as part of who I am. But the stupid Cinderella thing being a lie is still hard for me to accept. I really feel like, having been raised to believe a happy marriage and family is what will validate my existence, it's hard to accept a regular human marriage (even though mine is relatively good) and take responsibility for my own happiness.
So what do you still struggle with? And if you want to smack some common sense into me while you share, that would be appreciated too :)