Having nearly committed suicide in 2007 when I was 17 years old, suicide prevention is near and dear to my heart. Preventing suicides is my purpose and reason for being here.
Inspired by Neale Donald Walsch’s bestselling Conversations with God book series, I’ve had my own conversation with God about suicide prevention. The following is not from one conversation, but from a series of conversations and thoughts over time.
No, I don’t literally hear a voice talking to me. It’s more of an intuitive nudge and an imagined conversation. This conversation could be with God, and it could also be with my “Higher Self”. Whatever your particular beliefs are, please know that I respect them and I’m simply saying there is some kind of higher power at work here in me, you, and all of us. Like Neale points out, I’m no more special than anyone else. God also talks to you and to everyone else.
If the word “God” doesn’t work for you, a more secular term that fits here is “intuition”. Intuition is something we all have; it’s not a matter of who has intuition, but instead who listens to their intuition.
My Intuitive and Imagined Conversation With a Higher Power About My Purpose Being Suicide Prevention
Me: Suicide prevention is a scary topic for a lot of people, and it’s not always easy to talk about. I’ve even had times where I’ve felt a little bit of judgment towards others discussing the topic. I’m not a judgmental person but I’ve found those judgmental thoughts sometimes creeping in. Which is ironic, because I also get judged by others for talking about this – including sometimes even judging myself.
God: When you release judgment of others, you’ll release judgment of yourself. The concern is not with who judges you, but rather who you can help by talking about it.
Me: Even though I’m in my thirties now, the teenager inside me still wants to be the “cool kid” and accepted by others. By talking about suicide prevention, I’ve experienced that there are some people who will flat-out reject you for it before they even really know you. It’s a really tough topic to address, even with strong research and the best intentions.
God: Yes, there will be people who reject you for talking about it. But there will also be people who embrace you for who you are. The right people will accept you for helping others the way you’re meant to help others, without you having to be the “cool kid”.
Me: Do I have to talk about suicide prevention? Sometimes I’m happy to have this as my purpose, and other times I wish I had a different purpose.
God: You are not required to do anything, but suicide prevention is a great purpose for you because of your experiences and openness as well as your research skills. By having this be your purpose, you will help people who otherwise wouldn’t have received the right help at the right time and in the right way.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Let’s keep the conversation about suicide prevention going. Suicide rates are on the rise and now at an all-time high. Research shows that talking about this helps those who are struggling. Let’s keep discussing this and looking for solutions and ways to help.
As far as your purpose: keep listening to your intuition and the Higher Power that is your own True Self. If you haven’t found your purpose yet, don’t give up. As my friend Harvey Bailey, a coach and Reverend, says, “There’s something you can do that no one else can do exactly like you.”
Jeff Davis is an award-winning author, most recently publishing The Power of Authentic Leadership: Activating the 13 Keys to Achieving Prosperity Through Authenticity. If you’re interested in Jeff’s story, check out this post: You Have a Purpose in 2020: Dealing With Disappointment & Moving Past Setbacks.
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