I read the book and have learned its content over decades in a 12 step program to recover from codependence, but hearing Liz's experience in discovering the information re-enlivened it for me. That's how program works; sharing our experience, strength and hope helps ourselves and others.
I'm a big Liz Gilbert fan, and I've already read the book. I'm having a really hard time, however, wrapping my head around thinking of (at least some) kinds of abuse as a gift. Esp. after listening to some of the survivors of Jefferey Epstein's horrific abuse recently. I don't think many abuse survivors would say this is what they needed to evolve.
I agree. But as a narrative it can be helpful for people who are lucky enough to have some ownership left after the abuse, illness or trauma. It gives them the right to bend the experience in a direction of their choice, instead of that of the inflictor.
But the effect of war, torture and abuse can be so great that saying "You asked management for this" only adds to the suffering. Liz has an amazing capacity with words to address this feedback and I trust she will. From what we know of her, she will keep improving and come up with completer thoughts.
On a personal level, I love the direction she is taking in her life and I am inspired by it. Surrendering to who she calls God (I call her Fortune, the Universe or What Is) while still taking responsibility for the steps you take, is, I think, the way to go. To me God is not love. I think the Act of surrender to What Is, the only state that is completely free from ANY narrative, returns a sensation of Belonging that we have come to call Love.
This reminded me that some lessons come because we must stay. I don’t get to leave anymore; I have to show up, breathe, hold my boundaries, and evolve. Even when I’d rather have the gelato.
Wow, whoever writes these posts at the Soul Boom Team does an amazing job. I'm in the "Lizdom" so to speak (aka a Lovelet) so I've heard a lot about this book and already read it, and that was some new and interesting info. Looking forward to the podcast!
💞 🫶 🌟 Liz Gilbert is a fabulous Earth School student and guide. I love following her Letters From Love substack and All the Way to the River is a genuine Liz gift 🎁. Honest, reflective, promising. Let's Keep Going, Liz!
The podcast brought me back into the world of Elizabeth Gilbert, thank you. I point women to "Eat, Pray, Love" all the time because there are so many lines she has about how the Divine speaks to us, that we don't listen to. "Commited" was a great expansion of that in a different way. I haven't read the rest, but they are all on list now because her perspective in this podcast is so compelling!!
I am a poolside Lovelet and was delighted to see Liz in Paramus. I wanted to shout out 'Where's Pepita?' 🫶 I totally enjoyed this book (I have only read Big Magic). Liz is refreshing, honest, curious and a natural Earth School explorer and guide! I do wonder that if one has not experienced 'the rooms', they may not find it as enriching an experience as I. A compelling read, that enlightened my understanding of codependency. ✨️⭐️✨️ Keep going Liz 💞 JW
I read this and felt the river of my own life shift beneath me.
What if all the heartbreaks, the moments I thought were failures, the people who walked away - what if they were all teachers? What if every “loss” I’ve carried was a gift, disguised in disguise, pushing me closer to knowing who I truly am?
I’ve chased attention, clung to love that didn’t last, begged for validation in spaces that weren’t mine to occupy and yet, somehow, each step led me to a quiet understanding: I am enough. My scars, my choices, my messy heart - they are all part of my curriculum in this Earth School we call life.
I wonder: are we brave enough to look at those moments not as punishments, but as lessons? Are we willing to sit in the river of our own experiences and finally let the water carry us forward, instead of holding onto the stones?
Thank you, Liz, for giving language to what so many of us feel but cannot name. Here’s to the lessons, the heartbreaks, and the freedom to finally release what no longer serves us.
well... Liz's sex and love addiction is not a secret exactly. It was portrayed in the movie for Eat pray love in one of the most brilliant, funny and tragic clips ever made (where she is talking in front of an SLAA group, which I do not believe was in the book. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNNlbhHp0co
I read the book and have learned its content over decades in a 12 step program to recover from codependence, but hearing Liz's experience in discovering the information re-enlivened it for me. That's how program works; sharing our experience, strength and hope helps ourselves and others.
I'm a big Liz Gilbert fan, and I've already read the book. I'm having a really hard time, however, wrapping my head around thinking of (at least some) kinds of abuse as a gift. Esp. after listening to some of the survivors of Jefferey Epstein's horrific abuse recently. I don't think many abuse survivors would say this is what they needed to evolve.
I agree. But as a narrative it can be helpful for people who are lucky enough to have some ownership left after the abuse, illness or trauma. It gives them the right to bend the experience in a direction of their choice, instead of that of the inflictor.
But the effect of war, torture and abuse can be so great that saying "You asked management for this" only adds to the suffering. Liz has an amazing capacity with words to address this feedback and I trust she will. From what we know of her, she will keep improving and come up with completer thoughts.
On a personal level, I love the direction she is taking in her life and I am inspired by it. Surrendering to who she calls God (I call her Fortune, the Universe or What Is) while still taking responsibility for the steps you take, is, I think, the way to go. To me God is not love. I think the Act of surrender to What Is, the only state that is completely free from ANY narrative, returns a sensation of Belonging that we have come to call Love.
This reminded me that some lessons come because we must stay. I don’t get to leave anymore; I have to show up, breathe, hold my boundaries, and evolve. Even when I’d rather have the gelato.
Wow, whoever writes these posts at the Soul Boom Team does an amazing job. I'm in the "Lizdom" so to speak (aka a Lovelet) so I've heard a lot about this book and already read it, and that was some new and interesting info. Looking forward to the podcast!
Fabulous 💕📚💕
Nice one.
💞 🫶 🌟 Liz Gilbert is a fabulous Earth School student and guide. I love following her Letters From Love substack and All the Way to the River is a genuine Liz gift 🎁. Honest, reflective, promising. Let's Keep Going, Liz!
The podcast brought me back into the world of Elizabeth Gilbert, thank you. I point women to "Eat, Pray, Love" all the time because there are so many lines she has about how the Divine speaks to us, that we don't listen to. "Commited" was a great expansion of that in a different way. I haven't read the rest, but they are all on list now because her perspective in this podcast is so compelling!!
Excited about this conversation!
I am a poolside Lovelet and was delighted to see Liz in Paramus. I wanted to shout out 'Where's Pepita?' 🫶 I totally enjoyed this book (I have only read Big Magic). Liz is refreshing, honest, curious and a natural Earth School explorer and guide! I do wonder that if one has not experienced 'the rooms', they may not find it as enriching an experience as I. A compelling read, that enlightened my understanding of codependency. ✨️⭐️✨️ Keep going Liz 💞 JW
I read this and felt the river of my own life shift beneath me.
What if all the heartbreaks, the moments I thought were failures, the people who walked away - what if they were all teachers? What if every “loss” I’ve carried was a gift, disguised in disguise, pushing me closer to knowing who I truly am?
I’ve chased attention, clung to love that didn’t last, begged for validation in spaces that weren’t mine to occupy and yet, somehow, each step led me to a quiet understanding: I am enough. My scars, my choices, my messy heart - they are all part of my curriculum in this Earth School we call life.
I wonder: are we brave enough to look at those moments not as punishments, but as lessons? Are we willing to sit in the river of our own experiences and finally let the water carry us forward, instead of holding onto the stones?
Thank you, Liz, for giving language to what so many of us feel but cannot name. Here’s to the lessons, the heartbreaks, and the freedom to finally release what no longer serves us.
This is beautifully expressed. Thank you 🤍
Instamacy!!!!
well... Liz's sex and love addiction is not a secret exactly. It was portrayed in the movie for Eat pray love in one of the most brilliant, funny and tragic clips ever made (where she is talking in front of an SLAA group, which I do not believe was in the book. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNNlbhHp0co
anyway -- keep up the good work, Rainn