Erica Bailey

And if you just stick with us, we'll tell you them. We'll help inform your path. We'll help show you, you know, your ideal path. And even better than just your ideal path, this is the path that God has ordained for you. And that's a really appealing message that can help reduce some of these concerns about what does it all mean.

And if you just stick with us, we'll tell you them. We'll help inform your path. We'll help show you, you know, your ideal path. And even better than just your ideal path, this is the path that God has ordained for you. And that's a really appealing message that can help reduce some of these concerns about what does it all mean.

And if you just stick with us, we'll tell you them. We'll help inform your path. We'll help show you, you know, your ideal path. And even better than just your ideal path, this is the path that God has ordained for you. And that's a really appealing message that can help reduce some of these concerns about what does it all mean.

On the one hand, it was incredibly challenging to feel that I had differing beliefs to the people around me and that voicing those beliefs could get me in trouble or get me sanctioned or at least have a stern talking to. At the same time, I really desperately wanted them to approve me and to accept me and to value me in the group.

On the one hand, it was incredibly challenging to feel that I had differing beliefs to the people around me and that voicing those beliefs could get me in trouble or get me sanctioned or at least have a stern talking to. At the same time, I really desperately wanted them to approve me and to accept me and to value me in the group.

On the one hand, it was incredibly challenging to feel that I had differing beliefs to the people around me and that voicing those beliefs could get me in trouble or get me sanctioned or at least have a stern talking to. At the same time, I really desperately wanted them to approve me and to accept me and to value me in the group.

And so I was willing to sort of not say what I was really thinking or hide those beliefs in exchange for maintaining these relationships that I valued so much.

And so I was willing to sort of not say what I was really thinking or hide those beliefs in exchange for maintaining these relationships that I valued so much.

And so I was willing to sort of not say what I was really thinking or hide those beliefs in exchange for maintaining these relationships that I valued so much.

There were lots of ways that you would be sort of disciplined, quote unquote, and usually it would be, you know, you're discussed and the church leader would mention something that happened in a sermon. So you're sort of, you know that he's talking about you. You feel that shame that everyone must know that you made the wrong choice.

There were lots of ways that you would be sort of disciplined, quote unquote, and usually it would be, you know, you're discussed and the church leader would mention something that happened in a sermon. So you're sort of, you know that he's talking about you. You feel that shame that everyone must know that you made the wrong choice.

There were lots of ways that you would be sort of disciplined, quote unquote, and usually it would be, you know, you're discussed and the church leader would mention something that happened in a sermon. So you're sort of, you know that he's talking about you. You feel that shame that everyone must know that you made the wrong choice.

Or you had really intense one-on-one conversations where you were reprimanded and told that what you had done was out of alignment. It wasn't the right path. It wasn't the godly path. And frustratingly, those individual conversations could happen at any time. And sort of one thing that you did one day could be right. And that could be the spiritual choice.

Or you had really intense one-on-one conversations where you were reprimanded and told that what you had done was out of alignment. It wasn't the right path. It wasn't the godly path. And frustratingly, those individual conversations could happen at any time. And sort of one thing that you did one day could be right. And that could be the spiritual choice.

Or you had really intense one-on-one conversations where you were reprimanded and told that what you had done was out of alignment. It wasn't the right path. It wasn't the godly path. And frustratingly, those individual conversations could happen at any time. And sort of one thing that you did one day could be right. And that could be the spiritual choice.

And then another day, it would be the wrong choice. And so you're always kind of questioning which decisions were right and which decisions were supported. And those who were sort of in the know would just know the right answers. And what I know now is that was a way to sort of control our behaviors. You never felt like you really were settled or secure. You always were looking for guidance.

And then another day, it would be the wrong choice. And so you're always kind of questioning which decisions were right and which decisions were supported. And those who were sort of in the know would just know the right answers. And what I know now is that was a way to sort of control our behaviors. You never felt like you really were settled or secure. You always were looking for guidance.

And then another day, it would be the wrong choice. And so you're always kind of questioning which decisions were right and which decisions were supported. And those who were sort of in the know would just know the right answers. And what I know now is that was a way to sort of control our behaviors. You never felt like you really were settled or secure. You always were looking for guidance.

And that was an incredibly confusing experience.

And that was an incredibly confusing experience.