Tag Archives: writing

You Matter, No Matter Who Notices

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you matter, no matter who notices

Have you ever wondered if what you do in the world matters? I have struggled with this for a long time, especially when it comes to creating and sharing content with others (which I do A LOT). What complicates this further is that my worst traumas came when I offered my strengths and love to others and my efforts were met with rejection, abuse, and abandonment. I am currently taking a Facebook sabbatical to figure all of this out as I dive into therapy and writing my Memoir.

If you’re like me and wonder if anything you do online or offline matters in the grand scheme of things, I invite you to listen to the podcast episode called A Brief Guide to the Undernet. Listening to this episode brought me a measure of healing as I realized that how many people notice me is not the measure of my worth. With the strong emphasis on views, followers, and likes in the online environment, it is a breath of fresh air to realize how none of this is a true reflection of value.

May we all know that who we are and what we do matters, no matter how much outside applause we receive.

May we all learn to applaud our own efforts.

 

Forest Benedict, LMFT, SATP, author of Life After Lust: Stories & Strategies for Sex & Pornography Addiction Recovery. Please follow Forest on the following platforms: Newsletter, Youtube, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and SHARE this valuable content with others. Thank you!

 

 

 

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My Bittersweet Goodbyes

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My Last LifeSTAR Blog Post_ Forest Benedict's Bittersweet Goodbye

Today is a day of bittersweet tears. I am letting go of old dreams and grabbing hold of new ones. I invite you to read my new blog post called My Last LifeSTAR Blog Post: Forest Benedict’s Bittersweet Goodbye to learn more about some significant changes in my writing and career journey. May we all follow the paths that lead to the most meaning.

THANK YOU all for your continued support!
Forest
Forest Benedict, LMFT, SATP, author of Life After Lust: Stories & Strategies for Sex & Pornography Addiction Recovery. Please follow Forest on the following platforms: Newsletter, Youtube, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, StumbleUpon, and SHARE this valuable content with others. Thank you!
 

2018: New Year, New Goals (What Are Yours?)

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New year

It’s 2018! Can you believe it? With a new year comes new goals…have you made your 2018 goals yet? If so, I would love to hear them. When it comes to Life After Lust, I’ve created some ambitious yet attainable goals. I expect 2018 to be a year of amazing opportunities and growth. I will work hard to create such a year.

If you’re interested, here are my 2018 writing & business goals:

  1. Produce & publish the Life After Lust Audiobook
  2. Disperse all Audiobook Kickstarter rewards
  3. Create Life After Lust online course or program
  4. Write & publish book #2 (A workbook or Life After Lust Volume 2)
  5. VLOG monthly
  6. Life After Lust Retreat or Intensive
  7. Weekly engagement in the Life After Lust Community Facebook Group
  8. Expand distribution of all formats of Life After Lust
  9. At least one paid speaking opportunity per month (check out the Life After Lust Tour!)
  10. Reach 4,000 copies of Life After Lust in circulation (all formats combined)

As I’ve connected more with myself and watched the impact of Life After Lust, I’ve realized that the career I most want to pursue is that of a writer/author (I will still be a therapist). This year, I plan to move more seriously in that direction. I look forward to sharing more with you as that journey unfolds.

Wishing you success with your most important goals this year.
Happy New Year!
Forest

–Forest Benedict, LMFT, SATP, is the author of Life After Lust: Stories & Strategies for Sex & Pornography Addiction Recovery. Please follow Forest on the following platforms: Newsletter, Youtube, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, StumbleUpon, and SHARE this valuable content with others. Thank you!

Writing “Life After Lust” – An Interview with Forest Benedict

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radio podcast

Recently, I had the opportunity to do an interview with John Vonhof for the Writers & Authors on Fire podcast. In the interview I talked about my new book Life After Lust and the writing process. I shared some of my story and talked about the “creative risks” I took in writing this unique book. This is an excellent podcast for writers and others who are interested in the topic and book. This podcast is somewhat faith-based but open to all audiences.

Click here to listen to the podcast

 

Enjoy!

–Forest Benedict, MA, SATP-C, LMFT, Clinical Director of LifeSTAR of the Central Valley. If you benefited from this article, please “follow” me on this blog and on Twitter, “like” me on Facebook, and SHARE this article and blog with others. Thank you!

 

Life After Lust Now Available for Pre-Order on Amazon

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I’m grateful to announce that my new book “Life After Lust” is available on Amazon for pre-order of the Kindle edition. Click here to reserve your copy!

I’m excited to share that in the 24 hours my book has been available, it is now #2 in the “sexual addiction” category on Amazon, over Out of the Shadows (Carnes) and Every Young Man’s Battle!

Also, for those interested I have launched a book website, listing all of my book endorsements.

I look forward to sharing book content with you all very soon.

Back to work on getting my softcover done and getting this resource out there….any efforts in helping me get the word out about the book are greatly appreciated!

–Forest Benedict, MA, SATP-C, LMFT, Clinical Director of LifeSTAR of the Central Valley If you benefited from this article, please “follow” us on this blog and on Twitter, “like” us on Facebook, and SHARE this article and blog with others. Thank you!

 

Forest’s Published Articles – A New Resource Page

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Forest's Published Articles

I have compiled a list of all of my published articles, which can now be found here. It is my prayer that those who read them would experience high hope and deep healing.

–By Forest Benedict

Please FOLLOW my blog and find me on Facebook and Twitter for future posts and announcements about my UPCOMING BOOK

From Conviction to Courage to Change

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flash lightning tree

This week I did something courageous. I followed creativity and conviction, spending hours crafting something meaningful. I hoped it would make a difference. It did! But not in the way I imagined. It made a difference in ME. I am entirely proud of myself for writing and risking; for taking a leap into alignment and authenticity. I know God is smiling too.

In life, we are not guaranteed a specific outer outcome. But when we do what’s right we can trust that the inner outcome will be worth all the effort.

Regardless of results, we can trust that no seed is wasted.

–By Forest Benedict

Please FOLLOW my blog and find me on Facebook and Twitter for future posts and announcements about my UPCOMING BOOK

 

How to Thrive in Your Strengths

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I am currently reading a book that is morphing my mindset about my work. The book “Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Steps Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance” is reorganizing my thinking. I am reconsidering how I can practice and develop my strengths in all I do.

One strength I am keenly aware of is my ability to write. This strength has been with me my entire life. This Monday morning I had an “aha” moment when I realized I was shelving a great opportunity to write about my passions. From this awareness, I emailed XXXChurch and asked them if I could start writing for them again, an opportunity that I had recently declined. Thankfully, I was welcomed back (stay tuned). One day later I submitted a fresh new article. Writing that piece was empowering. As I lived in my strength, I felt re-energized.

Let me ask….what strengths are you sitting on? I encourage you to check out the above video and reconnect with the dormant gifts inside of you that are antsy for their air time.

Using our strengths is the starting line of passionate living.

-By Forest Benedict, LMFT, SATP-C

 

 

The Great Blog Post I Didn’t Share

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This morning I gathered some worthy thoughts in written form and chose not to share them.

It took discipline.

The reason?

I’m working on my book.

Any gems of wisdom I unbury during this season will likely be planted there instead. It doesn’t mean I’ll avoid all posting (after all, here’s a post!) but the sweetest fruits of my labors will be saved for my work in progress. Then, when all is ready, it’ll be shared with the world in book form.

Stay tuned!

The Making of My First Book

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“There is one thing that every creative process has in common. Before a masterpiece comes into being, first it is exists in somebody’s mind. First and foremost, the artist has a dream, an intention, an inspiration. In the artist’s mind, he sees what he’s going to create before he creates it.” (Daniel Kolenda)

In gratitude and excitement, I want to announce the making of my first book! I have begun the process of transcribing this dream from my heart through my hands and I am committed to seeing this passion-driven project through.

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This book is…

An act of creativity

Inspired by love

A gift for the next generation

A dream come true

This book is just as much about what I create as it is about what God will create in me through the experience. May we all live out the creativity that our loving Creator has formed in our hearts, trusting that in the process God will create a masterpiece in us.

“God also has a dream for your life and he’s calling to that potential inside of you…”

–Forest Benedict

Please follow me on Facebook and this blog for further updates on the book.