From that first video , I started watching all his content and interviews . I listened to his book on Audible while walking my Rocket boy , finding myself relistening to the same chapter again and again on multiple occasions because of the depth of the concepts and how profound his message was to me .
But the most significant impact he ’ s had on me was helping me find my way back to God . You see , my mother belonged to a “ fire-and-brimstone ” church that believed in a very strict interpretation of the Bible . Some might call it a cult , but there was no financial play for the elders of the church . They adamantly believed in faith healing , unwilling to even take an aspirin for a headache , much less go to a doctor or a hospital . Children died from measles and women died in childbirth at home . They believed that you shouldn ’ t attempt to further yourself through education or striving . If you were fired from a job , it was a sin to look for another one ; you had to wait until one was offered to you . They didn ’ t store their treasures here on earth , and therefore wouldn ’ t buy homes , save money , or invest for retirement . They refused government assistance , unemployment , and Social Security . They wouldn ’ t wear seat belts in a car because doing so was a sign of your disbelief in God ’ s protection . ( Yet , oddly enough , they wouldn ’ t fly on an airplane because they felt that was tempting God . I didn ’ t say they were logical , folks .) Women were not supposed to be career-oriented but to find a good husband and raise 10 to 14 children , which was very common among the church families .
My father didn ’ t believe in that church ’ s rules , which put him at odds over and over again with my mother . He eventually found someone else and started having an affair that turned into a serious , ongoing relationship . He initiated a divorce from my mother , but because of her faith , she wouldn ’ t leave the house or agree to the separation . To get rid of us ( my mother , my younger sister , and me ), he waited until we were out of the house for a church event and locked us out of the home we were living in . Without a car , a job , any money , a credit card , or a place to live , it drove us deeper into the church to seek help . We moved from one church member ’ s home to another , homeless for a period of time .
Initially , I embraced the religion , but over time found myself questioning the validity of their interpretation of the Bible and its meaning . I left — very unceremoniously — with shame , and I started making it on my own . Most of you reading this will never know the psychological baggage a religious cult places on you . I felt immense guilt and fear for my choice , thinking I was a complete fool and sinner , unworthy of His love . While I never stopped believing , I certainly stopped reading the Bible , attending church , and meditating on God ’ s word . I was done with all of that .
This is why Dr . Peterson ’ s lectures were so profound for me . He provided me with a logical and meaningful way of understanding the Bible ’ s teachings — not through the lens of a religion and strict interpretation of God but through something far more profound . His lectures were also not a Pollyannaish and simplistic “ God is love ” blind following of the Word . He was able to connect the dots for me in a way no one has ever been able to do before .
Candidly , I felt people with faith were mostly fake , foolish , and weak individuals who were grasping for meaning in their lives . As a successful , driven woman , I didn ’ t need the Bible to find meaning or purpose . I didn ’ t need to trust in God to deliver me , and I certainly didn ’ t believe He would anyway .
The cult I belonged to repeatedly told me when I left that because I knew “ the truth ,” as they would say , God would punish me far more harshly than those who never knew Him . They meant it as a warning to not leave the church . Today , in reflecting upon that , I believe they are correct , but where I think they are wrong is in what “ the truth ” is . I do not think it is God Himself punishing us but us punishing ourselves by allowing resentment , jealousy , and our egos to get in the way of “ aiming up ,” as Dr . Peterson would say .
“ The truth ,” as I now see it , is that we are co-creators in our lives with Him , that we have a choice to either climb Jacob ’ s ladder , aiming up to take on more responsibility and be a force for good , remaining in a spirit of gratitude no matter what , or to become embittered , resentful , and cruel . And if we know that truth , then I suppose we are more harshly punished by our own hands .
My point in this personal story is not an attempt to convert you to any religion but to share with you a man who has had a profound , positive impact on my life and has given me a way of thinking about God and life ’ s meaning as I ’ ve never experienced before . I hope you will read the article about our conversation and watch the full interview I did with him . Scan the QR code to watch the video on our private MSP Success Facebook group page for free . Aim up !
Sincerely ,
Robin Robins Founder And CEO , MSP Success
Robin Robins is the CEO and Founder of TMT . TMT is the parent company of MSP Success .