Posted on 08/14/2016 8:12:48 PM PDT by iHikeinGodsCreation
http://www.christianpost.com/news/olympic-swimming-star-michael-phelps-says-rick-warrens-purpose-driven-life-saved-him-from-suicide-167539/
American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, revealed that he suffered a crisis of identity two years ago, which led him to consider ending his life, but it was Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life that gave him hope.
ESPN reported that Phelps was "struggling to figure out who he was outside the pool" in 2014, which led him to heavy drinking and wondering whether his life was worth living.
"I thought the world would just be better off without me," Phelps admitted. "I figured that was the best thing to do — just end my life."
The 22-time medal winner, who is also set to compete at the Summer games in Rio, said in a seperate interview with NBC's "Today" that his DUI arrest in 2014 led to a "downward spiral" that left him feeling the lowest he had ever been.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Second, it really really pisses me off that he even has the GALL to tell this to the world. There are people that aren’t even 1% as well off as this doofus that don’t go shouting to the world they are going to kill themselves.
It takes the spotlight off SERIOUS mental illness. There are people that scavenge in garbage cans to eat that aren’t yelling to the world about their suicidal thoughts. But Mr. Michael Phelps, 23 gold medal Olympic Champion has the GALL to tell me he thought about killing himself? Give me a break. What a whiny little twerp.
No, because a 23 gold medal Olympic Champion would almost certainly not kill himself. Him saying he thought about it is a huge joke and he almost certainly didn’t have a plan.
I can just see him sitting wearing his 23 gold medals and the rest of his silver and bronzes with his head in his hands saying I think I’m gonna kill myself. I can’t even put into words how repugnant I think that is.
The human condition is like that. He also talks about how he got out of it. But if an Olympic champion can't catch a break over an existential crisis he beat back, who can? You know none of us are getting out of this life alive, right?
Sure are some tough guys around here.
Gold Medal Olympic Star doesn’t think his life worth living.
Doesn’t take brains to swim.
I’ve noticed with a lot of athletes and artists that whatever makes them great also makes them a bit crazy.
I only fault him for making news about it. I bet he didn’t even have a plan of how he would do it.
There are people with serious mental illness out there contemplating their PLAN FOR SUICIDE with zero Olympic medals.
And what if he's telling the truth? What if, despite "all he's got going for him," he really DID get that depressed? After all, why should he lie? Attention? He's got as much as he can handle. Fame, fortune, babes, health? All check.
But what if that's not enough? What if it's BECAUSE of all that success, that his unhappiness scared and depressed him so much? What if he was like you, and couldn't understand why he wasn't happy? You still dream of it, and tell yourself you'd be happy if you had it like he does. But what if you're wrong? Maybe that's why he pisses you off, because he IS saying you're wrong, that all that WON'T make you happy.
Maybe, just maybe, a 23 time gold medal, world record holding, Olympic champion ISN'T a wimp.
Maybe he's just reporting back what he found at the so-called "top."
And maybe it scares you.
Tee hee
Read the article - he GIVES PEOPLE the way out he found. And his medals didn't help him, so he's not saying anyone needs them. He's HELPING people here!
Here is Wisdom.
He needs to marry his son’s mother and give the child the stability he didn’t have growing up.
Glad he found the right book at the right time, and chose to live through what he was dealing with, talking about it. He’s helping others by being public. God bless him.
Thoughts?
That book (I read the whole thing) almost made me commit suicide!
I thought it was useless. I think Rick Warren is useless.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile, so if it helped him, or anyone, I’m thankful for that.
Didn’t I just read here on FR that it was much more than just pot? Meth, coke or heroin????
I don’t like Warren but am happy if Phelps truly found God through his writings(Something I think is possible in spite of his compromises). As Paul said in Phillipians “I rejoice if Christ is preached...” regardless
The reverse of "top" is "pot".
David Boudia went through almost the exact same experience after Beijing. Makes one wonder if there is not some type of lasting mental harm induced by the stress and training at such a young age.
Could also be they had pedophiles for coaches.
Every day of Phelps' life had probably been scheduled for him around swimming. He was "a swimmer". When his time opened up it was probably overwhelming. He obviously felt lost. Wasn't he only 21 two years ago?
I'm very happy for those of you who have gone from phase to phase in this life with no upset. Some people are stronger than others. None of this has to do with money.
Agreed
Thanks Pastor as always your insights are truly appreciated.
He was looking at life without swimming and seeing that he had not developed anything else in his life. His foundation was sand. Gold medals don’t mean anything to a spiritually starving person.
He was without a vision for his life and without faith that he could find that vision. Anyone can find themselves in that situation after some difficult times and life changes.
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