Suppression as an Amish woman.

While many people leave strict cultures and communities hanging onto bitterness and resentment, I believe the opposite should happen. As long as one holds onto these emotions you simply cannot heal. And for that reason I choose to live my life differently and focus on all the good things I received from it.
You can find and read my whole story in my book Amish Renegade here. www.amazon.com...

[@CP-fo5sy]

Amen! This was so good! I'm thankful that you have a mature perspective and are helping others to heal and to take the good from their past and not poison the future with bitterness. Thank you for sharing this, and God bless you.

[@lizzieenswellness]

Thank you 🙏

[@CMBauer]

I disagree to an extent. I think anger is a normal part of the healing process. Even if the anger leads to rage and hatred for a time it can help you reclaim your power and influence change for your life. But I also agree you can’t live in it long term. (I’m not ex-Amish, but ex-Mormon)Anyway, I hope that came across respectfully. Love the content and excited to watch the documentary this weekend!

[@lizzieenswellness]

Being angry about it for a bit is normal and healthy. Anger can help you make the necessary changes. Being bitter and holding resentment is toxic for the mental and physical body and cannot help you heal..

[@chuckg2016]

You are truly an admirable woman with a message that can help so many. Respect!

[@lizzieenswellness]

Thank you

[@tomflinn9815]

Very well said. Anger has its season, but you can't hang on to it or it will destroy you. Eventually, you have to step back from it, find the good that you learned from the situation behind the anger, move forward with a new life, and keep learning and keep growing. Positive can be found in everything if you look for it. In EVERY aspect of life, there are positives and negatives. Everything brings a challenge for learning and growth. You determine what you do with it. I've said it before, those who lived in the Amish world and came into the modern world will be much better equipped to handle when things fall apart in the modern world than people like me who only know the modern world.

[@galedavis3198]

Lizzie you seem to be an intelligent, strong, beautiful young lady. Much respect and best wishes for you kid.

[@lizzieenswellness]

Thank you

[@robinallgold360]

Amen! Very well said.

[@lizzieenswellness]

Thank you

[@Magdalene777]

What I'm wondering is maybe you could do a video answering the question as someone from the Amish community how did you learn to avoid dangers once you were in the outside world? There are a lot of dangerous people and situations. Did you have any trouble recognizing that or have to learn new social skills to protect yourself?

[@DavidDean-k9k]

This lady has a good understanding of life.

[@MrTomkelso22]

Lizzie, you are beautiful, intelligent and have much to offer the world. You understand that these lessons in life are necessary so you can become who you have become today. Unfortunately, many develop a victimhood mentality as they cant get over past experiences. You understand your role as a fellow soul. Much love and light to you!

[@jerryfaulkner6518]

Thank you for talking about Your past without bashing your Parents. I thoroughly enjoyed the video where you and a friend went for a visit with your mother. Do that more often. She may not say it, but who couldn't help missing you.

[@rummanamoledina4973]

This lady managed to escape most can't. It's time for people to evolve. It's like saying Islamism is ok too

[@lijohnyoutube101]

All religion is nonsense and only for control.

[@HermanMunster-o2j]

As an Amish driver the only 2 things I see is hypocrisy. No where in the Bible does it say this group can have windshield on there buggies and another group can't. And they don't treat there animals especially dogs very good

[@LillianGraceWerger]

Dude, did you not listen to what she said? It's not all bad, if some agree to not use windshields on their buggies, what's it to you? And there are plenty of us Amish out here who treat dogs just as well as any other human and yes there's Amish who don't. Like Lizzie said, it's not all bad and there's a lot of good.. if you're so against us, why drive us around and make money off of us?

[@daynabee5521]

@@LillianGraceWergerhe didn’t rip anyone apart, just stating an observation.

[@LillianGraceWerger]

@@daynabee5521 i didn't say he ripped anyone apart. I'm just defending me and my group of people. He talks about us being hypocrites but yet he's making money off of us, being nice to our faces but talking behind our backs which seems like hypocrisy to me

[@considerthebirds]

So spot on and powerful, Lizzie. Amen. Forgiveness is key and it is for freedom that Christ came to set us free. Praying Fannie realizes her freedom in Christ Jesus. 🙏 Fannie, not only does Jesus give you permission to walk in freedom, but it’s what He died for. Jesus loves you!

[@natashaw401]

So well said

[@CaliforniaBabe0525]

I think you should feel your feelings but don't let them rule you. You should be able to be angry, sad etc. for a moment but move on. I think "bad" feelings shouldn't be avoided but faced head on so you can heal. Cry till you can't cry anymore and then pick yourself up and keep going.

[@lizzieenswellness]

All feelings are valid and necessary. That’s not really the point of this though. I’m simply talking about holding onto resentment and bitterness. That stuff is toxic and prevents one from fully healing.. ❤

[@ras9875]

Forgiveness helps the forgiver more than the forgiven

[@don66hotrod94]

I was fortunate to do business with a Hutterite community in Manitoba on several construction projects. They practice their religion similar to the Amish, only embracing technology and practicing true socialism. They allow members of the community two opportunities to leave and come back to their lifestyle. After that they are no longer welcome to participate. About one half of their people who grow up in the community eventually stay and the other half leaves for good. There are many good things about their life, but it is a very patriarchal society. Women have very little input about how things are run. We were warmly welcomed by some wonderful people, however.

[@lizzieenswellness]

The Hutterites come from the same origin as the Amish 😊

[@domading2759]

We are all just pilgrims on the kingdom of earth.. This life is just the waiting room for the life we are trying to get to

[@cher4705]

Within any community, there are rules. The Amish are no different. They do what they believe is right. Be extremely cautious not to get sucked into the current immoral lifestyle in our society. Your advice is good, take the good and leave the bad from life.

[@annmarienoone9879]

My take on that lifestyle is that it screws you up for the rest of your life. If you stay you are screwed, if you leave you are conflicted for the rest of your life.

[@lizzieenswellness]

I’m not conflicted for the rest of my life.. if someone feels that way it means healing has not happened

[@roykight6923]

@@lizzieenswellness if an Amish child is being abused, what should they do. You take a lot of pride in your content. As a writer, you have the opportunity to make a difference. This is it.

[@roykight6923]

@@lizzieenswellness Oh sweet Child.

[@michaelbittel2618]

Wise.

[@PJ-pj8lr]

"You cant live life with regrets," Jimmy Stewart

[@RAYANDERS-w4t]

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lizzieenswellness]

You’re welcome

[@roykight6923]

She’s in the good graces of Amish again.

[@roykight6923]

I will no longer be purchasing your book. Thanks 🙏

[@roykight6923]

Who are your publishers?

[@ralphbuschman3364]

You are a beautiful, caring woman. Please let go of the pain of the hurt, you feel.

[@donaldoswald5329]

Thanks for opening the eyes of the audience that there is good and bad to all choices in life, religion can be a burden or can light our souls, learn the truth then apply it.

[@salonikamat9048]

While it is good to speak your mind, this video was almost as if it was made to invalidate the commentor's opinion. There's no way you should tell her that it is bad to feel resentment. That's her choice and I would want to support her in that.

[@liliyafaskhutdinova6532]

Felt the same. Everyone's experience is different, we don't know what she lived and went through. Everyone's mental and emotional cords are different too, some people are deeply affected by the things others aren't. She also never said she hated her family. She just said she would never want to hear of amish again. You can love your family and still feel you were lacking things and be affected by it. My mom received very little physical or verbal signs of affection from her parents, and even though I do not believe it did not affect her, overall, she is fine with it, she says she knows she was loved and that's enough. I, in turn, having similar experience with her, felt a huge hole in my heart, I knew I was loved, I wanted to know, but I never felt it, knowing was never enough, I needed affection that I never got. I did not start healing until in my mid 30s when she finally acknowledged my pain and said that she understands I needed more. She now tries her best to give affection, to catch up, to say words of praise, and even though it's sometimes clumsy and strange, and I am also a fully grown adult, I finally feel that the hole in my heart, despite still being there, is getting a little smaller every year. All that to say, that we are all different, even people in one family live differently the same experience. Who are we to say what others should feel? And lastly, even though I do believe that there is some good in being Amish, and it works for some, it's not a valid argument for me. We can find good in many things, like "the teacher was abusive, but she tought me things", "I could barely survive on my salary, but I got some experience". Yes, all this might be true, but shouldn't we strive to get those experiences in a more balanced way? Isn't it better to have received this experience without having trauma to unpack for years after that?

[@Mason-t1q]

I think I might be in love 😍 God bless you Lizzie

[@charleshenderson1174]

Thanks beautiful

[@DollJazz2433]

I love your message! Do not hang onto any pain/resentment, but rise above. You are so right that this isn't just about the Amish. There is good and bad in every group. None is perfect. Even when there has been resentment for what one has come out of, it saddens me to see people only focus on the bad and bad mouthing what they have come out of. Therefore, as you say, those things should not allow us to wallow in bitterness, but it should make us better. Thank you for your message and your positivity.

[@Laura-tv2dx]

What happened to the man that you left the Amish for? Obviously you guys didn't stay together but did everything go okay for him?

[@dennisdevore1648]

Why did you choose divorce?

[@h.r.3391]

This is a truly beautiful thing to share with anyone so thank you for being brave enough to encourage others who may have had their own difficult journey! ❤

[@willisfouts4838]

We all see the world through the two eyes God gave us. No one can see what we do, therefore no one can say what is good and right for us. We will all be on our knees, at the foot of God. He will not ask us about our neighbors except for how much we loved our neighbors as ourselves, or not. No matter how someone lives their life, it’s there’s to live how they see fit. Anything beyond this is our feeble attempt to do the work of God Himself. Live your life, be happy and do what’s right. If you do, you’ll be much happier for your short time we’re given. Much love, sister. You say well, the truth.

[@kassiek8876]

Hey Lizzy! I was recently invited to attend an Amish wedding this fall. I was curious if you could help me with what to wear, gift to bring to an Amish wedding and anything else you think I may need to know beforehand -as I am not Amish! I’ve watched your videos but since I am not Amish I wondered if I needed to know anything else in preparation for the celebration?! Thank you in advance!

[@lizzieenswellness]

Blue clothes is a good choice and no black at all. :)

[@Shelb13v]

Amish isn't Christian.. but i do want to point out that so many people get protection of women and authority structures conflated with suppression of women. It's a total perversion of biblical norms. I'd say most non Christian religious systems do this. But God does give graces and blessings even in situations like that.

[@johncraig8847]

You ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ are a incredible woman ❤ 👩 and you are a amazing person ❤ 💕 and so 💕 gorgeous 😍 ❤ 😊😊😊

[@PpuntoPpunto]

When you go see your wonderful Mom, dress up for the occasion .....I mean: wear your garb....bearing in mind that they are in the forefront of a battle for the preservation of our human identity....Did Lizzie chickened out? You have given up an exquisite, real wood George X secretaire for an Ikea cheap piece of furniture...Go back where you belong to.....Your community needs intelligent persons like you....and you need them. RESISTING MODERNITY When athletic teams, armies, corporations, and ethnic minorities face adversaries, they use defensive tactics to resist being overwhelmed by their opponents. A group under cultural attack typically develops an exclusive set of beliefs-an ideology-to justify its existence and motivate its members. Finding ways to rally members behind collective goals is a pressing problem for threatened groups. The aspirations, whims, and rights of individual members must be sacrificed for the common good if a group is to survive. Personal aspirations must give way to collective ones if armies, sports teams, corporations, and marriages are to succeed. Defensive groups must find ways to suppress individualism or at least to persuade individuals to find personal fulfillment through collective goals. Groups on the defensive tend to emphasize obedience, surrender, sacrifice, commitment, and discipline in order to harness personal resources for the collective mission and purpose. To resist being swallowed up by their cultural opponents, minorities must develop social controls to keep members in line with group objectives and to preserve the cultural barricades that ward off outside influences. Two cornerstones of Amish religious doctrine are obedience to the church’s teachings and separation from the world. Only members who are obedient to the church and separate from the world will receive God’s blessing of peace and eternal life. These cardinal beliefs funnel individual energy toward the shared goal of preserving a disciplined and distinctive community. Groups such as the Amish that believe the surrounding culture threatens their survival will likely engage in at least five defensive tactics. 1. Decisive leadership. Threatened groups often welcome decisive leadership because it speeds decision making and offers a sense of security. Clear lines of authority more easily marshal collective resources against a perceived threat. Diffused authority, on the other hand, cripples a group’s ability to respond quickly to external threats. 2. Comprehensive socialization. Like other defensive groups, the Amish must find ways to pass their worldview on to their offspring as well as to newcomers. Indoctrination in the group’s “story,” through formal and informal schooling, must start early in life and be repeated again and again in order to build allegiance and loyalty. 3. Controlled interaction with outsiders. The fewer the opportunities to mingle with outsiders,the less likely that members will become contaminated with foreign values and leave the fold. When interaction with outsiders is necessary for economic survival, the time, place, and mode of interaction must be carefully regulated. A special dialect, private schools, taboos on public behavior, restrictions on marriage, and limited use of public media are some of the ways the Amish stifle interaction with outsiders. Such cultural fences make it more difficult for members to leave and join the larger society. 4. Social sanctions. A system of social rewards and punishments is necessary to bolster conformity to group standards. Leaders must establish the standards and administer the sanctions (both formal and informal) to keep members compliant with group norms. 5. Symbolization of core values. Cardinal values are symbolized by objects and rituals that call for group loyalty and accent ethnic identity. Uniforms, badges, flags, special jargon, rituals, and ceremonies help to strengthen the cohesive ties that bond members to the group and their common destiny. The Amish have used these defensive tactics and others to preserve and safeguard their distinctive cultural heritage. Defensive ploys are not distinctive Amish practices; they are generic social strategies used to some extent by virtually all groups. The emergence of defensive tactics intensifies in direct relation to the amount of perceived hostility in a cultural environment. Thus, teams facing aggressive opponents, corporations battling stiff competition, and armies engaged in combat will likely fortify their defensive stance. The Amish have simply applied to community and religious life the standard techniques of social control that are routinely used by other groups for different objectives. Kraybill, Donald B.. The Riddle of Amish Culture (Center Books in Anabaptist Studies) (p. 23). Johns Hopkins University Press - A. Kindle Edition.

[@bluethyme]

❤

[@LFA1776]

Are you still in ohio? I live near about 30 minutes from middlefield.

[@lizzieenswellness]

Nope

[@rodeleon2875]

it would be nice if you could have the family and work ethic without the corruption of religion and man made control. but this is a pretty common theme in a lot of religions that pretend to know the word of God. Mormon, Amish, Jehovahs Witness, Islam and to some extent Catholicism and the mega church concept, ie Joel Osteen et al. no matter the religion, one has to follow their heart and try to decipher what is Gods word and what is mans interpretation and many times corruption of that.

[@roykight6923]

@@rodeleon2875 Religion is evil. It’s clear as day in the scriptures.

[@roykight6923]

@@rodeleon2875 Work ethic is one thing. Fruitful labor is another. I don’t wanna be feeding my family slop while my superiors are eating steak and lobster.

[@roykight6923]

You touch on a very controversial subject. You’re preaching to a choir that doesn’t understand cult mentality or the ramifications of it. Do I think the Amish should be stopped? Absolutely not. Like all humans they should be able to tell their story in their own words without being persecuted. All of the ex Amish I listen to have one thing in common. They all say “in my experience”. They’re not trying to dismiss them, they just want to tell their story and rightfully so.

[@dennisdevore1648]

Love you, Lizzie!!! But I wonder why you chose divorce? Does your son still get to be with his dad?

[@roykight6923]

@@dennisdevore1648 hypocrisy?

[@Himmiefan]

@@roykight6923 Or it’s nobody’s business?

[@Johnrider1234]

My ex grew up amish. She has six sisters. They were all done by there one brother. No one did a dam thing about it

[@lizzieenswellness]

😢😢😢😢

[@Johnrider1234]

@@lizzieenswellness god bless you. Isaiah 43. Kjb. Jesus is god almighty.

[@Johnrider1234]

Jesus is god almighty. Isaiah 43 kjb.

[@Johnrider1234]

My son is 28. He just wants a real woman. A real wife.