Like Kate, I am thrilled about the study of this book! What a huge thing to tackle in our lives as women! I believe that insecurity is one of the hardest things to understand in our own lives.

Even if you don't have the book, I really feel that you can participate. If there is something that you have a question on about the book, feel free to ask and we can copy it for you.

I also want to give a heads up. Kate and I were talking about this and we want you to know that you will be "attacked" in the area of insecurity as you are learning about it. Whenever we try to make a change, a Godly change, we are tested in that very area. You might feel deeper insecurities in yourself, in your personal relationships, or at work at this time. You might even feel that you are not "Godly" enough to participate in this study or you worry that you will be judged for opening yourself up. Don't let it eat at you, we are here to support each other and work through these insecurities!

On to the questions...
 1.) I see insecurities in people all around me. The woman who feels she needs to improve her body so others find her attractive. The child who hangs back in sports because they don't feel adequate. The man who doesn't speak up when he has earned a promotion because he doesn't feel like he is capable of the additional responsibilities.
In my own life, I have held back in love thinking I was unworthy of love. Held back my relationship with God because of past mistakes that I was ashamed of. Held back in my work because I didn't think it was worthy of other people reading it. Been embarrassed to go to social functions because I may not be dressed right, felt self conscious about my body or worried what others might think about the way I think and talk.

2. Women face self-worth issues, Men face self-performance issues.

3. The first novel I ever wrote, I felt so secure about it. I had many people read it, edit it and approve it. I was drowning in security. THEN I had to submit it for publishing, I never could do it. I worried, I obsessed, I told myself my work wasn't worth it.

4. I think what was a major point to me looking at the insecurities in my own life. Having to identify the ones I had dealt with and with the ones I am facing. Realizing that insecurity is something that I have always lived with and feeling like it is something that I will have to battle on a daily, hourly, minute by minute basis.

I am super excited too! And what wonderful inspiring girlies we have heading up this study! You two are always up uplifting and both seem very strong in your faith.

I do have a question though...Do you mind if we bump it up to two chapters a week? Or like do one on monday and another on thursday?! I have been having a hard time not reading and I read chapter one so long ago that I feel like I need a refresher ;) let me know your thoughts on that suggestion. If you feel that is to much to tackle in a week that is totally ok just a thought.

1. I truly believe that all people battle with insecurities. I never realized it as much until reading this chapter. Sometimes I just thought it was someone being shy or a extremely busy bee personality but now realize that it is prob. just the way they are doing with certain insecurities in their own life. I get very antsy when I feel insecure in a certain situation (depending on what insecurity I may be dealing with at the moment)

2. I have been doing a study on men with our small groups at church (study is really on marriage.. but focusing on the men in our lives and how God made them) I was totally shocked at the insecurties of a man! Men are often times more fragile than us women?! Strange thought huh! As far as a woman goes I think Crayonwrangler hit the nail on the head.. its def. self worth!

3. We have been pretty secure and stable financially and now all of the sudden we are looking into buying a house and me trying to stay at home all at the same time. Very insecure feeling. Feel very vulnerable and unstable of what the future will hold

4. I think this whole book will be a huge eye opener for me. I have a ton of insecurities that have stemmed from some childhood issues and have changed and developed through adulthood. I have a great battle ahead of me if I am going to conquer this huge mountain in my life!

CrayonWrangler - thank you so much for mentioning being attacked as you work through this study. Not only in the areas of feeling even more insecure, but in subtler ways as well - we can't focus, don't feel like it, suddenly tired...things like that.

Be on the watch, ladies!

Here are my answers:

1) Beth Moore talks about certain people who display insecurity through their actions, such as someone who was crying, lying about their age, gaining weight, worried about their relationship etc. What are some other ways that people display insecurities? When have your actions or inactions been affected by your own insecurities?
Shyness, withdrawing from others, agressive personalities always having to be right (where they get their self worth from), fitness fanatics to those who eat in secret, children that won`t speak up for fear of looking `stupid`. It`s everywhere. I know I`ve held back in relationships because of feelings that I wasn`t good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, slim enough. I will obsess that I`ve said something stupid or talked too much. Oh yeah..insecurity lives in me!
2) Beth Moore discusses how men are not our problem, it's what we try to get from them that messes us up. What are some insecurities that women have? What are some insecurities that men have? I think that women`s insecurities are in the realm of are they pretty and sexy enough, are they a good mother and friend, do they keep as clean a house as the next person, can she cook... I think men are insecure about whether or not they can adequately provide for their families, and give them what he thinks they should have, will they be good fathers, will they get ahead in the workplace. I think men have high expecations of themselves that we may not even be aware of.

3) Beth Moore talks about how just when we think we have conquered being insecure about something, the situation changes making us feel insecure again. It is always going to be a battle that we face. When is a time that we felt secure and what changed to make us feel insecure again? The first thing that came to my mind was financial. We`ve survived three layoffs and just when we get back on our feet, we hit another financial crisis and everything is upended once more. Hard to feel secure when I know how quickly things can change. 

4) What are some of the highlights for you through Chapter 1? What spoke to you? The first chapter on page 9 REALLY made me think. Beth says ``Are we honestly going to insist on drawing our security from people-men OR women-who are oblivious to the inordinate amount of weight we give to their estimation of us. Seriously... Maybe others in our lives are not so clueless. Maybe they revel in the power they hold over us. Either way, ar we just going to live our lives hurt and offended. The thought is exhausting. The reality is ultimately debilitating.`` I know that I don`t want to give people power over me to make me feel insecure. Not anymore, anyway.

I've worked on this off and on all day, and some of it feels a bit.. fractured, but it's just how my mind works. Welcome to my fractured thoughts!