Friday, June 25, 2010

Daily Motivations 6-25-2010

Friday, June 25, 2010
Today's Gift

I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches. —Alice Roosevelt Longworth

All too often, we complicate our lives. We can wonder and worry our way into confusion; obsession or preoccupation it's often called. "What if?" "Will he?" "Should I?" "What do you think?" We seldom stop trying to figure out what to do, where to do it, how to meet a challenge, until someone reminds us to "keep it simple."

What we each discover, again and again, is that the solution to any problem becomes apparent when we stop searching for it. The guidance we need for handling any difficulty, great or small, can only come into focus when we remove the barriers to it, and the greatest barrier is our frantic effort to personally solve the problem. We clutter our minds; we pray for an answer and yet don't become quiet enough, for long enough, to become aware of the direction to go, or the steps to take. And they are always there.

Inherent in every problem or challenge is its solution. Our greatest lesson in life may be to keep it simple, to know that no problem stands in our way because no solution eludes a quiet, expectant mind.

I have opportunities every day to still my mind. And the messages I need - will come quietly. My answers are within me, now.

From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey © 1982

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

Walk In Dry Places

Transforming garbage.

Handling the past
Left to itself, nature takes ordinary garbage and transforms it into useful nutrients that help sustain life. It's usually poor human action that makes garbage a problem. Our mental and emotional garbage takes the forms of bad memories, festering resentments, and useless regrets. We waste time berating ourselves and others about bad decisions and experiences that are behind us.

The magic of the 12 Step program is that we can use it to transform this mental garbage into useful experience. A past mistake can become as asset when we share it with others. Pain and suffering can teach a lesson that helps all of us to grow. By forgiving others, a resentment can be turned into a friendship.
Action for the Day: I'll resolve today not to worry about garbage any longer than it takes to identify it and release it to my Higher Power for transformation.

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One Day At A Time

Perfection

Perfection would limit me;
imperfection offers me the freedom of a million potentials.
All the excitement and interest and wonder of adventure are mine to explore,
ever-new, ever-changing, ever-becoming.
~ The best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], p. 61

Thought to Ponder . . .
Give me the courage to be imperfect.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A =
Attitude Adjustment.

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Daily Motivation

Even though you don't feel like it

What's the best thing to do if you can't get motivated to take action that you know you must take? Go ahead and do it anyway.

Sure, it's nice to be positively motivated. Yet even if you lack the motivation, you still have the ability to act.

Even if you don't feel like doing what must be done, you can still do it. Yes, your feelings are powerful, but you are even more powerful.

What if you simply laughed at those negative feelings, and went on ahead with your actions? You already know that it must be done, so you already have a perfectly good reason.

In fact, going ahead and taking action right away is a whole lot more pleasant than agonizing about it for hours or days or weeks. Plus it's a whole lot more pleasant than feeling guilty for not getting it done.

So even though you don't feel like it, do it anyway. Then see how great you will suddenly feel.

-- Ralph Marston

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