Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Today's Gift
Differences
. . . with no hidden cutting edge.
The respect and dignity a couple shows each other set the table from which they are nourished for all other activities in their lives. Any feeling can be expressed in respectful or disrespectful ways. Anger is one of the most difficult to express respectfully. Everyone feels frustrated and angry at times. The crucial thing to learn is how to be angry and still be respectful – how to deal with our impatience without blame or put-downs. Many of us have to learn how to love without being possessive, how to be playful in a lighthearted way with no hidden cutting edge. When we treat our partner with disrespect, we pour poison into our own well. It may feel satisfying at first, but the long-term consequences are not good to live with.
When we are committed to respect in our relationship, we continue to learn at even deeper levels what respect truly means. We find that simply listening to each other – and letting in our differences – is a form of respect that nourishes us.
Name a difference between you and your mate that you respect.
. . . with no hidden cutting edge.
The respect and dignity a couple shows each other set the table from which they are nourished for all other activities in their lives. Any feeling can be expressed in respectful or disrespectful ways. Anger is one of the most difficult to express respectfully. Everyone feels frustrated and angry at times. The crucial thing to learn is how to be angry and still be respectful – how to deal with our impatience without blame or put-downs. Many of us have to learn how to love without being possessive, how to be playful in a lighthearted way with no hidden cutting edge. When we treat our partner with disrespect, we pour poison into our own well. It may feel satisfying at first, but the long-term consequences are not good to live with.
When we are committed to respect in our relationship, we continue to learn at even deeper levels what respect truly means. We find that simply listening to each other – and letting in our differences – is a form of respect that nourishes us.
Name a difference between you and your mate that you respect.
You are reading from the book:
********************************
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Walk In Dry Places
Finding the New Happiness
Are we victimizing ourselves?
Some believe that people create their own trouble by attracting the wrong
conditions and people in their lives. This may not be entirely
true, but we can find that some element of it was at work with us.
Time and time again during our drinking, we set ourselves up for abuse
and rejection, though our motives seemed right.
Why did we do this? Supposedly to punish ourselves, the theory has it.
If this is true, then we should now call a halt to the process
immediately. If we've emerged from the terrors of alcoholism, we've had
all the punishment anybody needs.
Finding the New Happiness
Are we victimizing ourselves?
Some believe that people create their own trouble by attracting the wrong
conditions and people in their lives. This may not be entirely
true, but we can find that some element of it was at work with us.
Time and time again during our drinking, we set ourselves up for abuse
and rejection, though our motives seemed right.
Why did we do this? Supposedly to punish ourselves, the theory has it.
If this is true, then we should now call a halt to the process
immediately. If we've emerged from the terrors of alcoholism, we've had
all the punishment anybody needs.
We can change our bad patterns by looking carefully at the people and situations we seem to attract. Without resentment or condemnation, we
can part company with any problems these have been bringing us. We can
start building new relationships and attracting better conditions that
will be immensely successful in terms of happiness and well-being.
can part company with any problems these have been bringing us. We can
start building new relationships and attracting better conditions that
will be immensely successful in terms of happiness and well-being.
Action for the day:I'll remember today that in the new life I'm seeking, there's no need
for punishment. I will not go out of my way to attract people or
conditions that create problems in my life.
**********************
One Day At A Time
We GIVE AWAY TO KEEP.
That seems absurd and unique. How can you keep anything if you give it away?
But in order to keep whatever it is we get in AA,
we must go about giving it away to others, for no fees or rewards of any kind.
When we cannot afford to give away what we have received so freely in AA,
we had better get ready for our next "drunk." It will happen every time.
We've got to continue to give it away in order to keep it.
- Experience, Strength and Hope, p.156
Thought to Ponder . . .
Give a lot. Expect little. Keep it simple.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Altruistic Action.
That seems absurd and unique. How can you keep anything if you give it away?
But in order to keep whatever it is we get in AA,
we must go about giving it away to others, for no fees or rewards of any kind.
When we cannot afford to give away what we have received so freely in AA,
we had better get ready for our next "drunk." It will happen every time.
We've got to continue to give it away in order to keep it.
- Experience, Strength and Hope, p.156
Thought to Ponder . . .
Give a lot. Expect little. Keep it simple.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Altruistic Action.
*********************
Daily Motivation
Effective action Daily Motivation
Stop sitting around wondering if this will work out or if that won't work out. Get busy and find out for yourself.
Stop wishing that you had more to work with. You have more than enough to get started in this moment.
Once you start, once you make that first effort, you'll be able to tap into the power of momentum. The initial results you get will enable you to make the next effort.
Quit worrying about not having enough time, for that worrying itself just wastes your precious time. Simply and gratefully make use of the time you have, and you'll always be making progress.
Put thought into your efforts, but don't make your thoughts a substitute for your efforts. Get busy and put your best thoughts into effective action.
Give your best to this day, give your best to the effort, and good things will come from it. Though it won't always be the way you expect, you will always find ways to create real, unique value and richness in your life.
-- Ralph Marston
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