Daily Motivations 1-5-10

Wednesday, January 5, 2010

Today's Gift

Instead of concentrating on why we can't do a thing, we would be wise to change our "Yes, but . . ." attitude to a more positive one. Saying "yes" means I really do want to change my life for the better. —Liane Cordes

We truly can do these things that are our "hearts' pure desires." However, most of us look at the whole task and feel overwhelmed. We need, instead, to look at the task's many parts. One part at a time, one day at a time, we can accomplish any goal we set for ourselves. I know a recovering woman who wrote a 300-page dissertation, the final achievement to obtain her PhD. When asked at a meeting how she ever did it, her reply was, "One word at a time." That's wonderful advice. No matter how many goals were missed or plans dashed when we were still using, now that we are recovering, each of us can do whatever is in our hearts - if we do it little by little, not all at once, today.

Today, I will do one small task that will contribute toward the achievement of a life goal.

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

 

*****************************

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

Walk In Dry Places
 
No Need to be Perfect____ Perfectionism.
We often declare that we suffered from perfectionism while we were drinking.  This did not mean that we did things perfectly or always met high standards.  More likely, it meant that we had grandiose ideas of the perfect people we wanted to be, but felt deep inadequacy about our failure to meet these high standards.

While we should develop good standards and values for our lives, we place an impossible demand on ourselves by wanting to be perfect in every way.  What is this but a secret desire to be better than others, to occupy a superior position that will enable us to look down on others and, at the same time, to receive their approval and admiration?

In some manufacturing fields, there is a useful saying that serves as a guideline for inspectors: "Good enough is best."  If something is good enough for its intended purpose, it may be equal to the best.  If my performance and actions this day are good enough, it maybe that they are as good as they have to be or as God wants them to be.

Action for the Day: I will not expect impossible things from myself today. I will meet reasonable standards without permitting myself to become tense or strained.

*************************

One Day At A Time

 

The Journey
You are going to meet these new friends in your own community. . .
Among them you will make lifelong friends.
You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties,
for you will escape disaster together
and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, pp.152-153

Thought to Ponder . . .
The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
C A R E = Comforting And Reassuring Each other.

 

************************

Daily Motivation

You can imagine

 

Imagination never runs out. Go ahead and use it freely, for the more you make use of it, the more you'll have.

 

Every experience gives you more substance on which to base your imagination. And whatever you imagine provides you with possibilities for even more beautiful experiences.

 

Don't limit yourself to merely imagining what is reasonable. Though reason certainly has its place, it quickly grows stale without fresh infusions of free and untamed imagination.

 

You can imagine anything, so make positive and meaningful use of your powerful imagination. You can imagine anything, so imagine your way to a life of joy and fulfillment.

 

Your imagination is truly a powerful skill, and yet once you imagine that is not the end of it. For not only can you imagine, you can take whatever you imagine and find a way to bring it to life.

 

Let yourself imagine the best you can imagine. Imagine a world so beautiful and compelling that you cannot help but do all that's in your power to make it real.

 

-- Ralph Marston