Words and magic were, in the beginning, one and the same thing, and even today words retain much of their magical power. —Sigmund Freud
We shape our experiences with the words we use to describe them. Word images create expectations and we naturally move toward them. When a man says, "I can't!" he is commanding his unconscious self to be helpless. When he has a picture in his mind of moving toward his goal, he may say, "It's hard, but I'm going to give it my best effort." If, every time he makes a mistake, he mutters berating statements to himself like, "You idiot! You can't do anything right," he is teaching himself to be inadequate.
It's our responsibility in recovery to use respectful, honest, health-giving words. We can no longer use defeating, shaming, or derogatory words. Our language has a hypnotic effect on us and the people around us. So let's look at our resources today and name them. Let's meet our difficulties with our strength, our patience, and the backing of our Higher Power.
Today, I will call forth images and use words to show I respect myself and others.
From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men©
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Walk in Dry Places
Living Today
Looking at the long term.
Though we’re encouraged to live one day at a time, we must also be aware of the future. We should not knowingly do anything today that creates unneeded risks and penalties further down the road.
We should not, for example, take on unreasonable debt simply to live well today. We should not put off things that will get worse with time. We should not avoid unpleasant decisions that will have to be made sooner or later.
Living one day at a time really means planning to do our best each day. While we cannot predict or control the future, we do have a responsibility to act so that our tomorrows will also be good days for living.
Action for the Day: I'll face today with the confidence that all my actions will be good for the long term as well as for today.
Self-centeredness
How amazing the revelation that the world, and everyone in it,
can get along just fine with or without me.
What a relief to know that people, places and things will be perfectly okay
without my control and direction.
And how wordlessly wonderful to believe that a power greater than me
exists separate and apart from myself.
- Daily Reflections, p.51
Thought to Ponder . . .
RULE #62: "Don't take yourself too damn seriously."
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Attitude Adjustment
Daily Motivation
Are you?
Are you killing time, or are you bringing it to life? What you do with this moment matters much, because this moment is the most valuable thing you now have to work with.
Are you being a burden, or are you being useful? There’s something valuable and unique that you can contribute, and your outlook will brighten as soon as you do.
Are you making excuses, or are you exploring the opportunities? With a positive, focused and purposeful approach, you can transform the challenges into meaningful rewards.
If what you’re getting from life is not living up to your expectations, ask yourself this. What can you make more positive and meaningful about what you’re putting into your life?
Each moment you live is your chance to have a real and powerful influence on the way your life unfolds. Every decision, every priority, every thought and action makes a difference.
Are you living your life at the highest and most fulfilling level you can imagine? Go ahead, imagine, and do what it takes to make it so.
— Ralph Marston
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