Daily Motivation 7-29-11

Friday, July 29, 2011

Today's Gift

Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life. —Herbert Otto

The rewards of our new life are apparent to us because of how we feel, and apparent to others by what they can see. Many of us had reached our bottom point, and we felt there was no risk in trying a program of recovery. Yet, we still had some distorted security in our harmful ways of relating to others or in our addictions. Letting go was an experiment. This program gives us guidelines for experimenting with our life for growth, and we continue growing everyday. Some of our benefits are increased confidence and self respect, more intimacy with our partner, better friendships, and better physical health. We feel these changes in ourselves, and we see them in the other men and women in this program.

Today, I am grateful for the rewards in my life from this experiment in recovery.

From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men©

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

 

Walk In Dry Places

Human relations

 

Flattery or Praise?
Flattery and praise are social lubricants that serve human purposes. But flattery is merely manipulative, while genuine praise is beneficial to everybody.

Many of us with troubled back grounds also have trouble giving and accepting praise.Sometimes we mistake flattery for praise and use it either to manipulate otehs or allow ourselves to bemanipulated. Perhaps we're either too proud or too self-conscious to deal with real praise.

Another mistake is in believing that praise should be given out only sparingly, only after outstanding achievement. Not so, we need to give and receive praise continuously in order to reach higher levels of achievement. Knowing it's importance, we'll alsolearn howto avoid flattery.

 

Action for the Day: I'll offer both verbal and silent praise today in my dealing with others. We'll all benefit from it.

 

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One Day At A Time

 

Defects
Through the first six Steps I have gained some knowledge of my character defects
and that I know what to get rid of! It is certainly no problem
for me to humbly ask my Higher Power to remove them, either.
I never did know what to do with them before. Besides, my pride is the only thing
I can swallow anymore that is non-fattening. In fact, this diet tends to reduce
the ego and eliminate fatheads -- mine, anyhow.
Step Seven simple? Not on your ego!
- Experience, Strength, and Hope [Vol. 2], p. 161

Thought to Ponder . . .
Swallowing my pride will not get me drunk.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

 

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Daily Motivation

Embrace today

What you do, do with passion. As you live, fill life with meaning.

Each moment is a precious, irreplaceable bundle of unique and immense value. Each and every day is an opportunity to add great new richness to your life.

Don’t get caught up in obsessing over what went wrong or what might not work out. Instead, get completely caught up in making the very best of what is, when it is.

There is no need to wait a moment longer to experience the fulfillment you seek. The possibilities are here and now, and you can act decisively to bring them to life.

Let the shortcomings serve as guides for where to make improvements. Let each disappointment remind you why it is so important to bring your dreams to life.

Embrace today for all it is, and resolve to live it fully. Give your absolute best, and what you get will be even better.

— Ralph Marston