Daily Motivation 8-4-11

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Today's Gift

 

I've learned that the more vulnerable I allow myself to be, the more in control of myself I really am. —Anonymous

Many of us feel that we can only show our strong, confident side. We believe the face we have to show to the world should always be one of politeness, perfection, calm, strength, and control.

While it is certainly good and often appropriate to be in control, calm, and strong, there is another side to all of us - that part of us that feels needy, becomes frightened, has doubts, and gets angry. That part of us that needs care, love, and reassurance those things will be okay. Expressing these needs makes us vulnerable and less than perfect, but this side needs our acceptance too.

Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable will help us build lasting relationships. Sharing our vulnerabilities helps us feel close to people and helps others feel close to us. It helps us grow in self-love and self-acceptance. It helps us become healing agents. It allows us to become whole and accessible to others.

Today, I will allow myself to be vulnerable with others when it's safe and appropriate to do so.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

 

Walk In Dry Places

Personal Relations

 

Treating loved ones worse than strangers.
Some of us grew up with resentments about the way our families treated us. It was confusing to notice how nice our parents could be toward strangers and then how abruptly they could become abusive toward us.

The best release for this kind of resentment is forgiveness, but we should also ask ourselves if we're guilty of the same faults. Are we discourteous and inconsiderate toward our own children and family members?

 

Do we apologize when we offend strangers, but not when we hurt our own children?

We should try to treat everyone with fairness and kindness. No family member should be subjuected to our incessant criticism and rudeness. We owe them the same courtesies we extend to strangers.

 

Action for the Day: If I've had bad examples of abusive treatment in my own early years, I'll change the pattern by treating my own family with fairness and kindness, starting today.

 

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One Day At A Time

 

Forgiveness

Forgiving and condemnation are God's business, not mine.
Only He has the mercy to judge and to accept at the same time.
My job is to achieve enough humility to see myself in others and to accept both myself and others, by identifying.
The willingness to make amends will grow from this act of love.
When I become "willing to make amends to them all" I am saying to them,
"your pain is my pain; when I hurt you, I hurt myself;
I will try not to hurt you anymore."
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], pp. 162-63

Thought to Ponder . . .
Forgiveness is the final form of love.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
T G I F = Thank God I'm Forgiven.

 

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Daily Motivation

An empowered day

If you catch yourself feeling sorry for yourself you’ve discovered a valuable opportunity. You can transform the negative energy of self-pity into positive energy to improve your situation.

When you’ve been disappointed by life, take a step back and look at the positive value in that disappointment. You have a powerful reason to become more determined than ever before.

Life has its ups and its downs. And you can choose to benefit from both.

Success is not a matter of having everything go your way. Success comes from choosing to find the value in whatever way things go.

Don’t waste your time and energy making judgments about whether you’re having a good day or a bad day. Decide to take whatever comes and make it into an empowered day.

Whatever form it takes, life is always supplying you with the raw material for fulfillment. Make good use of it all to move your life surely and steadily in the direction of your dreams.

— Ralph Marston