Daily Motivation 11-14-11

Monday, November 14, 2011

Today's Gift

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. —Kathleen Casey Theisen

How awesome is our power, personally, to choose our attitudes and our responses to any situation, to every situation. We will feel only how we choose to feel, no matter the circumstance. Happiness is as free an option as sorrow.

Perceiving our challenges as opportunities for positive growth rather than stumbling blocks in our path to success is a choice readily available. What is inevitable - a matter over which we have no choice - is that difficult times, painful experiences will visit us. We can, however, greet them like welcome guests, celebrating their blessings on us and the personal growth they inspire.

No circumstance demands suffering. Every circumstance has a silver lining. In one instance you may choose to feel self-pity; in the next, gladness.

We do not always feel confident about our choices, even when we accept the responsibility for making them. How lucky for us that the program offers a solution! Prayer and meditation, guidance from our higher power, can help us make the right choice every time.

I will relish my freedom to choose, to feel, to act. I and only I can take it away.

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

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Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Keep It Simple

Write down the advice of him who loves you, though you like it not at present. --Anonymous

 

We addicts often learn things the hard way. In the past, we found it very hard to take advice from anyone. It’s still hard to take advice, but it’s getting easier every day. We know now that we can’t handle everything in life by ourselves. We’ve come to believe there is help of us. And we’re learning to ask for help and advice.

Sometimes we don’t like the advice we get. We don’t have to use it. But if it comes from people who love and understand us, we can try to listen. Write it down. Think about it. It may make sense another day.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, please work through people who love me. I need your advice. Help me listen to it.

Action for the Day: I will make notes to myself, writing down things that seem important. I will read them once in a while.

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One Day At A Time

 

Forgiveness
Forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others are two currents in the same river,
both hindered or shut off completely by the dam of resentment.
Once that dam is lifted, both currents can flow.
The Steps of AA allow me to see how resentment has built up
and subsequently blocked off this flow in my life. . .
It is as a result of this solution that I can find the necessary grace
which enables me to forgive myself and others.
- Daily Reflections, p. 146

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

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

 

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Daily Motivation

Enough time

Make time to do your dream. Make time to live the richness.

Make time for what’s important by remembering how truly precious your time is. There is always enough time when you give sufficient value to your time.

Complaining that there’s not enough time merely wastes more of your time. Instead of being resentful about what you must do, be appreciative of what you can do.

Is there something you’re doing that doesn’t seem like it’s worth the time? Then you can either stop doing it or find ways to put more meaningful value into it.

If there’s something you’re doing that’s not important, consider how you can make it important. Put more real value and meaning into your efforts, and the time you give to those efforts will be time well spent.

Appreciate each moment as it comes, giving your authentic best to it. And you’ll have plenty of time to live the life you truly wish to live.

— Ralph Marston