Friday, December 23, 2011

Daily Motivation 12-23-11

Friday, November 23, 2011
Today's Gift
... [To] take something from yourself, to give to another, that is humane and gentle and never takes away as much comfort as it brings again. --Thomas More
We take different kinds of pleasure in giving. Perhaps the purest is the gift to a child so young it doesn't really know who the gift came from; the pure joy that the teddy bear or pull-toy produces is our regard, unmixed by any expectation of return.
When children get older, we want something back from them: gratitude, respect. The gift is less pure. When lovers exchange gifts, their pleasure is often tinged with anxiety: Did I give more than I got? Did I get more than I gave? Or with power: He'll always remember where he got that shirt; she owes me something for the fur jacket.
To friends and relations our gifts reflect many things: our appreciation of their lives, our shared memories, our prosperity. We tend to give in a spirit of self-expression.
Perhaps the closest we can come to a pure gift is an anonymous one; a gift of volunteer work, of blood, or a contribution to a charity. Such a gift which can never be acknowledged or returned by those it comforts can heal our spirits when they are wearied by too much ego.
The gift of myself can be a gift to myself.
From the book: The Promise of a New Day by Karen Casey and Martha Vanceburg
********************************Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
We not only need to be willing to give, but also to be open to receiving from others.---from On Hope
Many of us took so much from others during our addiction that now we may not want to ask for anything.
We may be afraid to ask for help, so our needs go unmet. In fact, many of us would rather give than receive. In recovery, we need to understand the difference between taking and receiving.
Giving to others is important. So is receiving from others. As we grow spiritually, we learn to accept gifts. The gift of sobriety teaches us this. We need to accept the gifts the world gives us without shame. We are entitled.
Our Higher Power loves us and will give us much if we're willing to receive it.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me be receptive to Your gifts. Help me see and believe that I'm entitled to all the happiness of the world.
Action for the Day: I'll think of what a friend has given me. I'll thank this friend.

***********************
One Day At A Time
Not-worrying
None of us has to understand our Higher Power or worry about things beyond our control.
We can indulge ourselves in the luxury of not-worrying.
Any of us can handle just one day; all each of us has to try at is our own job,
our own family life. We don't have to try fixing up the whole world
or understanding what no theologian of any faith has ever understood.
We simply stop messing in our Higher Power's business.
- Came To Believe . . ., p. 116

Thought to Ponder . . .
Worry is negative meditation.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
J F T =
Just For Today.
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Daily Motivation

Be real and be effective

The way to be passionate is to be honest. True passion comes from true purpose.
If you only pretend to be passionate, what have you really accomplished? You’ve merely managed to be ineffective at something you didn’t want to do anyway.
You have the power and the ability to do great things. It just makes sense to direct that power into what really matters.
Why waste your time faking it just so you can look good? You can use your time to follow a sincere and authentic path that will bring you the life you truly desire.
The best way to be is to be real. Anything else is certain to eventually bring frustration and disappointment.
Be real, be honest, and be willing to admit with your words and your actions what is truly important to you. Be real, and live at your most effective and fulfilled level.
— Ralph Marston

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