Thursday, January 14, 2016
Today's Gift
If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? —Hillel
Some of us were treated badly as young children and never learned how to live for ourselves. We can see only two choices: either be submissive and caretaking or be abusive and demanding. Many of us have so much guilt and shame that we feel we don't deserve to stand up for ourselves. We must be for ourselves. If we don't know how, we learn. If we are unsure, we must experiment. When we make mistakes, we must admit them and know we have a right to be imperfect learners. And we can't be only for ourselves, because that keeps us small and turns us back to where we came from.
As we accept ourselves and come to know our imperfections and weaknesses, we can understand others better. We are stronger in giving to others and more effective because we have a place to stand.
Today, even if I don't feel good about myself, I will stand up for my dignity.
From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©
From: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation - Thought for the Day http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/recovery/thought-for-the-day
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Wanting others to approve our efforts, our appearance, our aspirations and behavior is perfectly normal, certainly not unhealthy. However, needing the approval in order to proceed with our lives is.
In early childhood we are taught to obey others and to please them. We confuse love with approval, and we begin to march to someone else's drum. Then we get even more approval. But soon we get out of step with ourselves; we neglect our personal needs and become puppets. Giving away our power to the whims of others weakens our Spirit. Personal freedom means choosing our own behavior; it means acting rather than reacting. It also means allowing ourselves the full adventure of living, of meeting each moment wholly, of responding in a pure, spontaneous, personally honest manner. Only then can we give to life what is ours to give.
Each of us has a unique part to play in the drama of life. And we need to rely on our higher power for our cues, not on those whose approval we think we need. When we turn within for guidance, all the approval we could hope for will be ours.
Action for the Day: I will be free today. I will let no one control my actions. I will let my Higher Power give the only approval that counts. Aligning my will with my Higher Power's will guarantees it.
Choices
"Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery.
We came to believe that alone we were powerless over alcohol and drugs.
This was surely a choice, and a most difficult one.
We came to believe that a Higher Power could restore us to sanity when we became willing to practice AA's Twelve Steps.
In short, we chose to 'become willing,' and no better choice did we ever make."
- As Bill Sees It, p. 4
Thought to Ponder . . .
I am worth staying sober for.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust.
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Confidence in now
by Ralph Marston
Now is where you are. Now is where to focus your efforts and attention.
Now you can act and get results. Now you can make a difference and have an influence.
It makes no sense to concern yourself now with your shortcomings in the past. Now is when you can do what you were previously unable or unwilling to do.
There is time to live your life and that time is now. There is time to experience joy, love and fulfillment, and that time is now.
There is nothing you need before you can act, because you are already here and now. There is much that you can do, so do it now.
Make complete, effective use of this moment. And know the power of claiming full confidence in now.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums
Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
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One Day At A Time
"Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery.
We came to believe that alone we were powerless over alcohol and drugs.
This was surely a choice, and a most difficult one.
We came to believe that a Higher Power could restore us to sanity when we became willing to practice AA's Twelve Steps.
In short, we chose to 'become willing,' and no better choice did we ever make."
- As Bill Sees It, p. 4
Thought to Ponder . . .
I am worth staying sober for.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust.
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
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Daily Motivation
by Ralph Marston
Now is where you are. Now is where to focus your efforts and attention.
Now you can act and get results. Now you can make a difference and have an influence.
It makes no sense to concern yourself now with your shortcomings in the past. Now is when you can do what you were previously unable or unwilling to do.
There is time to live your life and that time is now. There is time to experience joy, love and fulfillment, and that time is now.
There is nothing you need before you can act, because you are already here and now. There is much that you can do, so do it now.
Make complete, effective use of this moment. And know the power of claiming full confidence in now.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
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