Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Today's Gift
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. --Confucius
Keeping our motives honest
Motives are important in dealing with other people. If we're frank with someone and that person gets upset, we might think he or she just can't handle our directness, our honesty. But "honesty" without love is more like brutal frankness. If we want to be confrontational, we have to put up with the consequences.
But what is the real reason for being confrontational ("honest"), for pointing out others' flaws? Are we perhaps afraid that our own flaws will be discovered? Are we protecting ourselves by focusing attention on others?
Are my motives always honest?
Higher Power, help me see where my motives are selfish or mean or petty, so that I stay honest in my life.
From the book Day by Day ©
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
Keep It Simple
It doesn't happen all at once.... You become. It takes a long time. --Margery Williams
Our spiritual awakening is partly a process of becoming real. We're moving from the external controls of image and others' opinions to the internal controls of honesty, listening to our inner voice, and having true relationships. We are shedding the games that maintained our old style of life - "hero" or "poor me."
In place of the old phony surface, we are developing a real relationship with ourselves. We are becoming more aware - of emotions, of need for rest, of violations of our values. Sometimes change comes in a flash of insight or a moment of sudden, piercing awareness, but more often it comes a little bit at a time. As we work the Steps, as we are true to our inner voice, as we keep returning to conscious contact with our Higher Power, as we get closer to our friends, we become more real to ourselves.
Action for the Day: As I grow, I see that I was always real. I was just looking at the outside.
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
Step Eight
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
What real harm had we done? No more, surely, than we could easily mend with a few casual apologies.
This attitude, of course, is the result of purposeful forgetting.
It is an attitude which can be changed by a deep and honest search of our motives and actions. . .
. . .we should nevertheless make an accurate and exhaustive survey of our life as it has affected other people.
In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has not been great,
the emotional harm we have done ourselves has.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 79
Thought to Ponder . . .
Forgiveness is the final form of love.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Altered Attitudes.
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
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Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Thoughts and feelings
by Ralph Marston
Respect and appreciate your feelings, but don’t allow them to completely dominate you. Let your feelings inform you, enhancing and expanding your experience of life, but don’t let them imprison you.
Your feelings are essential, and connect your awareness to the very core of who you are. Yet your thoughts, reasoning and discipline are important as well.
Pay close attention when your feelings tell you to act or to avoid action. Just don’t let those feelings be the only deciding factor.
Your feelings will tell you things that your logical mind cannot. And your logical mind gives you valuable knowledge and abilities that go beyond the realm of feelings.
You are indeed fortunate to be able to think and to feel. Allow your thoughts and your feelings to challenge and to strengthen each other.
Live your life with ever increasing levels of richness. Think, feel, and fulfill the best that’s within you.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
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