Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Today's Gift
We cannot hang on to feelings of shame and guilt and still hope to become better people. How did these feelings begin? If we were treated badly by people, we need to be honest about what happened so we can resolve it and move on. Have we perpetuate our feelings by acting disrespectfully ourselves? Then we need to take a thorough inventory of our wrongdoings, admit them, make repairs, and let them go.
We may wallow in shame because facing it feels too frightening. Often, we believe our shame is greater than that of others. This belief is usually untrue and grandiose. It's part of how we isolate ourselves. We don't have to face it alone. We have the help of other people who can listen to our pain and tell us about their experiences.
Twenty-Four Hour Living
"The idea of `twenty-four-hour living' applies primarily to the emotional life of the individual.
Emotionally speaking, we must not live in yesterday, nor in tomorrow."
"But I have never been able to see that this means the individual, the group, or A.A. as a whole should give no thought whatever to how to function tomorrow or even in the more distant future.
Faith alone never constructed the house you live in.
There had to be a blueprint and a lot of work to bring it into reality."
- As Bill Sees It, p. 284
Thought to Ponder
If faith without works is dead; then willingness without action is fantasy.
AA-related 'Alconym'
S I T = Stay In Today
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Really not so bad
A person's life is what their thoughts make it. —Marcus Aurelius
How do we think about ourselves? Do we feel unattractive? Do we feel we aren't strong enough? Do we doubt our ability to perform our roles as friends, spouses, or parents? Such thoughts are common among people. There is no problem in having them; they are normal to some extent. But what we do with our thoughts - how we think about what we think - makes a big difference in our lives.
When we think we are odd or different from other people for feeling this way, we become more self-centered. When we don't stand up for our rights as a person to have our doubts and weaknesses, we become even more weak and doubting. When we don't talk about our thoughts and feelings to other people, we become isolated and lonely. We have a right to feel insecure and to know we have weaknesses. We become a stronger person by accepting our doubts. They may still cause some pain but they have lost their power to control us. Just as a repaired seam can be stronger than the original, what was our weakness becomes our strength.
Today, I accept my thoughts of weakness and self-doubt as part of life.
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
Keep It Simple
There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity. People who do not experience self-love have little or no capacity to love others. --Nathaniel Branden
There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity. People who do not experience self-love have little or no capacity to love others. --Nathaniel Branden
We cannot hang on to feelings of shame and guilt and still hope to become better people. How did these feelings begin? If we were treated badly by people, we need to be honest about what happened so we can resolve it and move on. Have we perpetuate our feelings by acting disrespectfully ourselves? Then we need to take a thorough inventory of our wrongdoings, admit them, make repairs, and let them go.
We may wallow in shame because facing it feels too frightening. Often, we believe our shame is greater than that of others. This belief is usually untrue and grandiose. It's part of how we isolate ourselves. We don't have to face it alone. We have the help of other people who can listen to our pain and tell us about their experiences.
Action for the Day: Today, may I find the courage to face my shame and assert my right to self-esteem.
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
Twenty-Four Hour Living
"The idea of `twenty-four-hour living' applies primarily to the emotional life of the individual.
Emotionally speaking, we must not live in yesterday, nor in tomorrow."
"But I have never been able to see that this means the individual, the group, or A.A. as a whole should give no thought whatever to how to function tomorrow or even in the more distant future.
Faith alone never constructed the house you live in.
There had to be a blueprint and a lot of work to bring it into reality."
- As Bill Sees It, p. 284
Thought to Ponder
If faith without works is dead; then willingness without action is fantasy.
AA-related 'Alconym'
S I T = Stay In Today
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Really not so bad
by Ralph Marston
Is it really so bad when you’re inconvenienced or delayed? Is it really so bad when someone says something you disagree with?
Is it really so bad? Or are you just in the habit of assuming it is?
Is it really so bad when things don’t go exactly the way you wanted? Is it really a good use of your time and energy to be offended, put out, anxious, angry, resentful?
Take a deep breath and be thankful. Smile, relax, look around at the beautiful, unique moment in which you’re immersed.
Many things are not nearly as bad as you assume them to be. Step back from those assumptions, from the stress and anxiety they induce.
Deal with the difficulties, but don’t add to them. Remind yourself it’s really not so bad, and get on with living a positive and joyful life.
Is it really so bad when you’re inconvenienced or delayed? Is it really so bad when someone says something you disagree with?
Is it really so bad? Or are you just in the habit of assuming it is?
Is it really so bad when things don’t go exactly the way you wanted? Is it really a good use of your time and energy to be offended, put out, anxious, angry, resentful?
Take a deep breath and be thankful. Smile, relax, look around at the beautiful, unique moment in which you’re immersed.
Many things are not nearly as bad as you assume them to be. Step back from those assumptions, from the stress and anxiety they induce.
Deal with the difficulties, but don’t add to them. Remind yourself it’s really not so bad, and get on with living a positive and joyful life.
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