Monday, January 15, 2018
Today's Gift
It is so easy to come to the defense of others. How clear it is when others are being used, controlled, manipulated, or abused. It is so easy to fight their battles, become righteously indignant, rally to their aid, and spur them on to victory.
"You have rights," we tell them. "And those rights are being violated. Stand up for yourself, without guilt."
Why is it so hard, then, for us to rally to our own behalf? Why can't we see when we are being used, victimized, lied to, manipulated, or otherwise violated? Why is it so difficult for us to stand up for ourselves?
There are times in life when we can walk a gentle, loving path. There are times, however, when we need to stand up for ourselves - when walking the gentle, loving path puts us deeper into the hands of those who could mistreat us.
Some days, the lesson we're to be learning and practicing is one of setting boundaries. Some days, the lesson we're learning is that of fighting for our own rights and ourselves.
Sometimes, the lesson won't stop until we do.
Action for the Day: Today, I will rally to my own cause. I will remember that it is okay to stand up for myself when that action is appropriate. Help me, Higher Power, to let go of my need to be victimized. Help me appropriately, and with confidence, stand up for myself.
Willingness
Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door
ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more.
Though self-will may slam it shut again, as it frequently does, it will
always respond the moment we again pick up the key of willingness.
- Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, p. 35
Thought to Ponder
Take a walk with your Higher Power. They will meet you at the Steps.
AA-related 'Alconym'
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust
Positive expectations
We all carry it within us; supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted and cannot be destroyed. But it is hidden deep, which is what makes life a problem. --Huston Smith
How does one lose touch with their strength, their wisdom, and their joy? Perhaps it is in the nature of humanity. Our most profound qualities are hidden deep. They never go away, but we cannot always find them. There may be nothing wrong with us when we lose touch. It doesn't have to mean that we are "bad" for getting depressed or for feeling inadequate. Who doesn't have that problem? It is the nature of life that we sometimes feel this way. This faith helps us unearth the resources hidden within us.
When we cannot find those reassuring feelings of strength and wisdom and joy, we may think they are gone forever. We even doubt we ever had them or could have them again. But they are still there. They cannot be destroyed. And when we regain contact we know they have been with us all along.
I will have faith that the innermost places in me can never be destroyed.
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
********************************
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
We learn some behaviors have self-defeating consequences, while others have beneficial consequences. We learn we have choices. --Beyond Codependency
We learn some behaviors have self-defeating consequences, while others have beneficial consequences. We learn we have choices. --Beyond Codependency
It is so easy to come to the defense of others. How clear it is when others are being used, controlled, manipulated, or abused. It is so easy to fight their battles, become righteously indignant, rally to their aid, and spur them on to victory.
"You have rights," we tell them. "And those rights are being violated. Stand up for yourself, without guilt."
Why is it so hard, then, for us to rally to our own behalf? Why can't we see when we are being used, victimized, lied to, manipulated, or otherwise violated? Why is it so difficult for us to stand up for ourselves?
There are times in life when we can walk a gentle, loving path. There are times, however, when we need to stand up for ourselves - when walking the gentle, loving path puts us deeper into the hands of those who could mistreat us.
Some days, the lesson we're to be learning and practicing is one of setting boundaries. Some days, the lesson we're learning is that of fighting for our own rights and ourselves.
Sometimes, the lesson won't stop until we do.
Action for the Day: Today, I will rally to my own cause. I will remember that it is okay to stand up for myself when that action is appropriate. Help me, Higher Power, to let go of my need to be victimized. Help me appropriately, and with confidence, stand up for myself.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
****************************
One Day At A Time
Willingness
Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door
ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more.
Though self-will may slam it shut again, as it frequently does, it will
always respond the moment we again pick up the key of willingness.
- Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, p. 35
Thought to Ponder
Take a walk with your Higher Power. They will meet you at the Steps.
AA-related 'Alconym'
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
Start the day expecting good things. Go through the day living up to your expectations.
Expect effective, sustained, purposeful effort from yourself. Expect kindness, patience, understanding, curiosity, energy and persistence.
Expect to run into challenges, and expect to successfully work through each one. Expect for circumstances to change, and expect to successfully adapt.
Don’t hide from life, don’t fear what the day will bring. Get a jump on the day by firmly setting your own positive expectations.
Expect to occasionally stumble, and expect to quickly get back up and get going again each time you do. Expect to run into a few disappointments, and expect to respond by becoming more determined than ever.
Expect opportunities, setbacks, joys, discomforts, distractions, inconveniences, delights and wonders. And expect to make the very best of everything you encounter.
Start the day expecting good things. Go through the day living up to your expectations.
Expect effective, sustained, purposeful effort from yourself. Expect kindness, patience, understanding, curiosity, energy and persistence.
Expect to run into challenges, and expect to successfully work through each one. Expect for circumstances to change, and expect to successfully adapt.
Don’t hide from life, don’t fear what the day will bring. Get a jump on the day by firmly setting your own positive expectations.
Expect to occasionally stumble, and expect to quickly get back up and get going again each time you do. Expect to run into a few disappointments, and expect to respond by becoming more determined than ever.
Expect opportunities, setbacks, joys, discomforts, distractions, inconveniences, delights and wonders. And expect to make the very best of everything you encounter.
No comments:
Post a Comment