Friday, February 8, 2019
Today's Gift
Reaction isn't action - that is, it isn't truly creative. —Elizabeth Janeway
We must learn how to act rather than react. Unfortunately, we've had lots of training at reacting. And we're all such good imitators. We are a society of reactors. We let the good or the bad behavior of another person determine our own behavior as a matter of course. But the opportunities are unlimited for us to responsibly choose our behavior, independent of all others in our life.
Change is ours, if we want it. A scowl from a spouse need not make us feel rejected. Criticism at work doesn't have to ruin our day. An inconsiderate bus driver might still be politely thanked. And when we decide for ourselves just how we want to act and follow through, self-esteem soars.
If we are put-down, it may momentarily create self-doubt; but when we quickly reassure ourselves that all is well and respond with respect, we grow. A sense of well-being rushes through our bodies.
Being in command of our own feelings and our own actions, prevents that free-floating anxiety from grasping us. We are who we choose to be. And new adventures await us.
The opportunities to react will be many today. But each time I can pause, determine the action I'd feel better about, and take it. My emotional health gets a booster shot each time I make a responsible choice.
From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey ©
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
When we deal with our faults and imperfections, we are dealing with the basic issues of being a person. We can become bitter and cynical about the imperfections of others, or we can realize every person is incomplete but growing, just as we are. The way we look at the faults in others and the way we look at our own are closely tied together. In our spiritual journey, we must begin with the premise that no person ever achieves perfection.
Perfection apparently is not what this life is about at all, since perfection is nonexistent. We are lovable, and we can love in the process of living our lives. Since we are not perfect, we have to be accountable. We must have standards for our behavior and hold ourselves to those standards, admitting our mistakes and making repairs where we can.
Action for the Day: I will try to acknowledge my mistakes and give up the idea of ever becoming perfect.
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
These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all;
and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it,
once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human,
their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Doctor's Opinion,) p. xxviii
Thought to Ponder
The Twelve Steps; a manuscript for rational living.
AA-related 'Alconym'
F I N E = Frustrated, Insecure, Neurotic, Emotional
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
The possibilities are endless, and that’s great. Just don’t let yourself get overwhelmed or sidetracked by all those possibilities.
Pick certain meaningful possibilities and go with them, focus on them, commit to them. Persist with them until you see them through.
Yes, it’s tempting and useful to explore new possibilities. But even the best possibility is useless if you don’t make a firm commitment to sticking with it.
Channel your excitement about what’s possible into actually bringing specific possibilities to life. Be as eager to get the work completed as you are to get the project started.
Follow through on the enticing promises by keeping those promises with disciplined effort. Translate what’s possible into specific goals and then do the work to achieve those goals.
Position yourself to do great things by acknowledging you can’t do everything. Pick your possibilities, stick with them, and bring their value to life.
The possibilities are endless, and that’s great. Just don’t let yourself get overwhelmed or sidetracked by all those possibilities.
Pick certain meaningful possibilities and go with them, focus on them, commit to them. Persist with them until you see them through.
Yes, it’s tempting and useful to explore new possibilities. But even the best possibility is useless if you don’t make a firm commitment to sticking with it.
Channel your excitement about what’s possible into actually bringing specific possibilities to life. Be as eager to get the work completed as you are to get the project started.
Follow through on the enticing promises by keeping those promises with disciplined effort. Translate what’s possible into specific goals and then do the work to achieve those goals.
Position yourself to do great things by acknowledging you can’t do everything. Pick your possibilities, stick with them, and bring their value to life.
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