Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Today's Gift
Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it - what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellowmen. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone. —Carlos Castaneda
Were we offended by someone today? Do we harbor resentment for remarks, oversights, or unpleasant mannerisms? Do we feel tense or uneasy about how someone else has treated us? We can probably make a good case to justify our reactions. Perhaps we are in the right and they are in the wrong.
Yet, even if we are justified, it doesn't matter. We may be puffing ourselves up and wasting energy. When we are oversensitive, we take a self-righteous position, which leads us far from our path of spiritual awakening. Our strength is diminished.
How much better it is to let go of the lightness, let go of our grandiosity, and accept the imperfections in others. We need to accept our own imperfections too. When we do, we are better persons, and our strength and energy can be focused on richer goals.
I will accept others' imperfections and my own; I do not need to be right.
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
"Why do I do this to myself?" asked a woman who wanted to lose weight. "I went to my support group feeling so guilty and ashamed because I ate half a cookie that wasn't on the diet. I found out that everyone cheats a little, and some people cheat a lot. I felt so ashamed before I came to the group, as though I were the only one not doing my diet perfectly. Now I know that I'm dieting as well as most, and better than some."
Why do we do this to ourselves? I'm not talking strictly about dieting; I'm talking about life. Why do we punish ourselves by thinking that we're inferior while believing that others are perfect—whether in relationships, recovery, or a specific task?
Whether we're judging others, or ourselves it's two sides of the same coin: perfection. Neither expectation is valid.
It is far more accurate and beneficial to tell ourselves that who we are is okay and what we are doing is good enough. That doesn't mean we won't make mistakes that need correcting; doesn't mean we won't get off track from time to time; doesn't mean we can't improve. It means with all our mistakes and wandering, we're basically on course. Encouraging and approving of ourselves is how we help ourselves stay on track.
Prayer for the Day: Today, I will love and encourage myself. I will tell myself that what I'm doing is good enough, and I'll let myself enjoy that feeling.
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
This Kind of Giving
And then they discovered that by the divine paradox of this kind of giving
they have found their own reward, whether others have yet received
anything or not. Their own character may still be gravely defective, but
they somehow know that their Higher Power has enabled them to make a mighty
beginning, and they sense that they stand at the edge of new mysteries,
joys, and experiences of which they have never even dreamed.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) pp. 109 - 110
Thought to Ponder
Only in giving do we receive in full measure.
AA-related 'Alconym'
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps
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Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
Don’t make a bad thing worse by continuing to be upset about it. Get over it and get on with your life.
From time to time you’re going to be inconvenienced, insulted, distracted, taken advantage of, or worse. Quickly, decisively deal with the situation, get some distance from it, and then let it go.
If you’re not in a position to do anything positive about it, then accept it. Direct your focus to the good and useful things you can do.
Sure, there are things that have upset you. Yet you have nothing to gain by continuing to remind yourself how much you dislike them.
Choose not to waste your time and energy assembling a collection of grievances. You have so many better things to do.
Spend each day living and doing, not seething and complaining. Rise above the foolishness of others, and live every moment on your own best terms.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
Don’t make a bad thing worse by continuing to be upset about it. Get over it and get on with your life.
From time to time you’re going to be inconvenienced, insulted, distracted, taken advantage of, or worse. Quickly, decisively deal with the situation, get some distance from it, and then let it go.
If you’re not in a position to do anything positive about it, then accept it. Direct your focus to the good and useful things you can do.
Sure, there are things that have upset you. Yet you have nothing to gain by continuing to remind yourself how much you dislike them.
Choose not to waste your time and energy assembling a collection of grievances. You have so many better things to do.
Spend each day living and doing, not seething and complaining. Rise above the foolishness of others, and live every moment on your own best terms.
From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/
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