Archive for April 11, 2014

Endigar 379 ~ A Word to Drop: “BLAME”

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on April 11, 2014 by endigar

From Today’s Daily Reflections;

To see how erratic emotions victimized us often took a long time. We could perceive them quickly in others,- but only slowly in ourselves. First of all, we had to admit that we had many of these defects, even though such disclosures were painful and humiliating-. Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word “blame” from our speech and thought. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 47)

When I did my Fourth Step, following the Big Book guidelines, I noticed that my grudge list was filled with my prejudices and my blaming others for my not being able to succeed and to live up to my potential. I also discovered I felt different because I was black. As I continued to work on the Step, I learned that I always had drunk to rid myself of those feelings. It was only when I sobered up and worked on my inventory, that I could no longer blame anyone.

END OF QUOTE

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My success and fulfillment are my responsibility.  My prejudices and erratic emotions create a victim’s attitude toward life.  I need to correct my speech and thought by being willing to face some painful and humiliating truth about myself.  The moral inventory of the fourth step requires courage and a willingness to let go of the victim’s card.

 

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Endigar 378 ~ Growing Up

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on April 11, 2014 by endigar

From Today’s Daily Reflections;

 The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.  (As Bill Sees It, page 115)

Sometimes when I’ve become willing to do what I should have been doing all along, I want praise and recognition. I don’t realize that the more I’m willing to act differently, the more exciting my life is. The more I am willing to help others, the more rewards I receive. That’s what practicing the principles means to me. Fun and benefits for me are in the willingness to do the actions, not to get immediate results. Being a little kinder, a little slower to anger, a little more loving makes my life better day by day.

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baby

Should I measure my growth by what I view as reward?  My immaturity craves social approval in all its forms, like a baby crying for attention.   I let that go, and seek change.  When the path is opened plainly before me, I do what I have to do to secure that change.  I take on the hard work of  possessing the vision given to me of my higher self.

My maturing character finds reward in the natural excitement of actually living my life.  I seek the rewards that come from patiently sowing seeds of life in others, so that I can be surrounded by living souls.heads5

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