Endigar 795
From Courage to Change of March 3;
A recent searching and fearless moral inventory of myself (Step Four) gave me a clear message: Much of my behavior was extremely immature. But what is mature behavior? Obviously the answer is different for each of us, but exploring the question can help me to identify my goals and apply the Al-Anon program as I seek to change this behavior. To me, maturity includes:
Knowing myself.
Asking for help when I need it and acting on my own when I don’t.
Admitting when I’m wrong and making amends.
Accepting love from others, even if I’m having a tough time loving myself.
Recognizing that I always have choices, and taking responsibility for the ones I make.
Seeing that life is a blessing.
Having an opinion without insisting that others share it.
Forgiving myself and others.
Recognizing my shortcomings and my strengths.
Having the courage to live one day at a time.
Acknowledging that my needs are my responsibility.
Caring for people without having to take care of them.
Accepting that I’ll never be finished – I’ll always be a work-in-progress.
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I like the list from this reflection. I would add a few of my own.
The ability to function effectively, set goals and accomplish them with diminished rumination.
Resist the indoctrinated guilt of my past, with prayer that one day it is removed entirely.
Know the “me” that hides the most and coax him into the open for some quality time and assurance.
Feel the infinite warmth of the God of my understanding regardless of present circumstances, a perpetual serenity.
I am not sure that I can reach any of these be listing them. The list exists within me. I suppose I could use it as a morning mantra or maybe turn it into a song that I sing to myself throughout the day. Memorization. Repetition. This is the kind of good brain-washing techniques I would do when I was younger and the pulpit left me with laundry lists of sins to correct. I am willing. But I am not young; I do not possess that inspiring delusion that behaving right will be accompanied by super hero type powers. Life will lick me like a happy dog from time to time, but struggling and relaxing in the right balance seems to be what living life on life’s terms is about. Who knows, it might be fun to attempt a country song quilted with these assertion for positive change. Hmm.
Daily Reprieve 
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