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Today's Thought - March
March 1
Do unto others… Snapping at a friend often results in being snapped at in return. That doesn’t surprise us. Accusations generally elicit an angry defense and an argument. That comes as no surprise either. By contrast, being loving and compassionate toward the people in our lives generally results in others returning love and compassion to us. Why, then, is it harder to express love? The fear of rejection is strong for many of us. Offering love while fearing it won’t be returned makes us feel too vulnerable. However, the principles we are being exposed to through this program will help us understand that we do receive from others what we give. The scales are balanced. Remembering that before responding to anyone around us will make our lives far more peaceful. I will know what to expect from others today by how I treat them. I pray to be kind and loving. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own |
March 2
The well-known saying “There is nothing to fear but fear itself” seems somewhat simplistic, as does the advice to always “choose love instead of fear.” How do we actually embody these bits of wisdom? We begin by learning the art of centering by focusing on our breath whenever fear or anxiety starts to grab us. Centering allows us to blend and flow with the current situation rather than block and resist it. Instead of reacting habitually, we pause and begin with our breath. We slowly breathe in through our nose and then hold that breath for a count of four. Next, we breathe that breath out through pursed lips, relaxing our facial muscles, for a count of eight. We repeat this process until we calm down. With each breath, we can intentionally allow our abdominal breathing to get slower, quieter, and more regular, which communicates to our entire nervous system that we are safe. Breathing in, we are present to whatever is. Breathing out, we calm ourselves. Our breath is the bridge from where we are to where we’d like to be. We ride the waves of our breath to a calmer, safer place, where we can more easily problem-solve and take positive action. Whenever any strong emotions threaten to overwhelm me, I can practice the art of centering. Today's reading is from the book Cornerstones |
March 3
The secret of success is constancy of purpose. ~Benjamin Disraeli Inconsistency is one of the biggest boulders that block our way on the road to recovery. When we’re really fired up to throw off the bondage of the past, we can’t wait to do what it takes. If that means meetings, then so be it. If it means reading, we will read until our eyes hurt. If it means digging into the past, just watch the cobwebs fly! For a while. Then, sometimes much sooner than later, we figure we’ve done enough, the whole venture may get “old” or seem excessive—so we slack off. We don’t attend as many meetings, the reading slows down, and our family-of-origin work (examining our past and our family’s dynamics to understand their effects on us) is relegated to the bottom of our priority list. The important thing is not to stop. We don’t have to do it all at once, and we can’t expect a high tide of enthusiasm never to ebb. We just have to do a little bit each day, no matter how we feel. I won’t let my feelings dictate how I work my program. Today, I will be consistent. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy |
March 4
Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. ~Henry Ford We tried hard to be good people and good family members, but our illness wouldn’t let us. Our addiction works to make us feel ashamed. At some point in our illness, most of us came to see ourselves as failures. We were not. We were opportunities waiting to blossom. We were out gathering information on how to be better people by learning what not to do. Shame is about failure; guilt is about mistakes. We are guilty of being addicts and alcoholics. Each day that we are sober we have the opportunity to begin again. Hopefully we will take the knowledge we gain from the day now behind us into the actions of the next twenty-four hours. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, thank you for the gift of getting to begin again. Help me to use the opportunities of the day to help others and to learn. Help me to be open-minded, a learner. Today's Action Today I will list anything from the past that I still have shame about. I will talk to my sponsor or someone else I respect about how to use the Steps to heal these wounds. Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me |
March 5
What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner. ~Colette Colette was a French writer whose books give us a sense of a life fully lived. Yet even she regretted that she hadn’t appreciated her good fortune earlier on. It was only while writing that she learned to see how lucky and happy she was and to praise life. Many of us are also late in realizing how rich our lives have been. It is often only in retrospect that we can see the beauty and feel the joy. How beautiful that day was! How much I was loved! How lucky I was to have such good friends around me! What a creative child! Why didn’t we see what was happening in front of our very eyes? Why couldn’t we seize the moment? It is good to remember; but it is also splendid to live in the present and cherish each moment while it is happening. I am learning to let go and live in the intensity of the here and now. Today's reading is from the book Answers in the Heart |
March 6
Wisdom He who would distinguish the true from the false must have an adequate idea of what is true and false. ~Baruch Spinoza Wisdom is common sense. It will help us make the right choices in our attitudes and behavior. That way we can continue our spiritual progress. Sometimes, wisdom is simply willingness to accept with faith the things we don’t know from personal experience. We must receive, with an open mind, the messages of those who have lived through the problems we are facing for the first time. We need to look for and listen to the wisdom in others. If we do, we will gain confidence in our own ability to tell the true from the false. We will begin to practice the principles of our recovery program in all parts of our lives. Wisdom is earned. Wisdom is precious. The wise need simply to stand in silence for their wisdom to reveal itself. Let me learn wisdom. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It |
Match 7
Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life. ~Karl Barth In a moment’s pause, before we respond to a person or situation, may come a clear message indicating how we are to act or what we are to say. In that quiet moment, our conscience calls to us. Our willingness to pause, listen, and then act as our Inner Guide suggests, will ensure that our relations with others will reflect our true values. Many of us feel God’s presence most through our conscience. Seldom are we truly in doubt about the proper response to a friend. And yet, we may still refuse to pause and listen to God’s message—to remember and affirm our values. And then we experience guilt and shame. We complicate our relationships needlessly when we act before we think. Our agitated ego takes over, and we lose sight of the sure knowledge that God is the director, we are the actors. A quiet mind lets us hear the directions. I will be quiet, if only for a moment, before sharing my thoughts today. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care |
Match 8
Loneliness is… when you wish someone else was there, and solitude is when you enjoy being alone. ~Jonathan Van Ness This path is an alternative to the lifestyles portrayed by Hollywood and the popular media. It is about finding happiness on a deeper level than immediate gratification. It is about a bigger, fuller kind of happiness than we can find in a new car or an erotic one-night stand. No hit sitcom or drama shows the way. No commercial touts the joy that can be found in peace of mind. Solitude is quiet. It is not loneliness, and it is not neediness. Solitude is the way we meet ourselves; it is the place where we first get honest and finally accept the truths we have been avoiding. It is the place where we are alone with God. Many of us don’t know how to be alone. We have never actually accepted our own companionship or taken on the role of self-care. We can start by taking a few minutes of quiet, in a room or on a park bench. In that quiet moment, we might simply make a list of what we are grateful for, or speak to God about what we want help with. In solitude, we learn to reach down into our inner well of knowing, where we find guidance. Today, I will seek the solitude that transforms my life. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones |
March 9
AA Thought for the Day The AA way is the way of sobriety. AA is known everywhere as a method that has been successful with alcoholics. Doctors, psychiatrists, and the clergy have had some success. Some men and women have gotten sober all by themselves. We believe that AA is the most successful and happiest way to sobriety. And yet AA is, of course, not wholly successful. Some are unable to achieve sobriety and some slip back into alcoholism after they have had some measure of sobriety. Am I deeply grateful to have found AA? Meditation for the Day Gratitude is the theme of Thanksgiving Day. The pilgrims gathered to give thanks to God for their harvest, which was pitifully small. When we look around at all the things we have today, how can we help being grateful to God? Our families, our homes, our friends, our AA fellowship—all these things are free gifts of God to us. “But for the grace of God,” we would not have them. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may be very grateful today. I pray that I may not forget where I might be “But for the grace of God.” Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day |
March 10
Freedom is not enough. ~Lyndon B. Johnson We are free of alcohol and other drugs. We’ve been given a second or third chance. For that, we thank our Higher Power. We’ve started a new life. But to keep this life, we need to change. We need new friends. We need to let a Higher Power guide our hearts, minds, and bodies. We need to learn new values and how to stand up for them. We need to learn how to give and to receive. Freedom from dependence is not enough. We also want to be happy, and to do something with our lives. So each day we keep learning, we keep growing. Each day without alcohol or other drugs is a gift. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, You set me free. Now teach me to stay free. Guide me, for keeping my freedom is a big task. Action for the Day I will meditate on my freedom. I will take time to list all the ways I am now free. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple |
March 11
Perfectly Fine After all this time, after all the practice I’ve had perfecting what should by now be perfected, I still don’t do it—anything—perfectly right. I am a perfect example of imperfection, and I’m perfectly fine with that. Perfection is an overrated and impossible goal—in fact, the act of chasing perfection makes perfect imperfect. Perfectionism sucks all the fun out of giving life a whirl. Perfectionism is not a happy road to follow; it is harsh and demanding, full of judgment and fear. Excellence is my goal. I am on a journey, and I plan to enjoy myself, even laugh at myself—my quirks and silly habits, my screwups and flubs—along the way. Adaptable effort, patience, and reasonable expectations are my mainstays—self-acceptance and a love of this glorious mess that I am are key. After all this time, after all the practice you’ve had perfecting what should by now be perfected, you still don’t do it—anything—perfectly right either. You—my friends and family—are also perfect examples of imperfection, and I’m perfectly fine with the glorious messes that you are, too. Embrace the glorious mess that you are. ~Elizabeth Gilbert Today's reading is from the book Tending Dandelions |
March 12
As with expeditions into the wilds when we have endured storms and rapids, cold and sleet, and sometimes lack of food, it is ultimately the good things we remember, not the bad. ~Sigurd F. Olson In our daily lives, we often take a very short perspective. We see what is worrisome today, what is pressing hardest, or what is most frightening or confusing. Eventually, we may look back and have a totally different idea about what was truly important on this day. Let us take a moment now to remember what does endure, what we value most, what counts in the long run. For a brief quiet time, we can let go of all the anxieties of this moment. During these few quiet moments, we will identify our tensions and then place them totally into the hands of our Higher Power. This is our time to let go of our worries and be refreshed. It will provide a background of serenity for our day. Today, help me remember this corner of serenity as I meet the tasks and activities on my path. Today's reading is from the book Touchstones |
March 13
Asking how Many days we are tempted to ask Why? Why did this happen to me? Why was I singled out? Why am I not a different person? But the whys lead only to clever explanations and rationalizations of what we do or what we are. The question for us is not Why? but How? We ask how to learn and work our program of recovery; the “how” can give us a deeper understanding of the program. We ask our Higher Power How? and we will receive the strength and guidance needed. “How’’ will lead to everything needed for recovery and personal growth. “Why” is irrelevant. Am I learning how to live? Higher Power, teach me how to live, love, and learn. Today I will ask how to… Today's reading is from the book Day by Day |
March 14
Reflection for the Day Before I came to the program—in fact, before I knew of the program’s existence—I drifted from crisis to crisis. Occasionally, I tried to use my will to chart a new course; however, like a rudderless ship, I inevitably foundered once again on the rocks of my own despair. Today, in contrast, I receive guidance from my Higher Power. Sometimes, the only answer is a sense of peace or an assurance that all is well. Even though there may be a time of waiting before I see results, or before any direct guidance comes, will I try to remain confident that things are working out in ways that will be for the greatest good of everyone concerned? Today I Pray May I not expect instant, verbal communication with my Higher Power, like directions on a stamped, self-addressed postcard. May I have patience, and listen, and sense that my Higher Power is present. May I accept my new feeling of radiant warmth and serenity as my Higher Power’s way of assuring me that I am, finally, making some good choices. Today I Will Remember Patience: my Higher Power’s message will come. Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time |
March 15
Our feelings are our own. Living with addiction has distorted our perception of life. We have been lied to, cheated on, and placed in danger. We’ve had little hope and perhaps even less confidence. It’s difficult to believe that the addict isn’t responsible for how we feel. But that’s one of the first things we learn from our sponsor and other program members. They tell us that no matter what the addict does, we are always in charge of how we feel and what we do. We can’t blame other people for our reactions to the events in our lives. That’s not welcome news at first. We have lived through traumatic times, and we think others deserve the blame. It takes time to grasp the full impact of being wholly responsible for ourselves, but once we do, we begin to have hope. We are no longer defeated. We are empowered. We know no one controls us by his or her actions. The program will guide our attitude change, but we have to want it. Daily commitment will help. No one will control me today without my consent. I can choose to be serene and hopeful about every detail of my life. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own |
March 16
If necessity is the mother of invention, then imagination is the father of creative endeavor. It is critically important not to let our inner editor get ahead of our inner artist. So many of us have developed patterns of self-criticism and judgment that can quash our creative imagination before it even begins to find its flow. We know how destructive such tendencies can be and how they have sometimes thwarted our attempts at sobriety. Imagination exercises our intelligence. It is a vast playground that is the foundation of all innovation and invention. It is where additional possibilities are allowed to incubate, to marinate in our mind, to arise from subterranean and unconscious outposts we don’t normally visit. What can we imagine for ourselves now that we are in recovery? What lives might we live that are now just flights of fancy, preludes to what might be created? Think about what singing or poetry does to words. We can do that to our own destiny—we just have to start by conceiving it. Those who most inspire us to imagine ourselves at our best are often those who have been through the fire and survived bleak circumstances. We can call upon them to help our inner artist emerge. I use my imagination to envision a spectacular future for myself. Today's reading is from the book Cornerstones |
March 17
Recovery is…looking for more than relief from pain. ~Anonymous Pain is a pretty powerful motivator. If your foot is caught in a trap, you don’t worry very much about whether you’ll get that promotion at work—let alone about whether your hairstyle suits you. You just want out of that trap. All energies and thoughts are focused on that foot. So it is with us when we first approach recovery. If we’re really hurting, all we want to do is escape the paralyzing pain. And for starters, that’s enough. Then, as we go along working a consistent program, the intense pain lessens. We find we don’t have to work as hard as we did to stay comfortable. Other concerns blur our focus on recovery. Then we have a decision to make. Shall we stay where we are, balanced between dreadful pain and basically defensive living? Or shall we set a new, higher goal, and reach for more than survival? When the worst of the pain is under control, what then? Recovery is stretching for all that is possible. Today, I see possibilities that I couldn’t have seen yesterday. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy |
March 18
There is more to life than increasing its speed. ~Mohandas Gandhi We live in a fast-paced world. It will not be slowing down. And as addicts, we often enjoyed the intensity and drama that living a fast-paced life creates. The rhythm of addiction is fast and chaotic. Recovery has a different rhythm, a different pace. We need to go at a pace that allows us to stay connected. Connected to others, connected to our Higher Power, connected to our values. In recovery, we reduce our speed. We meditate. We sit in meetings and adjust ourselves to the pace of the meeting. In slowing down, we start to see the details of life; it is in the details that we find meaning, answers, solutions, and the beauty of life. We need to resist the pace of the world around us and embrace the pace of the spirit. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, help me slow down to your pace. Yours is a steady, sure pace like the sun moving across the sky, slow and steady. Help me resist the temptations of this world, one of them being speed. Today's Action Today I will work to be conscious of the pace I move at. I will ask this question throughout my day: “Am I moving at a pace that allows me to stay connected to my Higher Power and to recovery?” Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me |
March 19
Nurturing new growth Spring is a time of new and beautiful growth. There can be growth for us, too. We have spent too long in the fall and winter of our lives, the mind-altering substances filtering the sunshine and fading the flowers. Finally, our lives appeared empty and dead. But like earth at the end of winter, there is still life within us. And when we make the conditions suitable, using abstinence, patience, and love, our lives will again bring forth new growth. Am I returning or preparing for new growth? Higher Power, may I feel your love shine down on me to help me grow. I will prepare for new growth today by… Today's reading is from the book Day by Day |
March 20
Courage God, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can’t handle. ~Anonymous Courage is what makes us do the right thing even when nobody else is doing it. We can find happiness while surrounded by darkness; we can be loving in the middle of hate and envy, and serene when surrounded by chaos, fear, and anger. The principles of our program help us face impossible odds. We learn that any act of courage may produce future victory for ourselves and others. The courage that we want takes its strength from faith, not from bravery or physical strength. Foolish, unthinking courage, though, can be destructive to us or to others. Sensible courage never fails because it is made up of truth and faith. Let truth and faith give me courage, so that when fear knocks, no one is there. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It |
March 21
To give and to receive are one in truth. ~A Course in Miracles Giving our love away, honoring someone in need by giving our full attention, will usually bring kindness and concern in return. And unkindness and neglect on our part are likely to result in the same from others. We will usually elicit that which we’ve so thoughtfully or thoughtlessly given. Not many elements in our life are so fully in our control as how we choose to treat other people. There are few among us who aren’t moved by another’s expression of pure, unconditional love. We are humbled by it and feel valued. We can honor the existence of our fellow travelers by our open, willing love for them, too. We need to feel appreciated. And yet, to express appreciation is such a simple act, one that has profound effects for all concerned. Acts of kindness multiply very quickly; we contribute to a world favoring our true humanity when we give out loving thoughts even as we receive them. I will extend the hand of love to a friend today and thus help to make a better world. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care |
March 22
You’re never too old to grow up. ~Shirley Conran A child’s view of adults is that they have arrived at some fixed point where they are emancipated and have all the tools necessary for life. An adult knows that we never stop growing. Many of us have been stuck in an immature level of development. Our life stresses and our addictions took us off the track of emotional growth. We found substitutes and evasions for truly dealing with the normal life problems. Now we are back on the much more rewarding path of truly living and growing. We accept the adult wisdom that we all need help and we all continue to learn and grow throughout our life span. We finally feel like adults because we take responsibility for our actions. We don’t blame others for our problems, and when our days feel challenging, we can ask for help. Back on our path, we are never alone. Today, I am grateful to be on the path of dealing with my life and continuing to grow truly stronger. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones |
March 23
AA Thought for the Day Getting sober was a long and painful journey, but we can truthfully say it was worth it. We know now that all we’ve been through has led us to AA and was part of our spiritual journey. We found in AA what we had been vainly seeking in the bottle. We’ve learned that our journey goes on as we continue to deal with our shortcomings and the human problems everybody must face. And when we reach a crossroads or a roadblock, we know that our Higher Power will come to our aid in making the right choices and surmounting all obstacles. Do I turn to my Higher Power to sustain me as I continue the spiritual journey that brought me to AA? Meditation for the Day As I continue on my spiritual journey, I will seek and follow Divine Guidance and know there is always a place prepared for me. Nothing but my own pride and fear can keep me from my dwelling place with God. I need not strain or struggle to obtain that which God wants me to have. My only responsibility is to accept God’s guidance and follow the highest principles in all my affairs. Prayer for the Day I pray that I’ll continue to seek guidance as my spiritual journey continues today. I pray to trust that I am always doing the right thing and am in the right place when my Higher Power is leading me. Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day |
March 24
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. ~The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous If we follow the Twelve Steps, we’ll leave failure behind. We may have tried and tried to be sober, good people, but we failed if we were doing it our own way. Now is the time to stop listening to ourselves and to start listening to the pros, those who have gone before us. When we follow their lead, exciting changes happen. First, we stay sober. We regain self-respect. We meet people we respect and become friends. Our families start to trust us again. And why? Because we gave up doing it our way and listened. We listened to the experts. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, allow me to become an expert listener. Action for the Day Today I’ll find someone I respect and ask how they work their program. I’ll ask them to share their wisdom. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple |
March 25
Clean Sweep Clean it up, clear it out. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to sweep up all the old resentments and all the things that have made me feel wronged. I’m going to brush them aside without looking and toss them anywhere that falls outside of the inside of my head. I’m going to make a clean sweep with the broom of forgiveness so I am freshened and freed, not stuck in the same old mud. The slaps-in-the-face and stabs-in-the-back came at the hand of someone who most likely did the deed and never looked back. So, by hanging on to anger and grudges, I’m poisoning only myself with a poison of my own making. How stupid. While I’m at it, while I’m tidying things up, I’m going to forgive new wrongs as they come. Forgiveness doesn’t mean I will accept new wrongs as they come; it means I will turn and walk away from kicks-in-the-teeth instead of carrying a vendetta in my soul. In embracing forgiveness, I’m no longer going to store toxins in my head and heart…or life. I’m booting them out. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behavior. Forgiveness pre* vents their behavior from destroying your heart. Today's reading is from the book Tending Dandelions |
March 26
One should learn to enjoy the neighbor’s garden, however small; the roses straggling over the fence, the scent of lilacs drifting across the road. ~Henry Van Dyke There are many gifts around us that we overlook when we’re busy dealing with our anxieties and obligations. We talk about burning out from our high-intensity lifestyles. We act as though nothing would get done if we didn’t do it ourselves. We get so engrossed in fighting with the frustrations of life that we fail to see the good things coming our way that took no effort on our part. As we look around us this very moment, what good things do we find? Has a friend given a warm hello? Is the sun shining? The rain falling? Has the traffic flowed smoothly? We have no claim on these generous events, and we can’t say God smiles on us when we have them or frowns when we don’t. We can say there are always generous forces coming our way that comfort and heal us. We only need to take time to enjoy them. Today, I will take some quiet moments to notice the good things coming my way. I will be grateful for them. Today's reading is from the book Touchstones |
March 27
Working Today As we approach a new year, many of us feel fear. We look back on the past and worry about the future. But if we remember we only have today, we can work to make that future better. We have found true friends in our fellowship, and this is a time to be with them. Am I ensuring a fruitful future by working with all I’ve got today? Higher Power, I pray for guidance for today and for freedom from worry about tomorrow. Today I will work for the fellowship by… Today's reading is from the book Day by Day |
March 28
Reflection for the Day “What you have may seem small; you desire so much more. See children thrusting their hands into a narrow-necked jar, striving to pull out the sweets. If they fill the hand, they cannot pull it out, and then they fall to tears. When they let go a few, they can draw out the rest. You, too, let your desire go; covet not too much,” wrote Epictetus. Let me expect not too much of anyone, particularly myself. Let me learn to settle for less than I wish were possible and be willing to accept it and appreciate it. Do I accept gratefully and graciously the good that has already come to me in the program? Today I Pray May I search my soul for those little hankerings of want that may keep me from delighting in all that I have. If I can just teach myself not to want too much, not to expect too much, then when those expectations are not satisfied, I will not be let down. May I accept with grace what the grace of my Higher Power has provided. Today I Will Remember I, alone, can grant myself the “freedom from want.” Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time |
March 29
Loving others is directly proportional to how much we love ourselves. Do we really love ourselves? Do we forgive ourselves when we blatantly judge others or when we fail on the job or in a relationship? Expecting perfection of ourselves is setting a standard that is unachievable. To love means to accept ourselves wholly, failings and all. We can practice forgiving ourselves and others. Forgiving ourselves for our transgressions, regardless of what they are, will get easier with practice. Forgiving others will remove the barriers that separate us and prevent us from knowing love. Our Higher Power asks very little of us. Careers aren’t dictated. We can live almost anywhere we want. We may choose to have children or remain childless. All that’s really asked is that we live our lives with love in our hearts. Being willing to love ourselves helps us love others too. If I’m feeling hateful or judgmental toward someone today, I’m not loving myself either. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own |
March 30
If our life is a book, and our current situation a chapter, what might be their titles? It can be fun to come up with some entertaining and insightful answers. Our inner pathfinder asks us to frequently reflect on where we are on our journey. Taking an eagle-eyed view can help us truly understand the larger perspective and appreciate the progress we have made. Is my life better than it was a year ago? Has my progress in recovery opened up new horizons, allowing me to navigate the low valleys more easily? Creating time once a month to contemplate the simple question “How am I doing?” and then journaling our insights can be very helpful. This practice is similar to regularly consulting a map when on a long expedition. Such check-ins help us examine if we are indeed living what we say is most important to us. We notice where we stray from our desired path and how we inevitably manage to get back on track again. Just as an airplane is constantly course-correcting as it flies from one place to another, our journaling allows us to adjust our direction. Regular writing about my life helps clarify and reinforce my core values. Today's reading is from the book Cornerstones |
March 31
Freedom is the right to choose; the right to create for yourself the alternatives of choice. Without the exercise of choice, a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing. ~Archibald MacLeish Gaining personal freedom is no easy matter. Not that it’s impossible to achieve; rather, it’s all too possible, in our heart of hearts, not to really want authentic freedom. One of the prices of freedom is the requirement that we name our deficiencies. How we dig in our heels when it’s time for such honesty! We dread it so much we may refuse to even attempt change, let alone accept a program of change and stick with it. But there is no other way. We can’t break our own bindings if we refuse to acknowledge them! But however deep our habits or powerful our compulsions—there are others of us in the program who have had similar feelings. We are not the first or the worst. If we must begin by praying to want freedom, then that’s where we begin. Today, I move toward greater freedom by looking with greater understanding on my fears. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy, Daily Meditations for Adult Children |
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