At a Turning Point?
Thought to Ponder . . .
When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change.
There came a time in my life I stood, out of a combination of desperation and despair, at a turning point. The options were clear. I could slide all the way into a dark world OR choose to turn my life around. Have you or are you there?
I was living separated from my wife, estranged from my children, friends were worried, I was depressed and my self-esteem had all but disappeared. The only thing that was positive is that I functioned at my job and had not YET fallen into financial disarray. Notice I said yet.
In some ways I was living in a fantasy world and my false pride told me I was not in trouble, yet the other part of me said I was. I was truly at a turning point.
My life was kept together by the use of booze, drugs and using other people to escape reality. Drugs and booze had not YET become daily, other escapes, some involving computer use, had.
There are literally millions of people out there that had been in the same position as me, and had transformed their lives to a point they had contentment, hope and serenity.
I wanted what they had and from somewhere got the courage at this turning point to choose recovery.
There was and is no one right way for me to get there, but I decided to take action. Through some trained professionals (the start happened to be a marriage counsellor) I was exposed to the 12 steps, a group approach and other support. I was not ready for a 12 step fellowship. I did go for intense counselling and finally decided to take action as a life priority.
This reading from the book Alcoholics Anonymous stuck out:
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.
We asked his protection and care with complete abandon.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 59
This made sense to me. I had to stop trying to do things my way-in half measures. I had to do what millions of “WE” had done, and get the help and take the action as a top priority in my life. With gratitude and after continuous work, things turned and the turning point was left behind and life moved positively forward.
Please feel free to contact me if I can provide more detail. Tomorrow I’ll blog about some of the promises that were made known to me and in fact came true!
Friday, October 30, 2009
WHAT'S THE PAYOFF??
WHAT’S THE PAYOFF???
Yesterday, I talked about the turning point I was at in my life.
Through a series of events and people, I made a decision to transform my life, and took a journey I know call “Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” With an underlying foundation of the 12 steps, this process is a holistic approach to regaining a healthy balanced life.
What was promised that I wanted and have got. Initially these were the things I sought.
Promises
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development,
we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us
what we could not do for ourselves.
Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
This was a start point. When these things had come true, self-esteem had returned, I had experienced a transformation, personal relationships with family and friends had improved, and in my case, fortunately my marriage had come back together.
I was able to work on other key areas of my life with a whole new foundation, and to get the life I wanted, continue to work with others on specifics’.
If this is something that interests you for your own life, feel free to contact me through www.hopeserenity.ca, and I’d be pleased to share in detail the journey that life and recovery has been for me. I would not change my life today for anything from my past.
Yesterday, I talked about the turning point I was at in my life.
Through a series of events and people, I made a decision to transform my life, and took a journey I know call “Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” With an underlying foundation of the 12 steps, this process is a holistic approach to regaining a healthy balanced life.
What was promised that I wanted and have got. Initially these were the things I sought.
Promises
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development,
we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us
what we could not do for ourselves.
Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
This was a start point. When these things had come true, self-esteem had returned, I had experienced a transformation, personal relationships with family and friends had improved, and in my case, fortunately my marriage had come back together.
I was able to work on other key areas of my life with a whole new foundation, and to get the life I wanted, continue to work with others on specifics’.
If this is something that interests you for your own life, feel free to contact me through www.hopeserenity.ca, and I’d be pleased to share in detail the journey that life and recovery has been for me. I would not change my life today for anything from my past.
AT A TURNING POINT?
At a Turning Point?
Thought to Ponder . . .
When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change.
There came a time in my life I stood, out of a combination of desperation and despair, at a turning point. The options were clear. I could slide all the way into a dark world OR choose to turn my life around. Have you or are you there?
I was living separated from my wife, estranged from my children, friends were worried, I was depressed and my self-esteem had all but disappeared. The only thing that was positive is that I functioned at my job and had not YET fallen into financial disarray. Notice I said yet.
In some ways I was living in a fantasy world and my false pride told me I was not in trouble, yet the other part of me said I was. I was truly at a turning point.
My life was kept together by the use of booze, drugs and using other people to escape reality. Drugs and booze had not YET become daily, other escapes, some involving computer use, had.
There are literally millions of people out there that had been in the same position as me, and had transformed their lives to a point they had contentment, hope and serenity.
I wanted what they had and from somewhere got the courage at this turning point to choose recovery.
There was and is no one right way for me to get there, but I decided to take action. Through some trained professionals (the start happened to be a marriage counsellor) I was exposed to the 12 steps, a group approach and other support. I was not ready for a 12 step fellowship. I did go for intense counselling and finally decided to take action as a life priority.
This reading from the book Alcoholics Anonymous stuck out:
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.
We asked his protection and care with complete abandon.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 59
This made sense to me. I had to stop trying to do things my way-in half measures. I had to do what millions of “WE” had done, and get the help and take the action as a top priority in my life. With gratitude and after continuous work, things turned and the turning point was left behind and life moved positively forward.
Please feel free to contact me if I can provide more detail. Tomorrow I’ll blog about some of the promises that were made known to me and in fact came true!
Thought to Ponder . . .
When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change.
There came a time in my life I stood, out of a combination of desperation and despair, at a turning point. The options were clear. I could slide all the way into a dark world OR choose to turn my life around. Have you or are you there?
I was living separated from my wife, estranged from my children, friends were worried, I was depressed and my self-esteem had all but disappeared. The only thing that was positive is that I functioned at my job and had not YET fallen into financial disarray. Notice I said yet.
In some ways I was living in a fantasy world and my false pride told me I was not in trouble, yet the other part of me said I was. I was truly at a turning point.
My life was kept together by the use of booze, drugs and using other people to escape reality. Drugs and booze had not YET become daily, other escapes, some involving computer use, had.
There are literally millions of people out there that had been in the same position as me, and had transformed their lives to a point they had contentment, hope and serenity.
I wanted what they had and from somewhere got the courage at this turning point to choose recovery.
There was and is no one right way for me to get there, but I decided to take action. Through some trained professionals (the start happened to be a marriage counsellor) I was exposed to the 12 steps, a group approach and other support. I was not ready for a 12 step fellowship. I did go for intense counselling and finally decided to take action as a life priority.
This reading from the book Alcoholics Anonymous stuck out:
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.
We asked his protection and care with complete abandon.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 59
This made sense to me. I had to stop trying to do things my way-in half measures. I had to do what millions of “WE” had done, and get the help and take the action as a top priority in my life. With gratitude and after continuous work, things turned and the turning point was left behind and life moved positively forward.
Please feel free to contact me if I can provide more detail. Tomorrow I’ll blog about some of the promises that were made known to me and in fact came true!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
EVER FEEL INFERIOR?
EVER FEEL INFERIOR?
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
--Eleanor Roosevelt
Do you constantly-inside of you-feel inferior? Be honest with yourself! If you answered yes, do you want to do something about it?
These questions were prompted by the following reading, and remembering a time when I answered “yes” to both questions:
“In this moment, we are the best we can be. Today, we can work at loving the best in ourselves and not fearing the worst. We are truly wonderful and growing people with gifts and qualities that make us who we are. No one can make us feel inferior without our consent.
Now, we are in charge of our lives and growth. We can choose to let go of old negative thinking. We can choose to think positive, loving thoughts about ourselves. We never need to be victims again to addiction, daily living or to other people. We have options today. We can choose to grow in a positive recovery program. We can choose to have loving, affirming people in our lives.
Today I will stick with the winners. I am a winner today and every day.”
At this point in my journey of life recovery, I can honestly say I am a winner. This did not happen on my own. It came as a result of a co-creative/holistic approach to change and involved several components and I was led by a “coach” who guided me and helped me set goals. The journey included a “group” approach and the 12 step principles, the development of a spiritual (not religious) approach to life, many outside specialists and “winners” as situations developed and a focus on balance. The journey has made me one of, not inferior to any person, in other words, in my own way, a winner.
If I can help you to look at a way out, and at no obligation, please look at hopeserenity.ca and through a chat, you may find answers that will prevent you from ever feeling inferior again.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
--Eleanor Roosevelt
Do you constantly-inside of you-feel inferior? Be honest with yourself! If you answered yes, do you want to do something about it?
These questions were prompted by the following reading, and remembering a time when I answered “yes” to both questions:
“In this moment, we are the best we can be. Today, we can work at loving the best in ourselves and not fearing the worst. We are truly wonderful and growing people with gifts and qualities that make us who we are. No one can make us feel inferior without our consent.
Now, we are in charge of our lives and growth. We can choose to let go of old negative thinking. We can choose to think positive, loving thoughts about ourselves. We never need to be victims again to addiction, daily living or to other people. We have options today. We can choose to grow in a positive recovery program. We can choose to have loving, affirming people in our lives.
Today I will stick with the winners. I am a winner today and every day.”
At this point in my journey of life recovery, I can honestly say I am a winner. This did not happen on my own. It came as a result of a co-creative/holistic approach to change and involved several components and I was led by a “coach” who guided me and helped me set goals. The journey included a “group” approach and the 12 step principles, the development of a spiritual (not religious) approach to life, many outside specialists and “winners” as situations developed and a focus on balance. The journey has made me one of, not inferior to any person, in other words, in my own way, a winner.
If I can help you to look at a way out, and at no obligation, please look at hopeserenity.ca and through a chat, you may find answers that will prevent you from ever feeling inferior again.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
WE ARE ONLY HUMAN
We are Only Human
We can admit our limitations and defects...or can we? Some time ago I blogged about an unemployed cross builder looking for work, and I am posting it again as part of this blog.
Funny, I had no job offers yet I continue to bump into perfent people, that is, they claim to not be responsible for THEIR problems!
UNEMPLOYED CROSS BUILDER SEEKS WORK
Find this heading a little strange?
One of the biggest issues I find people facing that I work with is the ongoing search for personal perfection. Can you relate?
Before I offend anyone, it is not my intent. Please understand that my beliefs in a higher power are in keeping with the fundamentals of formal religions, but I do not profess to be of any religion. I respect all who gain strength from their faith.
I read a book called the BIBLE. Great stuff to be learned in there. In the “New Testament” the central character is a man named Jesus Christ who was a marvelous teacher. The book also tells me HE was perfect.
His reward, a group who were afraid of his teachings and his perfection tried to kill him by nailing Him to a cross.
With so many people seeking perfection, and not readily knowing where to by a cross for those who succeed in the achievement of perfection, I thought there might be an opportunity to build crosses for perfect people. So far, I’m dramatically under employed; I haven’t had my first customer yet.
So if you know a truly perfect person who needs a cross, please send them my way. If you are trying to be perfect in every way, please keep my number close by and call when you need your cross-wood only!
I think you get the point. The search for perfection and expectation that it will happen may well kill you. In my own life, things turned around dramatically when I sought progress, not perfection. I will never be a customer for a cross, I can now accept that through being taught by others and an intimate relationship with myself, a higher power and many “teachers” that have been a part of my life. I may be able to build a cross; I’ll never be worthy to occupy one in a biblical sense.
Want to learn about you, and achieve more out of life with the talents within you, while accepting you’re not perfect? Want to learn how to accept your best is good enough? Want to reduce the amount you beat yourself up for not being perfect? Want to stop feeling that in some way you are a failure?
We can help. The Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” uses proven spiritual foundations to help you build a foundation for the life you dream about. It works. We coach using it and are prepared to spend an hour with you on the phone to see if we make a good team. Get in touch by going to www.hopeserenity.ca and clicking contact or Ask Keith.
You might not need across, but we offer other things that will help you with your life journey."
When we admit the truth about our limitations and defects, we create fertile ground for new growth and change. But if we wallow in hopeless belief that our defects are just our true nature, we grow committed to them. That is the difference between powerlessness and helplessness. When we accept our powerlessness to control everything (not anything but EVERYTHING), we wake up to a deeper wisdom - that more wilfulness only brings more defeat. Some of our needs can only be met and some growth can only happen when we receive a healing infusion of outside help.
But when we tenaciously refuse to accept our powerlessness, our dogged wilfulness keeps us trying harder to do what we cannot do alone. Eventually that leads to resignation and helplessness. Our better choice is both painful and hopeful. We can admit our limitations and defects. Then we become receptive to help and acceptance from our mate, other people and from our Higher Power.
We are only human, and none that I've met deserves the symbolic cross. Look at yourself, are you trying to be perfect or trying to appear perfect to your own detriment? Are you ready to change an face the fact, in fact embrace that you are human with flaws? Why not take action within yourself if these thoughts resonate within?
We can admit our limitations and defects...or can we? Some time ago I blogged about an unemployed cross builder looking for work, and I am posting it again as part of this blog.
Funny, I had no job offers yet I continue to bump into perfent people, that is, they claim to not be responsible for THEIR problems!
UNEMPLOYED CROSS BUILDER SEEKS WORK
Find this heading a little strange?
One of the biggest issues I find people facing that I work with is the ongoing search for personal perfection. Can you relate?
Before I offend anyone, it is not my intent. Please understand that my beliefs in a higher power are in keeping with the fundamentals of formal religions, but I do not profess to be of any religion. I respect all who gain strength from their faith.
I read a book called the BIBLE. Great stuff to be learned in there. In the “New Testament” the central character is a man named Jesus Christ who was a marvelous teacher. The book also tells me HE was perfect.
His reward, a group who were afraid of his teachings and his perfection tried to kill him by nailing Him to a cross.
With so many people seeking perfection, and not readily knowing where to by a cross for those who succeed in the achievement of perfection, I thought there might be an opportunity to build crosses for perfect people. So far, I’m dramatically under employed; I haven’t had my first customer yet.
So if you know a truly perfect person who needs a cross, please send them my way. If you are trying to be perfect in every way, please keep my number close by and call when you need your cross-wood only!
I think you get the point. The search for perfection and expectation that it will happen may well kill you. In my own life, things turned around dramatically when I sought progress, not perfection. I will never be a customer for a cross, I can now accept that through being taught by others and an intimate relationship with myself, a higher power and many “teachers” that have been a part of my life. I may be able to build a cross; I’ll never be worthy to occupy one in a biblical sense.
Want to learn about you, and achieve more out of life with the talents within you, while accepting you’re not perfect? Want to learn how to accept your best is good enough? Want to reduce the amount you beat yourself up for not being perfect? Want to stop feeling that in some way you are a failure?
We can help. The Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” uses proven spiritual foundations to help you build a foundation for the life you dream about. It works. We coach using it and are prepared to spend an hour with you on the phone to see if we make a good team. Get in touch by going to www.hopeserenity.ca and clicking contact or Ask Keith.
You might not need across, but we offer other things that will help you with your life journey."
When we admit the truth about our limitations and defects, we create fertile ground for new growth and change. But if we wallow in hopeless belief that our defects are just our true nature, we grow committed to them. That is the difference between powerlessness and helplessness. When we accept our powerlessness to control everything (not anything but EVERYTHING), we wake up to a deeper wisdom - that more wilfulness only brings more defeat. Some of our needs can only be met and some growth can only happen when we receive a healing infusion of outside help.
But when we tenaciously refuse to accept our powerlessness, our dogged wilfulness keeps us trying harder to do what we cannot do alone. Eventually that leads to resignation and helplessness. Our better choice is both painful and hopeful. We can admit our limitations and defects. Then we become receptive to help and acceptance from our mate, other people and from our Higher Power.
We are only human, and none that I've met deserves the symbolic cross. Look at yourself, are you trying to be perfect or trying to appear perfect to your own detriment? Are you ready to change an face the fact, in fact embrace that you are human with flaws? Why not take action within yourself if these thoughts resonate within?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
DENIAL and YOU
DENIAL and YOU!
The last thing I ever wanted in my life was to be an addict.
There I was a model of success to most of my outside world. Good job, nice home a great family, community volunteer, yada yada yada. Sure I had problems, but doesn't everyone.
As a part of a marriage break up (yes, another one), a therapist had the nerve to suggest substance abuse may be a big issue.
That statement was met with total DENIAL.
My friend Patrick Meninga wrote today in his "Spiritual River" the following words. As you read, substitute whatever word you want for alcohol:
"Denial is all about trying to stay on the hamster wheel and appear somewhat normal. The alcoholic tries to maintain and stay somewhat happy through being self medicated all the time. This becomes a difficult balancing act because the alcoholic will realize that they cannot really enjoy themselves with their drinking unless they let lose completely and drink as much as they want. But at the same time, they know that they have a tendency to get into trouble when they do so, and so they struggle to restrict their drinking in order to maintain control.
This struggle for control plays a central role in the life of the alcoholic and it cannot be overcome without complete surrender. The surrender is defined by the absence of this struggle for control. Once this is dropped, then recovery can begin. But if the alcoholic is still trying to maintain this struggle, then they are not ready to stop drinking. Until they do let go of this great struggle, they are still trapped in denial, believing that they might somehow both enjoy and control their drinking at the same time.
Surrender happens when the alcoholic transcends this struggle for control and accepts the idea that they could abstain from alcohol entirely.
This is not so much an action step. It is sort of like the opposite of action. Surrender is a release. The alcoholic is letting go of something."I found out in my own life Denial is not a river in Egypt, and surrendered. It started a great journey. There are some questions on my web site (www.hopeserenity.ca) you might want to ask yourself and answer honestly when you are in private. They may help you to break through and start your own recovery process!
The last thing I ever wanted in my life was to be an addict.
There I was a model of success to most of my outside world. Good job, nice home a great family, community volunteer, yada yada yada. Sure I had problems, but doesn't everyone.
As a part of a marriage break up (yes, another one), a therapist had the nerve to suggest substance abuse may be a big issue.
That statement was met with total DENIAL.
My friend Patrick Meninga wrote today in his "Spiritual River" the following words. As you read, substitute whatever word you want for alcohol:
"Denial is all about trying to stay on the hamster wheel and appear somewhat normal. The alcoholic tries to maintain and stay somewhat happy through being self medicated all the time. This becomes a difficult balancing act because the alcoholic will realize that they cannot really enjoy themselves with their drinking unless they let lose completely and drink as much as they want. But at the same time, they know that they have a tendency to get into trouble when they do so, and so they struggle to restrict their drinking in order to maintain control.
This struggle for control plays a central role in the life of the alcoholic and it cannot be overcome without complete surrender. The surrender is defined by the absence of this struggle for control. Once this is dropped, then recovery can begin. But if the alcoholic is still trying to maintain this struggle, then they are not ready to stop drinking. Until they do let go of this great struggle, they are still trapped in denial, believing that they might somehow both enjoy and control their drinking at the same time.
Surrender happens when the alcoholic transcends this struggle for control and accepts the idea that they could abstain from alcohol entirely.
This is not so much an action step. It is sort of like the opposite of action. Surrender is a release. The alcoholic is letting go of something."I found out in my own life Denial is not a river in Egypt, and surrendered. It started a great journey. There are some questions on my web site (www.hopeserenity.ca) you might want to ask yourself and answer honestly when you are in private. They may help you to break through and start your own recovery process!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
I HAVE TRUST ISSUES
I HAVE TRUST ISSUES
I HAVE TRUST ISSUES
Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks.
-- Isaac Watts
Funny how many people I have run into convey that they have "trust issues". Can you relate? As Watts quote says, learning to trust can be very hard.
For me, I lost trust initially in my family, specifically my mother, at a fairly young age. As life progressed and I started acting out and find ways to escape reality, I lost trust in myself. In my first marriage, I was the betrayer and in return was betrayed. I can relate to those who have "trust issues".
We marry for better or for worse, we expect some ups and downs, but once we feel we've been betrayed, we are lost.
If we've been lied to so many times we can no longer think straight, if we've been fooled into thinking we are at fault for an impossible financial situation because we don't work, don't earn enough, or because we spend too much, or if we've been manipulated into believing that by co-signing a loan all our problems would disappear, we've been betrayed. The person we thought we were supposed to trust and to turn to for emotional support is not being trustworthy or supportive.
Getting through betrayal is a long process, one that both parties must be willing to commit to in the most profound way. If one party is unwilling to be consistently trustworthy and the other is unwilling to forgive, the cracked foundation only crumbles further. Funny how that works.
There are many of us who state they have trust issues, but then claim to have a deep and abiding faith is a "Higher Power" with an active spiritual life. Can this be so if we don't trust?
I had to work extremely hard at my low point to restore my self-respect. Over time, it returned. I had to find a "Higher Power" beyond my conscious self that I could trust and have faith in. It came almost through a series of small steps and these included learning to trust "me" again with the help of a "higher power"
By the time I started the process of life recovery just for me, I trusted people too little and had lost all trust in or sense of a higher power. As importantly, I had lost trust in myself and without self trust, external trust is impossible. To accept trust in self has been lost was an act that led to a dose of both reality and humility.
Today, with the help of a higher power, I trust again, and over time, have learned where to place trust with more accuracy. Today I trust myself to act with proper intentions.
Have you got trust issues?
My experiences with dealing with trust may be of benefit to you. Have a look at hopeserenity.ca.
I HAVE TRUST ISSUES
Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks.
-- Isaac Watts
Funny how many people I have run into convey that they have "trust issues". Can you relate? As Watts quote says, learning to trust can be very hard.
For me, I lost trust initially in my family, specifically my mother, at a fairly young age. As life progressed and I started acting out and find ways to escape reality, I lost trust in myself. In my first marriage, I was the betrayer and in return was betrayed. I can relate to those who have "trust issues".
We marry for better or for worse, we expect some ups and downs, but once we feel we've been betrayed, we are lost.
If we've been lied to so many times we can no longer think straight, if we've been fooled into thinking we are at fault for an impossible financial situation because we don't work, don't earn enough, or because we spend too much, or if we've been manipulated into believing that by co-signing a loan all our problems would disappear, we've been betrayed. The person we thought we were supposed to trust and to turn to for emotional support is not being trustworthy or supportive.
Getting through betrayal is a long process, one that both parties must be willing to commit to in the most profound way. If one party is unwilling to be consistently trustworthy and the other is unwilling to forgive, the cracked foundation only crumbles further. Funny how that works.
There are many of us who state they have trust issues, but then claim to have a deep and abiding faith is a "Higher Power" with an active spiritual life. Can this be so if we don't trust?
I had to work extremely hard at my low point to restore my self-respect. Over time, it returned. I had to find a "Higher Power" beyond my conscious self that I could trust and have faith in. It came almost through a series of small steps and these included learning to trust "me" again with the help of a "higher power"
By the time I started the process of life recovery just for me, I trusted people too little and had lost all trust in or sense of a higher power. As importantly, I had lost trust in myself and without self trust, external trust is impossible. To accept trust in self has been lost was an act that led to a dose of both reality and humility.
Today, with the help of a higher power, I trust again, and over time, have learned where to place trust with more accuracy. Today I trust myself to act with proper intentions.
Have you got trust issues?
My experiences with dealing with trust may be of benefit to you. Have a look at hopeserenity.ca.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
SPIRITUAL GROWTH (a part of life recovery)
An addiction driven bottom as evidenced by the dramatic decay to my closest personal relationships caused me to seek a dramatic change in the way I lived. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and was empty inside. There are questions on my web site (www.hopeserenity.ca) that helped me to realise I really had a problem.
Although my journey started through marriage counselling and an addiction expert, I have found that most of the clients I work with are just like me- OK on the outside; lacking self-love and self-confidence on the inside. Can you relate?
Over the years of chance, I have found that there is a lot more to life recovery than just one thing. To get an abundant life, I required a "holistic" approach, and over time, this has evolved into what I call "the Co-Creative (created by more than just me) Process of Life Recovery.
In starting my journey, I was devoid of any spiritual (far different than religious) component in my life. A part of co-creative recovery is spiritual growth, and the misconception that many have about spirituality stops many from achieving the life they want.
I was reminded of this by my mentor, Dr. Randin Brons in his Idea Engineer. Randin on spiritual growth:
"The 4 D's of spiritual growth"
"Strive to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To be too wise for worry, too tolerant for hate, and too courageous to be fearful. In short, to be happy." -- Unknown Source
Reflect on this pathway for meaningful growth:
DISCIPLINE - To create change in our lives, we need to consistently focus on what we want.
DETACHMENT - Practice the art of detached observation. Let go of automatic defences and patterns.
DISCERNMENT - Seek to discern the lower from the higher. What is self-serving and what is soul-inspired? Discernment carries no judgment. There are no goods and bads. Remain as a detached witness.
DHARMA - This is an East Indian word meaning "living your unique purpose." How do you find meaning and fulfillment in ways that are natural to you? How do you best serve and contribute to the world?
"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." -- Glenn Clark"
In understanding and practising a spiritual component in my life daily, I have been able to grow in ways I cannot believe. It is amazing how things that used to baffle me are now an intuitive part of life and the burdens of daily living and actually taking action are now a part of my life, not a burden!
An addiction driven bottom as evidenced by the dramatic decay to my closest personal relationships caused me to seek a dramatic change in the way I lived. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and was empty inside. There are questions on my web site (www.hopeserenity.ca) that helped me to realise I really had a problem.
Although my journey started through marriage counselling and an addiction expert, I have found that most of the clients I work with are just like me- OK on the outside; lacking self-love and self-confidence on the inside. Can you relate?
Over the years of chance, I have found that there is a lot more to life recovery than just one thing. To get an abundant life, I required a "holistic" approach, and over time, this has evolved into what I call "the Co-Creative (created by more than just me) Process of Life Recovery.
In starting my journey, I was devoid of any spiritual (far different than religious) component in my life. A part of co-creative recovery is spiritual growth, and the misconception that many have about spirituality stops many from achieving the life they want.
I was reminded of this by my mentor, Dr. Randin Brons in his Idea Engineer. Randin on spiritual growth:
"The 4 D's of spiritual growth"
"Strive to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To be too wise for worry, too tolerant for hate, and too courageous to be fearful. In short, to be happy." -- Unknown Source
Reflect on this pathway for meaningful growth:
DISCIPLINE - To create change in our lives, we need to consistently focus on what we want.
DETACHMENT - Practice the art of detached observation. Let go of automatic defences and patterns.
DISCERNMENT - Seek to discern the lower from the higher. What is self-serving and what is soul-inspired? Discernment carries no judgment. There are no goods and bads. Remain as a detached witness.
DHARMA - This is an East Indian word meaning "living your unique purpose." How do you find meaning and fulfillment in ways that are natural to you? How do you best serve and contribute to the world?
"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." -- Glenn Clark"
In understanding and practising a spiritual component in my life daily, I have been able to grow in ways I cannot believe. It is amazing how things that used to baffle me are now an intuitive part of life and the burdens of daily living and actually taking action are now a part of my life, not a burden!
Friday, October 16, 2009
WANT TO BE A WINNER ?
WANT TO BE A WINNER?
Who wants to be a loser at the game of life? Every day we have that decision to make, and personally, a day at a time, I chose to win. This is new “learned” behavior from where I was at 15 years ago.
There was a time where I thought choice was out of my hands. I had become a victim to work issues, the actions of others including family and many other circumstances. I felt that if others had my problems they’d fall into the same living traps that I did with the same poor outcomes I had. Do you know that place?
My ego was big; self-esteem was low. I had trouble asking for help; the help I needed to make better choices as to how to live my daily life. I had become powerless over how my life was unfolding.
Through what I now refer to as the “Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” (co-created because I could not do it alone), I learned how to ask for help, listen to the help, and to take action to make things happen, to effect change in my life. I regained my ability to act and not be a victim.
Self-esteem returned with doing and getting results. My ego was still there (as it is with all people) but was modified with a healthy dose of humility and gratitude. Goals were reset, and I became a winner in the game of life.
With the help of a higher power that is part of my life, today I respect that I am not a victim of circumstances; but can take responsibility for my actions and with help, make far better choices each day.
Feel honestly inside like your not winning at the game of life? Feel like a bit of a loser?
You can make a choice to take positive action. Perhaps a no obligation chat with us can help you co-create a happier life path. Contact through www.hopeserenity.ca. We coach success.
Who wants to be a loser at the game of life? Every day we have that decision to make, and personally, a day at a time, I chose to win. This is new “learned” behavior from where I was at 15 years ago.
There was a time where I thought choice was out of my hands. I had become a victim to work issues, the actions of others including family and many other circumstances. I felt that if others had my problems they’d fall into the same living traps that I did with the same poor outcomes I had. Do you know that place?
My ego was big; self-esteem was low. I had trouble asking for help; the help I needed to make better choices as to how to live my daily life. I had become powerless over how my life was unfolding.
Through what I now refer to as the “Co-Creative Process of Life Recovery” (co-created because I could not do it alone), I learned how to ask for help, listen to the help, and to take action to make things happen, to effect change in my life. I regained my ability to act and not be a victim.
Self-esteem returned with doing and getting results. My ego was still there (as it is with all people) but was modified with a healthy dose of humility and gratitude. Goals were reset, and I became a winner in the game of life.
With the help of a higher power that is part of my life, today I respect that I am not a victim of circumstances; but can take responsibility for my actions and with help, make far better choices each day.
Feel honestly inside like your not winning at the game of life? Feel like a bit of a loser?
You can make a choice to take positive action. Perhaps a no obligation chat with us can help you co-create a happier life path. Contact through www.hopeserenity.ca. We coach success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
+of+014_14.JPG)