Pity

 

"When a person has pity on all living creatures, only then is one noble." - Buddhist Saying

We all need each other. More than this, we need to help and sustain each other.This concept extends beyond human beings, for the world is full of other creatures God has made that make our lives fascinating and entertaining.Animals and plants constitute our ecological history, yet we often rob and hurt our environment. Recovery from alcoholism means more than putting down the drink.Today I adopt a responsible attitude that makes me care, on a spiritual level, for my world.

God, as I look around my world, I cannot help but honor You.

On this day of your life

 

I believe God wants you to know ...

 

... that the word salvation in the Bible means perfect

health, harmony, and freedom.

 

Emmet Fox said that, and he was right. These things

are the will of God for man, he said,

and he was right again.

 

When you ponder how to achieve your 'salvation,'

make sure you understand, first, what 'salvation' is.

We are seeking here to save ourselves from our own

misunderstandings about Life and How It Is, and

about Who We Really Are.

 

Move into the fullness of your True Identity, and

watch your whole life change.

Good Vibrations (OM)

 

When we are in a state of good vibration, we attract more of that to us. Feelings vibrate, just as all things in the universe do, at a particular frequency. Negative feelings like anger, guilt, and greed vibrate at low frequencies, while positive feelings like joy, appreciation, and passion vibrate at high frequencies. These high frequency vibrations make us feel good. This is why people and places that inspire and cultivate positive feelings have what we call good vibrations. Good vibrations inspire health, happiness, and optimism. When we are tuned in to good vibrations, our bodies heal, our hearts open, and our minds shift toward the light. We see new possibilities and feel powerfully energized to follow our inner visions. At the same time, we feel relaxed and capable of manifesting these visions without giving in to stress or struggle. Good vibrations put us in a state of perfect receptivity so that we feel it is the energy flowing through us that accomplishes what needs to be done. We feel guided, supported, protected, and nourished within this joyful flow. We sometimes forget that we are allowed to feel this way all the time. Lower frequency vibrations are not bad in a moral sense, but they are bad in the sense that they simply don't feel good. Still, they have a purpose, which is to alert us to the fact that we are blocking out the higher frequency vibrations that we need to function well. They are a call for healing ourselves from within. The key to our healing lies in remembering that it is our birthright to feel good and that feeling good is the essence of our true nature. When we are receiving and sending out good vibrations, we are in the flow. When we are not, we can begin to raise our vibration by seeking out people, places, and situations that vibrate at a higher frequency. Whether we need to go on retreat or just call a friend who makes us laugh, seeking out those good vibrations and basking in them is a sacred and loving practice that returns us, time and again, to the joyful flow of the universe.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 715

 

• ·       "Jesus wanted his children on earth to live as though they were already citizens of the completed heavenly kingdom."

  ·       "This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before."
  ~ Maya Angelou

  ·       A weak reaction is to rush things. A wise reaction is to go slow and steady. - Maxime Lagacé

  ·       “Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely. But eventually, it is best to find a person, the person who will be your mirror.” 

  ·       “I will never be able to do or be everything you want, nor vice versa, but I’d like to think we can be the sort of people who will dare to tell each other who we really are. The alternative is silence and lies, which are the real enemies of love.” ~ Alain de Botton

  ·       "An idealist is one who, on noticing a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes it will also make better soup." - H. L. Mencken

  ·       Help me aspire to ideals within my grasp.

  ·       "It is to the mind of perfect poise, housed in a body of clean habits, stabilized neural energies, and balanced chemical function ... that a maximum of light and truth can be imparted with a minimum of temporal danger or risk to the real welfare of such a being.

  
  

Wisdom Quote

 

Ignorance

 

"Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge." - Alfred North Whitehead

How little I understood when I was living as an alcoholic. How little I wanted to know. Ignorance was bliss in addiction. I had no idea how serious my alcoholism was-how it had developed in all areas of my life, how destructive and negative I had become-until I was made to "see" reality in treatment. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to recognize my ignorance. I knew I needed to change my attitude if I was to recover. The enemy of the spiritual life is ignorance because it stops me from realizing the strength and healing power of spirituality that has been given by God. All I need do is discover and appreciate it.

I pray for the courage to confront the ignorance in my life.

On this day of your life

 

I believe God wants you to know ...

 

... that you will benefit enormously if you simply strive to

be a good person. Strive to live rightly.

 

This will not always be easy. It will require real work,

real dedication, real commitment to the Journey of Your

Soul. Yet in the end, I trust in God that it will be so very

worth it, for the reward is Self Realization.

 

To know the Self as Who You Really Are is the goal

and the opportunity of each lifetime. To expand your

definition of that is the invitation.

 

I admire and deeply respect and salute you.

Lessons Of Reflection (OM)

 

We need to keep in mind that each of us has a unique path, and that we all learn differently. When we care about people, we want to save them from pain by offering them the benefit of our experience. Sometimes we feel like we know what is best for them. Sometimes, like when their safety is involved, we need to step in, but those times are rare. More often we find ourselves becoming frustrated when our close friends or family members do not use our relationship insights or follow our dietary advice, and this is where we find our challenge. We may even find ourselves becoming angry when they choose another path. This strength of feeling is usually a sign that our motivations go beyond merely helping another to indicate that there is a lesson there for us.  First, we need to keep in mind that each of us is on our own path and that we all learn differently. When we trust the universe, we know that there is a higher power at work that knows what is best for our loved one. Since we don't want to deny them experiences of deep feeling that are essential steps in the growth of their spirit, we can instead offer them our counsel. After we have given our gift, it is time to release it, along with our expectations of them and their choices, with love.  Once that is done, we can remind ourselves that our relationships are mirrors that allow us to see ourselves more clearly in the reflection. That is why it is easier for us to see solutions to other people's problems than to see answers for our own. We can also learn from these experiences when we ask ourselves if we ever do the same thing. Maybe we do not share experiences with relationships, but we do with our finances or our food choices. In being willing to look at ourselves and see why we are being irritated by what other people choose to do with their lives, we can be like an oyster and make irritations into pearls. With these pearls of wisdom, we learn to release the desire for control over others and instead enrich their lives as we enrich our own.

CoDA Weekly Reading

 

I’ve been in CoDA for about 1.5 years. As I’ve grown in CoDA, I’ve noticed that setting boundaries has really improved my self-esteem. Anything from not interpreting Spanish at work when there are interpreters available (as it is not in my job description) to walking away from unequal relationships.

I’ve been single for five years and really interested in sharing my life with someone; however, I’m not willing to settle. I met a girl who was seven years sober in the same program as I was. She was funny, she was attractive, and she complimented me. However, as we began to communicate, I noticed she would take hours to reply to my texts and sometimes not reply at all. Honestly, the truth is I wasn’t willing to accept that behavior. So, I told her that I was looking for somebody with more time with whom to share my life, and I walked away.

It was difficult to do, as I’ve been wanting to be in a relationship for years now, and she had some great qualities; but CoDA has taught me not to settle for crumbs. If I allow my time to be consumed by someone who is unavailable, I might miss the opportunity to connect with someone who is.

OJR 1/1/22

NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 714

 

• ·       May I be free from all pain and suffering.
  May I be healthy.
  May I be happy.
  May I be at peace.

  ·       Drama is just one more way to get people to pay attention to me, and when i lose my need for that, the drama magically stops finding me.

  ·       We don't need drama-to either create or perpetuate it-to prove we're alive.

  ·       "Faith must be very near the truth of things, and I do not see how a man can live without this good faith." – Confucianism

  ·       Self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom, which is the ending of fear. - Jiddu Krishnamurti

  ·       "Life without liberty is like a body without spirit." - Kahlil Gibran

  ·       I affirm a freedom that is inclusive.

  ·       "The measure wherewith truth seekers are drawn to you represents the measure of your truth endowment, your righteousness." – Jesus

  ·       What matters most is not what our obstacles are but how we see them, how we react to them, and whether we keep our composure. - Ryan Holiday

  ·       "I tend to be suspicious of people whose love of animals is exaggerated; they are often frustrated in their relationship with humans." - Yila (Camilla Koffler)

  ·       Dear God,may I meditate on the comfort of freedom.

  
  

Wisdom Quote

 

Life

"May you live all the days of your life." Jonathan Swift

This story offers a key to the meaning of spirituality: Two little fish were huddled together, afraid to move. A large fish swam by them, confident and strong. The big fish shouted out, "Why don't you swim out and enjoy the beautiful ocean?" The two little fish looked at each other and asked, "What ocean?" They were in it, but they were unaware. As an alcoholic, I existed in life but I did not live. I missed people, friendships, feelings, nature, and God. Like many addicts, I was among the "walking dead." Today I continue to make a spiritual choice that avoids alcohol. I am now able to feel again. I am alive.

In You, I live to love and love to live.

On this day of your life

 

I believe God wants you to know ...

 

... that Freedom is Who You Are.

 

'Freedom' is but another word for 'God.' It has been

difficult to find words in human language to describe

That Which God Is, but 'Freedom' is one of them.

Another word to describe God is...You.

 

You and God are One. Therefore you, too, are Free.

Free to make choices, free to select your reactions

and responses to life, free to be your authentic Self.

 

You will not have to think but a second to know

exactly why you received this message today.

Maintaining the Flow (OM)

 

Life energy flows through us like a swift stream, when there is nothing to obstruct it. The essence of all being is energy. Our physical and ethereal selves depend on the unrestricted flow of life energy that is the source of wholeness and wellness. Though the channels through which this energy flows are open systems and influenced by factors outside of our control, we ultimately choose what impact these will have in our lives. It is up to us to identify and clear blockages in the energy field to ensure that flow is maintained. A healthy, grounded individual absorbs some portion of the energy emitted by other people and the environment, but this does not interrupt the continuous stream of balanced energy sustaining them. The same individual copes constructively with stress and upset, and they are not subject to the stagnation that frequently goes hand in hand with negativity. When we keep the energy in and around our bodies flowing harmoniously, we are naturally healthy, vibrant, and peaceful.   Life energy flows through us like a swift stream when there is nothing to obstruct it, but various forces such as trauma, downbeat vibrations, and disappointments act like stones that impede the current. If we allow these to pile up, our life energy is thrown off its course or blocked entirely, causing illness, restlessness, and a lack of vigor. If, however, we take the time to clear these forces away, we rob them of the power to impact our lives. When we cultivate simple yet affirmative habits such as taking regular cleansing baths, practicing meditation and breathing exercises, smudging, and self-shielding, we protect ourselves from outside influences that might otherwise impede our energy flow. Likewise, we lessen the impact of inner influences when we clear our auras of unwanted attachments and divest ourselves of blocked emotions.  A strong and fluid energy field is the key that unlocks the doors of self-healing and peace of mind. Your awareness of the flow of energy sustaining you empowers you to take charge of your own well-being by taking steps to unblock, correct, and enhance that flow. Fear will likely be the culprit when you cannot identify the source of stagnation -- you may simply be afraid to let go of what is obstructing the flow. Letting go can be challenging, but the exuberance you will feel when the flow is restored will be a welcome and blessed reward.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 713

 

• ·       “Everyone fails at who they’re supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are.” – Frigga, Avengers: Endgame

  ·       “The hardest choices require the strongest wills.” – Thanos, Avengers: Infinity War

  ·       “I can’t control their fear. Only my own.” – Wanda Maximoff, Captain America, Civil War

  ·       “Just because something works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.” – Shuri, Black Panther

  ·       “Would I rather be feared or loved? That’s easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”

  ·       "The Adjusters are saturated with the beautiful and self-bestowing love of the Father of spirits."

  ·       A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. - David Elton Trueblood

  ·       Today I seek to put Your beauty in my actions,words, and attitudes.

  ·       "Mortal mind subservient to matter is destined to become increasingly material and consequently to suffer eventual personality extinction; mind yielded to spirit is destined to become increasingly spiritual and ultimately ... to attain survival and eternity of personality existence."

  ·       The faster you accept reality, the faster you find peace of mind. - Maxime Lagacé

  
  

Wisdom Quote

 

Imperfection

 

"In the country of the blind a one-eyed king can still goof up." Anonymous

For years I tried to control everything and everybody. There was a correct code of behavior, and everything had its place. I felt responsible for the universe and everyone in it. Today I can laugh at my mistakes and the mistakes of others. When I catch myself organizing the world, I remember where the "perfect" yesterdays got me-and I laugh. God made me with a navel and flat feet; I would have preferred something different, but there is a loving message in my imperfections-it is okay to goof up! I relax in the humor of being human.

Thank You for making me an angel in the dirt.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 712

 

• ·       “I won’t let my past beat me, and I won’t let my future meet me until it’s here.”

  ·       “I am present, I am healthy today, and I am worthy of love.”

  ·       “The truth will set you free!” ~ John, 8:32. 

  ·       I dream with my feet planted on the ground.

  ·       “No amount of money ever bought a second of time.” – Tony Stark, Avengers: Endgame

  ·       “No man can win every battle, but no man should fall without a struggle.” – Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Homecoming

  ·       “It’s not enough to be against something. You have to be for something better.” – Tony Stark, Captain America: Civil War

  ·       “But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe.” – T’Challa, Black Panther

  ·       “I choose to run towards my problems, and not away from them. Because that’s what heroes do.” – Thor, Thor: Ragnarok

  ·       “Compromise where you can. Where you can’t, don’t. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say ‘No, you move.’” – Sharon Carter, Captain America: Civil War

  
  

Wisdom Quote