Courage to Change:
The unpleasant things other people say or do have no power to destroy my peace of mind or ruin my day unless I permit it. Do I allow myself to respond to the words of a sick person as if they were the ultimate truth? Could I possibly be getting some benefit from accepting humiliation?
Sometimes I wonder. I played the martyr role for a long time. My suffering brought me a lot of attention and pity. I grew accustomed to blaming others for my problems, and I avoided taking responsibility for my own life. In other words, I suspect I may have benefited from my pain. But those benefits are no longer worth the price.
Today I am finding out who I really am with the help of my Higher Power and the Al-Anon program. There is a beautiful person within me who has no need to build an identity around suffering. I am learning to let that person blossom instead of hiding behind a cloak of suffering. I don’t want to miss any more of the wonderful opportunities available to me to live, grow, and enjoy.
Today’s Reminder:
There is so much to appreciate in this life. I won’t waste another moment feeling sorry for myself.
“…the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.”
– Martha Washington