Blog entry for:

Thu, Jun 4, 2009 09:02:55 AM


Σ sometimes i may think the only way i can feel good about myself …
posted: Thu, Jun 4, 2009 09:02:55 AM

 

...is to make someone else look bad by comparison. self-esteem that is purchased at the expense of another is hollow and not worth the price.
as i read this little ditty, i was struck by how far from being the man of my vision i have been the last few days. not that i was that much more selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed and self-entitled than usual, but more than enough to need to check what is going on inside. it is ironic, how the little difference in my behavior show up these days in my daily inventory and morning meditation. that is of course a good thing, i GET to catch problems when they are still in their early stage and perhaps make the adaptations to the underlying causes. of course what doe any of this have to do with purchasing self-esteem at the expense of others? well the example given was gossiping, and i have not gone there, YET! i have been somewhat of an emotional bully, and the cause of that i think is a diminished sense of self-esteem. that lack seems to be tied to the fact that my income has been lessened over the past month, and although i would deny it, i really do care about how much dinero i appear to be pulling in. YUCK!
so the solution? well i do have a step writing assignment that is covered with a few inches of dust, that i might actually start writing on. i do have a couple of projects that need to be started in the background, that i have been pretending do not exist. i do have a few sponsees who need a little bit of sponsor prodding top get moving. there are a few yard and home improvement projects that need to be done. and of course there are projects in service that have been languishing on my desk for months and what feels like centuries. so more than enough to do, to restore my sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. what do i see in the near future? well a trot around the hood, a morning in the gar shop, a concerted effort to clean off my desk, mow and trim the grass, and walking the dog. perhaps at the end of all of that a bit o the step work this evening, at the end of the day i am certain i will be better off spiritually, than i am right now, and who knows perhaps the bully will return to his hiding place once again.
so off to the streets and into reality again.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

∞ choosing to build ∞ 212 words ➥ Saturday, June 4, 2005 by: donnot
∞ purchasing self-esteem at the expense of another person is hollow... ∞ 371 words ➥ Sunday, June 4, 2006 by: donnot
μ there is nothing i can do by dwelling on my low sense of self except μ 502 words ➥ Monday, June 4, 2007 by: donnot
μ how, then, do i deal with my negative sense of self? μ 597 words ➥ Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by: donnot
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Ξ i can ask myself, are my actions Ξ 404 words ➥ Monday, June 4, 2012 by: donnot
℘  as i actively replace my self-pity with loving concern for others, ℘ 652 words ➥ Tuesday, June 4, 2013 by: donnot
− though i may be feeling low, i do not need − 689 words ➥ Wednesday, June 4, 2014 by: donnot
¥ spreading gossip ¥ 451 words ➥ Thursday, June 4, 2015 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 1

1) The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree,
and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike
go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return
(to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have
displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its
root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness;
and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled
their appointed end.