Blog entry for:

Fri, Oct 12, 2012 08:15:25 AM


≡ suffering from low self-esteem ≡
posted: Fri, Oct 12, 2012 08:15:25 AM

 

i try to build myself up by putting others down. what a difference twenty-four makes sometime. yes it is true, that i still have to drive down to Aurora. yes it is true, that i still have **favors** to do for a friend, because he is otherwise indisposed. and yes it is true,m that i am still an addict. even with all of that being true, this morning, i am feeling much more relaxed, even though stuff took far longer than i planned this morning and the the universe has yet to come into accord with my will. although all of this is still true, what exactly does it have to do with the reading this morning?
when i feel out of sorts, for one reason or another, one of my most favorite and familiar behaviors is “being absolutely right.” i may not be the dimmest bulb in the box, but more than likely i am not the brightest one either, depending on where i happen to be and who i happen to be with. all things being equal, that really does not matter, because when i get into that spot a room full of MENSA members, would not be intimidating enough to make me stop. the behavior, is just that a behavior. it arises from feelings that are caused by reactions to the world around me, as filtered through my particular set of character defects, one of which is low self-esteem. oh i am much better than when i walked into the rooms, in fact, most of the time i barely notice it. working as part of a team over the past year or so, has certainly taught me what i am truly worth and more than a bit of humility. what it really has taught me, that no matter where i am on the relative scale of stuff, i am okay, when i let go and do my best.
i really want to rush out of here and get down to work way early, but i also know what the consequences of that decision will be, frustration and angst. so instead i have to tell myself, that i am worth slowing down, being thoughtful and when the time is right, hit the road. which of course goes to being right. ironically, one of the men i sponsor, was trying to tell me that i agreed to something that i did not. he remembers almost all of the conversation, except for the one part where i said, yes, you always have more stuff. the way he wanted to take it, was yes i will move all that stuff, when it was really a reply to the assertion he made about having so much stuff. in fact, he has mentioned it every time we have talked since the boom got lowered down upon his head, with extreme prejudice. he so desperately needs to control something in his out of control life, and i am not playing, which is confusing to him. he takes my lack of engagement in this affair as me being angry or uncaring and perhaps, it does feel like that to him. what it feels like to me, is being assertive and enforcing my boundaries, which of course goes make to self-esteem, or my lack thereof. i think boundary enforcement is a symptom of feeling better about who and what i am, and as such an activity i will continue to practice. am i always right? not by a long-shot, but sometimes, if i allow myself to feel my way through a situation i certainly can be.

∞ 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!

having to be right 246 words ➥ Tuesday, October 12, 2004 by: donnot
∞ right or wrong ∞ 377 words ➥ Wednesday, October 12, 2005 by: donnot
∞ the more i try to impress others with how right i am, the more wrong i become. ∞ 523 words ➥ Thursday, October 12, 2006 by: donnot
· i do not have to be **right** to be secure nor do i have to pretend to have all the answers · 506 words ➥ Friday, October 12, 2007 by: donnot
μ nothing isolates me more quickly from the warmth and camaraderie of my fellow members than having to be **right.**  μ 616 words ➥ Sunday, October 12, 2008 by: donnot
∴ i live easily with others when i offer what i know, admit what i do not ∴ 482 words ➥ Monday, October 12, 2009 by: donnot
° when i admit that my life has become unmanageable ° 416 words ➥ Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by: donnot
∞ HIGHER POWER, i admit that i am powerless and my life is unmanageable ∞ 464 words ➥ Wednesday, October 12, 2011 by: donnot
¢ none of us have all the answers. ¢ 505 words ➥ Saturday, October 12, 2013 by: donnot
× i do not have to be **right** × 805 words ➥ Sunday, October 12, 2014 by: donnot
% being right ‰ 720 words ➥ Monday, October 12, 2015 by: donnot
☒ bridging the gaps ☑ 666 words ➥ Wednesday, October 12, 2016 by: donnot
🍌 seeking 🍒 436 words ➥ Thursday, October 12, 2017 by: donnot
🌈 my point of view, 🌋 640 words ➥ Friday, October 12, 2018 by: donnot
😵 offering what i 🙃 664 words ➥ Saturday, October 12, 2019 by: donnot
🤓 all the answers 🙄 494 words ➥ Monday, October 12, 2020 by: donnot
🤩 trying to impress 🤩 502 words ➥ Tuesday, October 12, 2021 by: donnot
🤜 as an equal 🤛 376 words ➥ Wednesday, October 12, 2022 by: donnot
🚶 practicality 🚀 532 words ➥ Thursday, October 12, 2023 by: donnot
🧐 pretending to be 🤯 503 words ➥ Saturday, October 12, 2024 by: donnot
Spacer Image

☯ 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 2

3) Therefore a sage has said,
'He who accepts his state's reproach,
Is hailed therefore its altars' lord;
To him who bears men's direful woes
They all the name of King accord.'