Blog entry for:

Tue, Dec 20, 2005 05:59:07 AM


α selfless self-obsession? α
posted: Tue, Dec 20, 2005 05:59:07 AM

 

ok i am having a bit of trouble writing this little piece of self-centered rambling today. every time i think i have a path to go down i end-up in yet another dead end, kind of like my life in active addiction. a million false starts and no answers or solutions except that it was best just to use. and right now i feel it is just best to write whatever happens to come out.
so when i think about self-obsession one of the things that i come back to is this little blog. when i started this project way back when it was meant as a place to write about whatever i saw happening in the world, over time it has evolved into a whole different animal and i have come to enjoy having a place of my own where i could say anything i wanted to with no responsibility at all, a perfect example of self-obsession, i get to say what i like and if i do not like what is said back to me i can always delete the response leaving my opinions and feelings unchallenged, i actually have a bit of power here and i could choose to exercise it. here on this little corner of the world-wide web i am the center of the universe and i make no apologies for that.
extrapolating that little fact to my life in general and my relationships with those around me does not go quite as smoothly. i cannot control, edit or delete the world around me to suit my particular fancy although at one time i not only believed that was possible, i exerted great effort in doing just that. those attempts at control and believing that i am entitled to more than i am getting, is what obsession with self is all about in my not so humble opinion. yes i needed some extra love and attention when i got here and got that in abundance from the members who were already sitting in the rooms. the problem for this addict was that i as i got a bit of time they did not love me any less but made me do more for myself. i had to be taught about those heinous spiritual principles of self-acceptance, self-respect and humility and how they all fit together to create the person i am becoming through the recovery process.
do i think i am still the center of the universe? some days, but thank GOD i have friends and peers to disabuse of that notion.
do i still believe i am entitled to everything i desire? most of the time, but i have a tenth step to dispel that silly illusion.
do i still get put-out and cranky when i am contradicted? you bet, but i have a sponsor and closed-mouth friends that i can whine to and who will tell me what is really going on.
am i getting better at moving beyond self-obsession? YOU BET! but alas the process is on-going and i am still on the journey and have yet to reach that destination.
so in the meantime i get to be an arrogant, self-centered, self-willed person from time to time and clean up the consequences of that mindset. and having that ability to choose my behaviors is something that i am very grateful for, at least right here and right now.
∞ 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!

∞ center of the universe? ∞ 200 words ➥ Monday, December 20, 2004 by: donnot
δ this self-centeredness does not cease just because i stop using drugs δ 447 words ➥ Wednesday, December 20, 2006 by: donnot
∞ freedom from self-obsession can be found through concentrating more on the needs of others and less on my own. ∞ 497 words ➥ Thursday, December 20, 2007 by: donnot
α i came to the program convinced that my feelings, my wants, and my needs were … 600 words ➥ Saturday, December 20, 2008 by: donnot
∅ i have practiced a lifetime of self-seeking, self-centered behavior ∅ 544 words ➥ Sunday, December 20, 2009 by: donnot
½ in living the steps, i can begin to let go of self-obsession ½ 840 words ➥ Monday, December 20, 2010 by: donnot
µ i will share the world with others, µ 560 words ➥ Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by: donnot
♠ the more i insist on being the center of the universe, ♠ 515 words ➥ Thursday, December 20, 2012 by: donnot
≠ perhaps i attend a meeting and am positive ≠ 665 words ➥ Friday, December 20, 2013 by: donnot
¹ in giving, i receive much more in return — 565 words ➥ Saturday, December 20, 2014 by: donnot
☢ overcoming ☣ 440 words ➥ Sunday, December 20, 2015 by: donnot
☻ self-obsession ☺ 336 words ➥ Tuesday, December 20, 2016 by: donnot
🌈 on being 🌨 536 words ➥ Wednesday, December 20, 2017 by: donnot
👉 a lifetime 👆 492 words ➥ Thursday, December 20, 2018 by: donnot
😜 me and everything 😝 560 words ➥ Friday, December 20, 2019 by: donnot
🏖 a lifetime 🏖 476 words ➥ Sunday, December 20, 2020 by: donnot
🍯 nourishing my spirit 🎂 494 words ➥ Monday, December 20, 2021 by: donnot
🌎 sharing the world 🌍 534 words ➥ Tuesday, December 20, 2022 by: donnot
🤷 willingness to serve 🦡 399 words ➥ Wednesday, December 20, 2023 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

2) All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to
them, not one refusing obedience to it. When its work is accomplished,
it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things
as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord;--it
may be named in the smallest things. All things return (to their root
and disappear), and do not know that it is it which presides over
their doing so;--it may be named in the greatest things.