Blog entry for:

Tue, Jun 27, 2006 07:59:55 AM


δ letting go of my defenses opens the door to change, growthδ 
posted: Tue, Jun 27, 2006 07:59:55 AM

 

...and new freedom!
and after all freedom from the apart of me i call my addiction is what this whole gig is all about. i am mostly blind to my most glaring unacceptable behaviors, most of the time. this whole process would be quite easy, if i could see what i am doing before someone else points it out. since that is not the reality in my current circumstances, it has become necessary for me to actually listen with an open mind when someone else comments on a behavior, attitude or belief. my instinctive reaction however, is to explain, rationalize and dismiss such comments. after all, i do not know whether the motives of the person pointing out the less than stellar parts of my life are really pure, and how the hell do they know what it is like to walk in my shoes. so after a round of denial and rationalization, like the example pointed out above, i am free to continue to do what i was doing and letting them go on their merry way.
this is some sort of freedom, freedom from looking at what is really going on with me, and the freedom to remain exactly as i am, resistant to any change and secure in the knowledge that once again i can act with impunity and total disregard of what is going on the world around me!
but the question that needs to be answered is, is this the sort of freedom i am really trying to achieve? and the answer to that question is a resounding NO! i want to be free to grow into the person that me HIGHER POWER has always wanted me to be. i want the freedom to go through the world without causing a whole lot of damage. i want the freedom to be able to have deep and meaningful relationships and most of all i want the freedom from active addiction that the fellowship that gave me this new offers.
so the action i must take is to become willing to hear my little defects pointed out by those who surround, become open-minded to what they are saying and work my program to the best of my ability to allow the powers greater than me, to influence the change that will allow me to achieve that freedom. not a very complicated task, not one beyond my current capabilities, but one that i seem to be averse to most of the time. life is far too short to live behind defensive walls, so i think that just for today, i will allow myself to be open to the change that is going on in my life and myself.

∞ 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!

opportunities for growth 38 words ➥ Sunday, June 27, 2004 by: donnot
∞ open-mindedness and opportunity for change ∞ 268 words ➥ Monday, June 27, 2005 by: donnot
μ recovery is a process that brings about change in my life. μ 295 words ➥ Wednesday, June 27, 2007 by: donnot
α the more i learn to greet change with an open mind and heart, ω 444 words ➥ Friday, June 27, 2008 by: donnot
δ each day in the recovery process will bring an opportunity for further change and growth δ 234 words ➥ Saturday, June 27, 2009 by: donnot
¾ reacting defensively, when others point out my shortcomings ¾ 576 words ➥ Sunday, June 27, 2010 by: donnot
¤ when someone points out a shortcoming, my first reaction is ¤ 731 words ➥ Monday, June 27, 2011 by: donnot
≈ i will greet each opportunity for growth with an open mind  ≈ 517 words ➥ Wednesday, June 27, 2012 by: donnot
¿ remaining open-minded when others point out my shortcomings?  ϑ 638 words ➥ Thursday, June 27, 2013 by: donnot
√ reacting defensively limits my ability to receive √ 894 words ➥ Friday, June 27, 2014 by: donnot
Δ i need to change Δ 563 words ➥ Saturday, June 27, 2015 by: donnot
🔦 there will always 🔨 676 words ➥ Monday, June 27, 2016 by: donnot
🗲 change and growth 🖖 655 words ➥ Tuesday, June 27, 2017 by: donnot
😧 allowing myself 😬 308 words ➥ Wednesday, June 27, 2018 by: donnot
🥴 the door 🧐 456 words ➥ Thursday, June 27, 2019 by: donnot
😉 my first reaction, 😖 370 words ➥ Saturday, June 27, 2020 by: donnot
🎓 learning to 🕴 501 words ➥ Sunday, June 27, 2021 by: donnot
🌰 continuing my growth 🌱 457 words ➥ Monday, June 27, 2022 by: donnot
😬 cooperating 🙇 540 words ➥ Tuesday, June 27, 2023 by: donnot
🤔 growing comfortable 🧐 437 words ➥ Thursday, June 27, 2024 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 2

1) To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment);
not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.