Blog entry for:
Sun, Oct 1, 2006 09:34:44 AM
∞ emotional pain provides a basis for comparison when i am joyful. ∞
posted: Sun, Oct 1, 2006 09:34:44 AM
i could not appreciate joy without knowing pain. well maybe i could, but that is not what is going on in my life today. today i am at the end of a period of time where i have felt like doing nothing and hiding from the world around me. i have not been in any pain, nor have i caused much pain, BUT i have been on the verge of doing or saying something that will tip my world off its axis. so through the filter of the reading i need to look at what really has been going on over the past ten days or so. inside of me, the landscape has been anything but bleak, i am excited about the direction my life has taken and am gaining some confidence that this is going to last.
however what seems to be happening is that as i gain confidence. i am also regaining the ability to trust my self-will and that is a dangerous place for this addict to be in. self-will has never been something that has been good for me and in the theme of the reading today, the results of acting on self-will are always the same -- my pain , my suffering and as a result of my pain and suffering, the pain and suffering that i inflict on others.
so am i willing to allow myself to hurt myself today? maybe, after all the world according to don is still spinning the way i want it too, it is everyone else that is having some problems with the way that world is spinning. so my choice is to continue to live in selfish, self-centered self-will or allow the next phase of healing of my spirit to continue -- and i have yet to decide which of those two mutually-exclusive events i will allow to occur. pain is optional and joy is one of those gifts that is based on the relative nature of my internal emotional state -- it is up to me to decide and right now i am unwilling to let go and make that decision, but who knows perhaps the events in the next couple of hours will tip the balance one way or another -- i am after all, clean and feeling honest about who and what i am this morning.
however what seems to be happening is that as i gain confidence. i am also regaining the ability to trust my self-will and that is a dangerous place for this addict to be in. self-will has never been something that has been good for me and in the theme of the reading today, the results of acting on self-will are always the same -- my pain , my suffering and as a result of my pain and suffering, the pain and suffering that i inflict on others.
so am i willing to allow myself to hurt myself today? maybe, after all the world according to don is still spinning the way i want it too, it is everyone else that is having some problems with the way that world is spinning. so my choice is to continue to live in selfish, self-centered self-will or allow the next phase of healing of my spirit to continue -- and i have yet to decide which of those two mutually-exclusive events i will allow to occur. pain is optional and joy is one of those gifts that is based on the relative nature of my internal emotional state -- it is up to me to decide and right now i am unwilling to let go and make that decision, but who knows perhaps the events in the next couple of hours will tip the balance one way or another -- i am after all, clean and feeling honest about who and what i am this morning.
∞ DT ∞
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.
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!
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
1) What (Tao's) skilful planter plants
Can never be uptorn;
What his skilful arms enfold,
From him can ne'er be borne.
Sons shall bring in lengthening line,
Sacrifices to his shrine.