Today's page reflects the experience of one who, looking back, recalled the great care taken at the supermarket to pick out the small but more flavorful carrots for her children's snacks. As a teen, however, her son lamented how he received the "scrawny" carrots. Ah, perspective...
The writer considered how spiritual gifts can take many forms, and sometimes the benefits are not immediately apparent. Perhaps what we see initially as a scrawny carrot is really the best thing for us at the time, a lesson to learn or strength to be exercised.
Thought for the Day: Ours is a disease of distorted perceptions, and we must rely on our higher power to help us see the value of the scrawny carrots we receive in life.
"..I am constantly making choices about how I perceive my world. With the help of AlAnon and my friends in the fellowship, I can make those choices more consciously and more actively than ever before." - Courage to Change p. 243
************ The farther along I travel in my recovery, the less I seem to 'know' and be certain of at first glance. Surprisingly, this is accompanied by much less anxiety and frustration. AlAnon is helping me see that even the scrawny carrots in my life may be just what I need.
I am working hard to rely more on my higher power and look for the lesson that I can learn and adjustments that I can make in my perception. My perception is a choice, and something I have complete control over. I grow when I don't insist that my perception is 'right' and others are automatically 'wrong'.
I am grateful for this reminder, the program, and a new week
MeTwo2 said
Dec 5, 2016
great read for today .. disease of perceptions is exactly what it is on many levels .. if our perceptions were 'clear our lives would never have become so unmanageable .. course that was the outcome (mine) of trying to control fix cure change so much 'outside of myself .. insanity .. that piece has to begin with another's 'willingness to change .. needed to read this thanks ..
i also need to see the value of the scrawnier carrots .. thinking too when i first came into recovery i myself was somewhat of a scrawny carrot .. well i am growing a little .. still moving forward .. thanks for sharing this .. grateful here too ..
hotrod said
Dec 5, 2016
Good morning Paul, I'm so pleased that you present the readings from Hope for today. I do not have that reader and I am truly enjoying meditating on the concepts from that book..
I love the comparison between the moms selecting the carrots and a child's remembrance of his childhood.I have experienced similar reactions from my son.
In comparison, I can also remember not appreciating HP's gifts when I received them. I have always been able to look back and understand the painful times and appreciate the gifts that were there-- afterwards. Prior to program ,while I was going through the challenging difficult times, I do believe I was full of fear and anxiety, and felt abandoned by HP . Now, in retrospect I can see HP was always with me and although I did not get what I wanted, I did get what I needed.
I love how Al-Anon points out that; "changed attitudes, aid recovery". I know, but working steps, attending meetings, and using the slogans my attitudes and expectations have changed. Today I have a more realistic view of the world and a complete faith, in my Higher Power.
Thanks to program., I know and accept that life is difficult, that nobody" promised me a rose garden" and that if I keep showing up and trusting HP, I will be given the courage, serenity and wisdom to live life to the fullest,
Thanks for your service Paul
Iamhere said
Dec 5, 2016
Thanks Paul for your service and the daily. Thanks to all for the ESH shared. I too arrived at Al-Anon with distorted thinking, perceptions and emotions. For some reason, I truly thought everything was happening 'to me' or 'because of me'. I had a very warped way of seeing events, people and situations, and felt isolated in my existence.
It took practice for me to open my mind and listen for the similarities. Hearing that others felt as I did, thought similarly and also had distorted perceptions gave me a bit of hope. Keeping my mind open, hope crept in and slowly I began to realize that for me and my recovery, my first thought/impression/perception is not very accurate....instead, it's my cue to pause, process and seek truth.
a fa
What I've come to 'see' as I go along my journey is focusing on me, my recovery and my spiritual growth keeps me most grounded. When I begin to consider another's motives, agenda, attitudes, etc. I am immediately put into a faulty thinking/processing pattern. This for me is my will trying to reassert itself and can start a thinking process that ends with faulty or negative perceptions.
I am grateful for all that I've learned in recovery. I am less fearful when new things are revealed and do much better when I can keep things simple....
Make it a lovely day MIP family!!! (((Hugs))) to all!
DavidG said
Dec 5, 2016
Oh my, Mary Lou! The carrots... My kids felt that their childhood sucked. Daughter expressed this one! I knew theirs wasn't half as bad as mine- that I had made inroads and progress- but I listened and I keep listening.
This is exactly what I wanted for myself. And i was aware that teens, right up to the 20's plus was going to be a questioning time.
As I have gotten on in the programme I have realised that our higher power manifests most clearly in the present moment. This one took a while to set in... but in the end the present moment actually occurs all of the time!
My group work, meetings, prepared me for this. I was prepared for my higher power to work sometimes through people around me so I began to look out for this one.
Then, given some trust and confidence, I began see the same working in me...
Thanks Paul...
Hope this coming Christmas bring some joy and peace to you! ...
Enigmatic said
Dec 5, 2016
Thanks to all who contributed to this gem from Hope! Perception is such a massive concept in life, and invaluable in recovery. I thought this lesson was a powerful reminder as I am challenged at times to see how others come to the perspectives they do. All that matters is: they do. We all do. And some of mine are seen to be just as off the wall to others. That's how it works...
Remembering this is so valuable for me, sharing it helps me remember it, and hearing others' shares helps even more...so grateful, thanks all
Today's page reflects the experience of one who, looking back, recalled the great care taken at the supermarket to pick out the small but more flavorful carrots for her children's snacks. As a teen, however, her son lamented how he received the "scrawny" carrots. Ah, perspective...
The writer considered how spiritual gifts can take many forms, and sometimes the benefits are not immediately apparent. Perhaps what we see initially as a scrawny carrot is really the best thing for us at the time, a lesson to learn or strength to be exercised.
Thought for the Day: Ours is a disease of distorted perceptions, and we must rely on our higher power to help us see the value of the scrawny carrots we receive in life.
"..I am constantly making choices about how I perceive my world. With the help of AlAnon and my friends in the fellowship, I can make those choices more consciously and more actively than ever before." - Courage to Change p. 243
************
The farther along I travel in my recovery, the less I seem to 'know' and be certain of at first glance. Surprisingly, this is accompanied by much less anxiety and frustration. AlAnon is helping me see that even the scrawny carrots in my life may be just what I need.
I am working hard to rely more on my higher power and look for the lesson that I can learn and adjustments that I can make in my perception. My perception is a choice, and something I have complete control over. I grow when I don't insist that my perception is 'right' and others are automatically 'wrong'.
I am grateful for this reminder, the program, and a new week
i also need to see the value of the scrawnier carrots .. thinking too when i first came into recovery i myself was somewhat of a scrawny carrot .. well i am growing a little .. still moving forward .. thanks for sharing this .. grateful here too ..
It took practice for me to open my mind and listen for the similarities. Hearing that others felt as I did, thought similarly and also had distorted perceptions gave me a bit of hope. Keeping my mind open, hope crept in and slowly I began to realize that for me and my recovery, my first thought/impression/perception is not very accurate....instead, it's my cue to pause, process and seek truth.
a fa
What I've come to 'see' as I go along my journey is focusing on me, my recovery and my spiritual growth keeps me most grounded. When I begin to consider another's motives, agenda, attitudes, etc. I am immediately put into a faulty thinking/processing pattern. This for me is my will trying to reassert itself and can start a thinking process that ends with faulty or negative perceptions.
I am grateful for all that I've learned in recovery. I am less fearful when new things are revealed and do much better when I can keep things simple....
Make it a lovely day MIP family!!! (((Hugs))) to all!
Oh my, Mary Lou! The carrots... My kids felt that their childhood sucked. Daughter expressed this one! I knew theirs wasn't half as bad as mine- that I had made inroads and progress- but I listened and I keep listening.
This is exactly what I wanted for myself. And i was aware that teens, right up to the 20's plus was going to be a questioning time.
As I have gotten on in the programme I have realised that our higher power manifests most clearly in the present moment. This one took a while to set in... but in the end the present moment actually occurs all of the time!
My group work, meetings, prepared me for this. I was prepared for my higher power to work sometimes through people around me so I began to look out for this one.
Then, given some trust and confidence, I began see the same working in me...
Thanks Paul...
Hope this coming Christmas bring some joy and peace to you!
...
Remembering this is so valuable for me, sharing it helps me remember it, and hearing others' shares helps even more...so grateful, thanks all