Todays reading is about the destructive nature in judging others. The writer describes having grown up in a family that communicated through teasing, criticism and jabs at one another. The writer developed a defense mechanism of sarcasm and ridiculing others. In general, the writer felt better about him/herself by knocking others down. Over time the writer grew tired of this cycle and through program work focused on this character defect.
Im sure it is no coincidence that I have now written several times about sarcasm. In my big family there was always (what seemed like) good natured teasing and poking fun, but the result for me became preemptive strikes when I either was the provoker of jabs or thinking about my sarcastic response to them. I continually work at examining this one; understanding how this affects myself and others is a big part of my work in progress.
The quotation from One Day at a Time in Al-Anon (p.20) is the perfect reminder:
I cannot hurt others without hurting myself.
I hope everyone enjoys a peaceful Sunday:)
Mary
DM2021 said
Oct 31, 2021
Thank you and Happy Halloween MIP Family!!
Mary and TT, I have been reading and dwelling on this subject all week in the C2C and it just amazes me how
for so many years I just had this "criticism thing" so all wrong. When you are comfortable with yourself it helps
to feel comfortable with others. When you are comfortable with yourself (enabled by the fact that one has spent
some honest time on the the 12 steps) then criticism is viewed in a much more favorable and productive way.
I can see/sense such a peace within myself (for the most part, no one is a rock so to speak) and when someone
criticizes me (thinking, for example, how AH tries to manipulate my sense of security, by saying to me that no
one likes me not even my family ). So there is definitely a two fold benefit that I see for me when you work
the steps and become a person who possesses great confidence as well as great tolerance and understanding
for others. {{HUGS}}
PosiesandPuppies said
Oct 31, 2021
Thank you Mary for your service on this fine, cool (finally), Halloween day!
What fantastic ESH about this topic!!! I can relate strongly, so have really enjoyed the different perspectives.
Good morning everyone:
Todays reading is about the destructive nature in judging others. The writer describes having grown up in a family that communicated through teasing, criticism and jabs at one another. The writer developed a defense mechanism of sarcasm and ridiculing others. In general, the writer felt better about him/herself by knocking others down. Over time the writer grew tired of this cycle and through program work focused on this character defect.
Im sure it is no coincidence that I have now written several times about sarcasm. In my big family there was always (what seemed like) good natured teasing and poking fun, but the result for me became preemptive strikes when I either was the provoker of jabs or thinking about my sarcastic response to them. I continually work at examining this one; understanding how this affects myself and others is a big part of my work in progress.
The quotation from One Day at a Time in Al-Anon (p.20) is the perfect reminder:
I cannot hurt others without hurting myself.
I hope everyone enjoys a peaceful Sunday:)
Mary
Thank you and Happy Halloween MIP Family!!
Mary and TT, I have been reading and dwelling on this subject all week in the C2C and it just amazes me how
for so many years I just had this "criticism thing" so all wrong. When you are comfortable with yourself it helps
to feel comfortable with others. When you are comfortable with yourself (enabled by the fact that one has spent
some honest time on the the 12 steps) then criticism is viewed in a much more favorable and productive way.
I can see/sense such a peace within myself (for the most part, no one is a rock so to speak) and when someone
criticizes me (thinking, for example, how AH tries to manipulate my sense of security, by saying to me that no
one likes me not even my family
). So there is definitely a two fold benefit that I see for me when you work
the steps and become a person who possesses great confidence as well as great tolerance and understanding
for others. {{HUGS}}
Thank you Mary for your service on this fine, cool (finally), Halloween day!
What fantastic ESH about this topic!!! I can relate strongly, so have really enjoyed the different perspectives.
Feeling particularly Grateful today!