The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Pity is the deadliest feeling that can be offered to a woman. --Vicki Baum
We must move forward with confidence, trusting that the strength we need will be given us, having faith in our visions to guide us. Problems need not daunt us. Rather, they can spur us on to more creative activity. They challenge our capabilities. They insist that we not stand still.
Pity from others fosters inaction... our will to live is quickened through others' encouragement. Pity feeds the self-pity.
.... each time we reach out to encourage another, we are breathing new life into ourselves, new life that holds at bay the self-pity that may appear at any moment.
We can serve one another best... by celebrating life's challenges. They offer the opportunities necessary to our continued growth.
Someone needs a word of encouragement from me. I will brighten their vision of the future.
-- Edited by Karilynn on Wednesday 11th of August 2010 05:58:52 AM
IPity feeds the self-pity that rings the death knell.
I LOVE this - it's so true! Before recovery, all I could think about was how someone else (multiple people really, but mostly the alcoholics in my life) had done something to me. I convinced myself that those people didn't realize what a wonderful person I was or realize my value and just took advantage of me. I felt very very sorry for myself, and very very resentful and angry at others. And the more sorry I felt for myself, the bigger the cycle of self pity and the worse I felt. MAN - in my experience, the more self-pity gets fed, the exponentially bigger it gets. Before recovery, it pretty much consumed me.
Freedom from self-pity is certainly a huge gift. I don't always have freedom from it - my recovery isn't perfect. But it's a whole lot better than when I got here. I realize now that I only get one life, and that I don't want to spend it feeling sorry for myself anymore. I want to be happy, joyous, and free!!!!!!! :)
Thank you Summer, self-pity is a whole part of my depression era that I am changing. I am working so hard to not dwell on the past and the "poor me's" ... its hard but I am doing it! Thanks again!
