Freedom from Other People's Judgments. An Overview of Codependency ..... ..................10/14/11

"I have been young, and now I am old; yet
 have  I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor His seed begging bread."  Ps. 37:25

“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is
missing in his or her humanity.A person can almost
be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.”
        Elie Wiesel

        How are you?

I'll get to today's subject in just a minute, after today's gratitudes. But first...........
A Provision Perspective that Promotes Peace 

     In this weak economy many are anxious about financial security.  I realize
neither my income nor my job are the source of my provision:
God is.  It's comforting resting in the Big Picture:
      Worry and anxiety reveal my focus is on the future and I have problem with trust.  Resentment and bitterness reveal my focus is on the past and I have difficulty with forgiveness.  In each case, I'm not living in the present, which is all I have.

       What can I do now, in the next fifteen minutes?  Placing my focus there prevents catastrophizing.

My Gratitudes for Friday:

1. I'm thankful for God's provision. 
2. I had a wonderful time with a client today.
       I'm happy seeing he's open to steps that help him move beyond the trauma of his childhood.  I appreciate he is open to suggestions that allow him to move forward and thrive, despite the weight of ancient emotions.
3. I'm resting more. I appreciate the ease I enjoy in my new home.
4. I'll spend time with my sons this weekend.  I look forward to us racing go karts and hanging out together.

Freedom From Other People's Judgments

      I'm happy that I'm not as co-dependent as I was.  Someone this week wanted information, they sought me out.  As I replied, she interrupted.  (Don't you hate that, when someone asks you a question and then they don't let you answer?  I'll pause here so you can reply.)

      Her stopping me made me forget my thoughts.  I ended up having nothing to say.  This person thought that by being quiet, I'd remember.  I didn't.

      She was disappointed.  My inability to continue talking where I left off was interpreted as being "difficult."  I reminded her perception isn't reality.  How tragic it is, when we live, constantly making judgments.  Others don't want to be with us, their good will is strained, when we criticize and complain.

       Interpretation is a form of judgment.  I don't like---nor do I do allow---others telling me my motives. They are not swamis---mind readers.  I don't permit others to define who I am or determine my moods.

      It was her job getting over the disappointment, not mine to make up for it.  That realization revealed how much I've grown.   Detaching with love, not taking another person's behavior personally, frees me from co-dependency.

      I have limitations.  Sometimes, I forget, when startled.  Tonight, that happened.  That's fine, healthy friends accept my vulnerabilities.  Perfectionists, judgmental people, narcissists and emotional bullies don't.

      She was quiet the rest of the night.  I was comfortable with her silence.  Years earlier, I'd have felt responsible to make her feel better.  That's not my job, thank God.  I've learned to be responsive to, but not responsible for, the feelings of others.

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Healing Codependency

      There's a organization that helps people overcome co-dependency: Al-Anon Family Groups. No, this is not a nick name for Alcoholics Anonymous.  That program is for problemed drinkers.

       Al-Anon Family Groups is a nonprofit organization for friends, family and co-workers of Alcoholics. Alcoholism affects all who come in contact with it. This program offers principles that teaches us to focus on our needs, behavior and feelings and not just that of others, usually the Alcoholic. It's very easy to have the twin disease of being addicted to unhealthy relationships and losing our life of centeredness.

       We know this is our plight if we are over-sensitive to how others feel.  We are with another person  and they are agitated. We instantly want to placate.  An individual is depressed, we feel it is our job to make them happy or entertain them.  If this is our response, we have diseased thinking and priorities.  We are co-dependent. Don't feel bad if you are.  More than 90% of all people are co-dependent.

       Here are some characteristics, see if you can relate with any of them:

Compliance patterns:

§  I compromise my own values and integrity to avoid rejection or others' anger.

§  I am very sensitive to how others are feeling and feel the same.

§  I am extremely loyal, remaining in harmful situations too long.

§  I value others' opinions and feelings more than my own and am afraid to express differing opinions and feelings of my own.

§  I put aside my own interests and hobbies in order to do what others want.

§  I accept sex and/or sexual attention when I want love.

§  I am afraid to express my beliefs, opinions, and feelings when they differ from those of others.

§  I make decisions without regard to the consequences.

§  I give up my truth to gain the approval of others or to avoid change.
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         It wounds my ego, too, whenever I realize I've slipped back into the no-win world of codependency.  I need to remain vigilant, if I want to avoid this tendency that can slide me to despair, resentment and self-loathing.  Placing healthy relational principles over the vulnerable areas in my life---those places where I feel like pleasing others, even if when doing so goes against my boundaries, feelings and needs.

        Again, there's liberation from the tyranny of other people's feelings when we learn are responsive to, but not be responsible for, the feelings of others.  For an encouraging perspective regarding codependency and alternatives to this unhealthy way of living, you can read this.

        I wish you a terrific day, one where you stand in your personal power, recovery and integrity. When you do, you enjoy a fantastic life, filled with healthy friends and fulfillment.

Image: "Cumbria: Langdale Fells and Esk Pass" by Tim Blessed.  All rights reserved. Used by permission.
How About You?
1.  How do you respond when someone lets you know they are disappointed in you?
2.  What do you find is helpful for people to do, if they find themselves in the compliance mode, as defined above.
3. What gratitudes might you have, as a result of this post?
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Winning the Grand Prix of Life