Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. Image: "Countryside: Across theVal- ley" by Tim Blessed. Copyrighted photo. Used by permission. . |
Having equili-brium, drawing from God's strength and basking in His love and that of good friends is preferred. It's an amazing gift when this is our reaction during turbulent times. Knowing peace, when we are swirling in the eye of a circumstantial storm helps us maintain our focus.
Serenity is an amazing gift. It happens when we apply healthy principles above the vulnerable parts of our personality. Peace of mind is ours when we have the habit of leaning on God. We trust his strength.
Fullness is ours when we are connected with emotion-ally safe friends. These options are better than the inadequate coping methods our younger selves used when immersed in life's drama.
With recovery, isolating, anger, resentment, bitterness and self-loathing no longer reign over us. No longer are they our default mode, when experiencing life's drama or disappointment. Using heal-thy, constructive alternatives, putting one foot in front of the other, is more effective.
Often, it is better to not think. Just do. If we don't live by recov-ery principles, our nature is to analyze too much. This is trying to control the uncontrollable and futility.
Retiring the cape, we know ease, emotional safety. Our joy in-creases. We no longer carry the weight of the world. It's not our job to deal with every crisis, to solve every problem.
Peace now transcends our circumstances. We know tranquility because we are gentle towards ourselves. It's a result of moving away from isolating. We allow our Balcony People to undergird us with their love.
We are gentle towards ourselves. When wrong, we treat ourselves with love and tenderness. For many of us, we did not experience it as children.
Especially when we erred. Back then, it was the end of the world for our parents. We were punished. Mercy was nonexistent.
There is hope for our past. Recovery allows us to create new legacies. We replace ineffective methods that were used when we lived in our family of origin. We learn to love ourselves even when we goof.
When we experience a sad, disappointing or frustrating moment in our lives we have two responses. Tough times can be a monument to our past pain. Or, by how we respond, it can reflect the healing, growth, and grace we know because of recovery.
Sure, it may feel good----temporarily---being petulant.
But, would we really want to trade that for the peace, joy, and harmony we feel, when we replace character defects with new and better alternatives? We can be glad we're learning a better way to live. Life now is not only about being at peace with others, and circumstances, but with ourselves.
How About You?
What are your three gratitudes for today? I'd love hearing them. Thanks!