"MY CUP"99.9999% of everything I say or write I have heard from someone else; either in a meeting, in a social setting, or read somewhere. Nothing is uniquely my own idea.
However when I wrote about boundaries with soft edges, I had never heard that before. As far as I know it belongs in that .0001% category. If it has been said before I haven't heard it.
Today in my home group Al-Anon meeting as I was listening to the lead and to members sharing another thought entered my mind that I have never heard before. We were discussing the reading of March 12th, p. 72 in "Hope for Today". The sentence that caught my attention was "...a negative attitude invites self-pity and discontent."
Until I found recovery I lived in negativity and self-pity that nearly drowned me. I swam in a tumultuous sea of depression. I am an alcoholic and I qualify for membership in Al-Anon having grown up with an alcoholic brother and then being married to an active alcoholic for nearly 20 years.
The thought that I had and shared in the meeting was this:
The alcoholic says, "Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink."
The Al-Anoner says, "Poor me, poor me, pour me a cup of self-pity."
Thank God I don't have to live that way anymore. Either cup full whether of alcohol or self-pity holds the power to kill me. Today I know how to use the power of prayer and all the other tools of the programs to move out of negative thinking and the resulting self-pity. I no longer have to pour a drink or a cup of self-pity.
Thank you God.
Prayer Girl
(Photo credit: My Cup of Phantomhive by Taymeho@deviantart.com)
19 comments:
Blessings and prayers,
andrea
I don't drink that sh*t anymore either. Neither in a cup, nor a bottle.
I CAN know I will never drink again. But I can NOT know I'll never partake of the cup of joyless self pity again one day.
Good post. Thank you, Baybeeee!
Thanks for sharing. Self pity can kill.
cool. Like the soft edges part :)
Gratitude, which I learned in Alanon, keeps me from self-pity. Self-pity is only one step away from depression in my experience so I really, really practice it on a daily basis to keep me right sized and right minded. Great post!
♥namaste♥
first, great pic to go with it...yeah much better cuppas to pour...
Self pity is such a black hole, exchanged happily for some softedged boubdaries.
PG ~ LOVE the photo...and the thoughts of self-pity. I continue to struggle with that and your words today really helped alleviate some of that by reminding me to stay out of the negative energy. The sun is shining today and I think I'll fill my cup with a bit of that sunshine.
Hugs,
~Karis
I like the warning that negative attitudes lead to self-pity and discontent. Contentment with my lot and with life's events is a gift from my Higher Power. I know what they mean in AA meetings that the program teaches us how to be comfortable in our own skin so we don't have to drink anymore. Good post, Prayer Girl!
What a great analogy. Thanks for sharing. My cup runneth over.
another great thought for the healing journey. thanks PG...
Thanks so much for that. I had one of those up and down weekends and I'm glad Monday started with a look up :) Good attitude to start helps, good attitude to end allows some peace and rest, the middle.... well most of my problem is 'it's none of my business' but I keep making it so.
:) Self pity is like tea isn't it? You have to allow the bag to seep to make it stronger, I've done that enough. LOL
Here, here. Well said! Thanks!!!
I like having those soft edges now too. Even though I am a metal Tiger!
Really good one today OPG!
This is great!!! What an inspiring post! It meant a great deal to me and this was perfect for me to read today...
much love
g
Pity parties are bad. Thanks PG for the post.
Oh my! So true. I think for some reason we get stuck in negative energy patterns. I think this is where I fit in. I try to gain so much knowledge and "understanding" to my pain which tends to just push me further into it or at least keep me in it. And perhaps it is just this negative thinking pattern which was hard for me to believe because I am such a nice, kind, empathetic person...how could I be negative? But I have been told I it before.
Very interesting. Thanks for this insight!
Boundaries with soft edges- boy can I relate! felt like a bull in a china shop yesterday... One of my sponsee's turned on nothing but tears,when I questioned her about not getting back to me vis a vis an appointment we had on Sat...
I took several deep breaths and went back to my seat. Did I approach with a dagger? no- although, I was blunt.
another old timer asked me if I gave her a 'choice' - meaning a or b-
Not exactly, although I did after the meeting...
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