For Today: January 24th

Every man has his own courage, but is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Other people always seemed better than me---more confident, more at ease, better able to deal with life’s problems.  I only knew how I felt and how others looked.

When I came to OA I heard, “Don’t compare your inside with someone else’s outside” and “God does not make junk.”  Each time I am aware of the tendency to put myself down, I affirm and follow through on my belief that I deserve the same credit I give to others.  I treat myself as I would treat someone I love and respect.

For Today:  Liking myself, as God does, opens new doors, evokes a new spirit that gives me courage and makes room for true humility.

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Why do we find it so difficult to treat ourselves as we would treat someone we love and respect?

Why do WE not deserve the same treatment we feel others' deserve?

All the negative self-talk and self-condemnation is what GOT us here to begin with! Knocking on hell's door and wondering how to get OUT!

If I tell myself I'm a loser and a good-for-nothing, why wouldn't I stuff myself with excess food? Isn't that what a loser DOES, after all?  When I set myself up to BE a failure, I AM a failure.

For today, I am going to treat myself with the respect I deserve to BE treated with.  I will love myself, as God loves me, and my behavior and actions will reflect that level of respect and self-love.

For today, I will give myself credit for my loving heart, my generous nature, and I will appreciate all the GOOD that is inside me.

For today, I AM good enough and I will act that way!