Powerless over Others
Stop making excuses for other people.
Stop making excuses for ourselves.
While it is our goal to develop compassion and achieve forgiveness, acceptance, and love, it is also our goal to accept reality and hold people accountable for their behavior. We can also hold ourselves accountable for our own behavior and, at the same time, have compassion and understanding for ourselves.
When we claim powerlessness, we are not claiming irresponsibility. We have no power to control others, what they do, what they did, or what they might do. We're stating that we are willing to end an ineffective life based on willpower and control. And we're beginning a spiritual, mental, and emotional journey in which we take responsibility for ourselves.
We are not victims. We are not helpless. Accepting powerlessness when that is appropriate enables us to begin owning our true power to take care of ourselves.
Today, I will avoid making excuses for my own or someone else's behavior. I will let consequences and responsibility fall where they belong.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
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When I admit powerlessness, I STOP struggling with will..........I give UP and as a result, I stop giving IN. I am a compulsive overeater & do not have the luxury of snacking or eating anything that is not pre-planned or pre-measured. I have no excuse to do otherwise. I am responsible and accountable for my own behavior.
I don't rely on 'willpower', I rely on commitment & SKILLpower! OA has taught me the SKILLS I need to stay in recovery, and the TOOLS to use to stay abstinent. For many years, I thought I was a loser because I had none of that elusive 'willpower' that my dad told me I SHOULD have. Well, I don't have ANY of it, but I sure as heck DO have skillpower!
For today, I will avoid making excuses for my own or someone else's inappropriate behavior. I will let consequences & responsibility fall where they should. For today, I will NOT pretend to be a helpless victim.
For today, I will EMPOWER myself by using the tools of this program to stay in charge of myself and my program.
For today, I choose to live free from obsession. I am grateful to God for the gifts of this program.
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