The human heart dares not stay away
too long from that which hurt it most. There is a return journey to
anguish that few of us are released from making.
—Lillian Smith
As the sore tooth draws our tongue, so do rejections, affronts, painful criticisms, both past and present draw our minds. We court self-pity, both loving and hating it. But we can change this pattern. First we must decide we are ready to do so. The program tells us we must become "entirely ready." And then we must ask to have this shortcoming removed.
The desire to dwell on the injustices of our lives becomes habitual. It takes hours of our time. It influences our perceptions of all other experiences. We have to be willing to replace that time-consuming activity with one that's good and healthy.
We must be prepared for all of life to change. Our overriding self-pity has so tarnished our perceptions that we may never have sensed all the good that life daily offers. How often we see the glass as half-empty rather than half-full!
A new set of experiences awaits me today. And I can perceive them unfettered by the memories of the painful past. Self-pity need not cage me, today.
From Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women by Karen Casey
© 1982, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation.—Lillian Smith
As the sore tooth draws our tongue, so do rejections, affronts, painful criticisms, both past and present draw our minds. We court self-pity, both loving and hating it. But we can change this pattern. First we must decide we are ready to do so. The program tells us we must become "entirely ready." And then we must ask to have this shortcoming removed.
The desire to dwell on the injustices of our lives becomes habitual. It takes hours of our time. It influences our perceptions of all other experiences. We have to be willing to replace that time-consuming activity with one that's good and healthy.
We must be prepared for all of life to change. Our overriding self-pity has so tarnished our perceptions that we may never have sensed all the good that life daily offers. How often we see the glass as half-empty rather than half-full!
A new set of experiences awaits me today. And I can perceive them unfettered by the memories of the painful past. Self-pity need not cage me, today.
**********************************************
When I revisit self-pity all the time, I invite my disease to wreak havoc upon me. Self-pity leads me straight to the refrigerator, as I feel self-righteous indignation take over & ENTITLE me to soothe myself with excess fill-in-the-blank. My unholy trinity is Booze, Food & Cigarettes. If I'm feeling sorry for myself because of all the injustice others have heaped upon me, why not over-indulge myself in one of my addictive behaviors?
Self-indulgence is a fatal flaw. When I use unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress, I stay sick. When I indulge in self-pity, I remain unteachable. I purposely shut OUT the light, deny my Higher Power, and refuse to see the beauty that life holds out for me. I see the glass as half-full and I lick my wounds in solitary confinement..............a self-imposed prison of isolation.
For today, I will not dwell upon the injustices I've been exposed to. I will not be caged by self-pity, but seek out the beauty and good life that is offered to me.
For today, I will replace my self-pity with healthy activities.
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