2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 7th






Being Thankful


When we are able to be thankful for what we have?truly thankful, not just words we recite but a feeling of thanks from within, our world outlook changes.
Consider the word ?being?. It is a verb, an action word. When we are in the action of being it is something we are and all the characteristics associated with what we are ?being? apply.
Imagine the following statements and seem what images come to mind when you picture a person in this role.
Being supportive???.Being loving.?..?.Being romantic?..? As you pictured someone in these roles you are able to describe actions and feelings associated with each.
Now imagine the actions and feelings associated with Being Grateful.
What comes to mind?
I imagined peace, happiness. The words you imagine may differ, but the messages they send will be the same.
When you are ?being? grateful you are feeling all these words from the inside out.
The essence of these words will be reflected in everything you do and with everyone with whom you come into contact. Life changes.
The more you apply this law in your life the more you will help others through it. By uplifting others you raise their energy, which in turns raises yours.
Imagine how often in the course of a day you have the opportunity to do this!
With your changing energy you will begin to notice more opportunities coming to you.

~author unknown

[NoSugar]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

FallenAngel;1488889 wrote:




Being Thankful


When we are able to be thankful for what we have?truly thankful, not just words we recite but a feeling of thanks from within, our world outlook changes.
Consider the word ?being?. It is a verb, an action word. When we are in the action of being it is something we are and all the characteristics associated with what we are ?being? apply.
Imagine the following statements and seem what images come to mind when you picture a person in this role.
Being supportive???.Being loving.?..?.Being romantic?..? As you pictured someone in these roles you are able to describe actions and feelings associated with each.
Now imagine the actions and feelings associated with Being Grateful.
What comes to mind?
I imagined peace, happiness. The words you imagine may differ, but the messages they send will be the same.
When you are ?being? grateful you are feeling all these words from the inside out.
The essence of these words will be reflected in everything you do and with everyone with whom you come into contact. Life changes.
The more you apply this law in your life the more you will help others through it. By uplifting others you raise their energy, which in turns raises yours.
Imagine how often in the course of a day you have the opportunity to do this!
With your changing energy you will begin to notice more opportunities coming to you.

~author unknown

It says Author Unknown, FallenAngel, but I think YOU could have written it!
:h NS

The photograph is beautiful!

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 9th


NS... thanks for that, but I think I'm better at finding them than writing them! lol :l






Peace Be with You.



Peace isn't about elimination--peace is about acceptance. Peace isn't about making others into what we think they should be--it's about accepting them as they are. Peace comes from us, from our inner spiritual lives, not from outside influences. If we want to have peace of mind and peace of heart, then we must work to develop our own ability to accept and even celebrate differences in the ways that people look, talk, feel, dream, relate to others, and live their own lives. If we want to have peace, then we must focus on getting our own lives straight, and not worry about straightening out others.


''Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we
do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We
don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to
leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful
child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.'' ~Thich Nhat Hanh.

I would love to give peace as a gift, but unfortunately, it's not something that we can pass on to each other. Peace is the result of introspection, awareness, acceptance, and compassion, and it's something that only we can achieve for ourselves. Your peace is inside of you, just waiting to be set free once you get rid of all the other stuff that's covering it up--those many mental traps into which we all fall, such as holding on to things, resentment, jealousy, anger, and especially the expectations we have of events and other people.

Find your peace and free it. When you do, you'll find that so many of the things that you consider to be drastic and worth stress and worry suddenly don't have the hold over you that they used to, and you'll be able to begin living a balanced life that's focused on making the most of your own life and gifts instead of striving constantly to achieve the peace that already resides in your spirit.

~Tom Walsh.

[free at last]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Thanks, Fallen Angel, for today's thought. Made me think of the phrase "the peace that passes all understanding." which then made me think of three questions before I meditate. Who am I? What is my purpose? What is my path? Contemplating those questions helps me find clarity, which might be a first step to peace. Thanks you keeping this thread going.

[BHOG]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”-Harriet Beecher Stowe

Perhaps this applies to the time when we really, really, really want to cave into AL.

[bubblez]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Wow , just joined this site .....still drinking but really wanting to stop ... have only got thru the next 10 or so posts but just amazingly inspirational , thought provoking...& above all positive . Thankyou

[NoSugar]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

bubblez;1490301 wrote: Wow , just joined this site .....still drinking but really wanting to stop ... have only got thru the next 10 or so posts but just amazingly inspirational , thought provoking...& above all positive . Thankyou

Hi, Bubblez and :welcome: !

If you are new here, a good place to hang out is the Newbies Nest. There are people at all stages of getting free of AL - from beginners to long-time sober people who stick around to help us. The links to that and to the Toolbox, which is full of tips, are in my signature.

You found a great place!

Hope to see you in the nest, NoSugar

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

It's wonderful to see so many people join in! :welcome: And please feel free to add any words of encouragement you might have. :l

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 11th






Discover Your Own Truth


No truth is ours until we make it our own.

All the truths in the world don't matter unless and until we discover them to be true for ourselves. That's what the journey is about. An insight, a lesson, a new belief is at the end of each adventure-- whether that adventure happens in a moment, an hour, a day, or a year. This lesson doesn't come from classes or lectures or well-meaning friends. The lesson we're seeking comes from inside us, from our hearts, from our deep abiding connection to consciousness and the truth.

It springs quietly from within us as we notice one day that we believe something new, something different, something more free, more fun, and more life-enhancing than what we believed before. For a moment we may turn back and say, Why didn't I know that? Why didn't I see that before? Then we step back on our path, laugh, and go on our way understanding that is why we are really here. Not to know everything in advance. But to allow ourselves to go freely through all the lessons that teach us all we came here to learn.


You are on a journey of discovery. Find out what's true for you. Remember: A truth isn't yours until it rings true for you.

~ Melody Beattie, from the book Journey to the Heart

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 12th






Value Passion


Value what ignites the flame within you.

Value what inspires and interests you, what enrages you, what tickles and exhilarates you, what sparks the fire within. Your strong feelings-- what you love or hate-- are not wrong. Your passions will lead and guide you in all you want to do. From the tiniest idea to the grandest scheme, what makes your flame burn more brightly is the light shining from above, gently guiding the way.

The universe and God will lead and guide you, tell you what to do. The message might come through a story someone tells you, a place someone mentions that they liked, or a problem someone's having trouble resolving that attracts your attention with a bit of extra force. A movie that sticks in your mind. A book you couldn't put down. Something you realize you hate, something you find you love after all, an idea you find interesting, something that makes you stop and think. Learn to tell how you react to what you see and hear. That's how you'll learn to listen to what the universe has to say. That place may be the next place you're to go on your path. The idea may be just what you're looking for to help you get unstuck.

When you know what you're feeling deep inside, you'll know what you like. If you've grown cold and bored, you can come alive again. Feel whatever you need to feel and you'll find your passion underneath. If you don't know when you feel sad and alone, you won't know when you feel good. Feel all the feelings that come your way. Each one has a lesson for you. And as you release that energy, you'll be releasing passion,too. Value your passions and the way you feel. Soon you'll find yourself knowing just what to do and when.


Stay open. Keep your fire burning bright. When you recognize what inspires you, you'll be recognizing the Light.

~ Melody Beattie, from the book "Journey to the Heart"

[NoSugar]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

I think the total lack of interest in just about everything was one of the worst consequences of an addiction. So much of life became a set of programmed actions with no underlying interest or enthusiasm. It is so wonderful to actually care again!

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Good point NoSugar!
After reading your comment, I started thinking back to my drinking years... and yes, the enthusiasm for life was drained out of me. It felt like nothing was left in life but to keep trodding along day after day. I thought alcohol was my escape from this dreary life. It wasn't until I was sober that I realized that it was the alcohol itself that was making my life so... lifeless.

My enthusiasm & joy for life has returned like that of a child... could anything be more precious than that? :h

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 13th







Let Your Visions Guide You


Visions are different from dreams. A vision is a picture that comes from the soul and comes out through the heart.

A vision is a small glimpse of light that shines and shows us our path. It is a quick flash of something that hasn't happened yet. It may tell us something about today or ten years from now. Visions occur when our souls look at the map for our lives, get a sense of where we're going, and tell our hearts how to find that place. The more conscious and clear and direct we are, the more we can tune into and help create the highest vision for our lives.

What do you want? What would feel right? What do you see yourself doing? Be clear and concise, then let it go. Sometimes when we run out of dreams, we have to rely on our visions, these small glimpses of light, to lead the way. Learn to see the visions in your heart. Learn to trust them. Learn to help create them. Allow them to manifest themselves. When the path is dark, learn to be comfortable with these small bursts of light.



Let your visions guide you home.

~Melody Beattie, from the book "Journey to the Heart"

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 14th






Your Body, Mind, and Soul Are One


The body, mind, spirit, and emotions are more than just connected. They are one. To nurture the body is to nurture the mind, spirit, and emotions. To nurture the spirit is to nurture the body, mind, and emotions. And so it goes, a continuous connection. A continuing whole.

Do you feel fragmented? Have you disowned a part of yourself? Invite it back. Maybe you've focused too heavily on one part and neglected others. You can be a world-class athlete and still not be in touch with your soul. You can be skilled at dealing with any emotion that comes along, and yet not see the delicate connection between that emotion and your conscious thoughts and beliefs. Or you may be so focused on tending to the needs of your spirit and mind that you neglect your body-- resent it and think of it as a limitation.

Tend to each aspect of the whole. Do things that nurture your spirit, perhaps spend time in prayer and meditation or time with nature. Work on what you believe; clarify the thoughts that run through your head. Nurture yourself emotionally. Let yourself heal from the feelings of the past, and do what you need to stay current and clear. Listen to your body and give it what it needs-- it's not separate and apart, it's not a nuisance. It's the form your spirit has created to experience the gift of life.

Find that place of balance in nurturing all parts of you. Then life will begin to be magical and you'll see what you believe. Your feelings won't be a bother. They'll fuel your life; they'll be the passion that adds color and zest to your life. Your body will lead you instinctively into what you want and away from what you dislike. And the longer you travel the journey to the heart, the more you'll discover and trust your soul.


Start by becoming connected.
If you love yourself and keep walking your path,
soon you'll see how connected you are.


~Melody Beattie, from the book "Journey to the Heart"

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

April 15th






The Freedom of Truth


The truth of who you are is much more beautiful and valuable than any deception you could construct. The more honest you are with yourself and with others, the more you?ll tap into the real and lasting value in your life.

When you tell a lie or hide the truth, it brings you down. When you deceive or exaggerate to make yourself look better, you?re sending a negative, destructive message to yourself. Consider the damage to your own confidence that occurs when you attempt to appear as someone you?re not, just to win the approval of others. The person you pretend to be can never even come close to being as valuable as the person you really are.

Live in truth and let the real person you are shine brightly. Respect and value what is true, rather than what is convenient for the moment. When seeking to be the best you can be, nothing is more important than living truthfully. Be who you are, tell it like it is, and enjoy the real and lasting freedom of the truth.

? Ralph Marston