Daily Reflections - Comments Welcome - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

**Ann** · 04-13-2007, 03:56 AM

Daily Reflections

THE FALSE COMFORT OF SELF-PITY

Self-pity is one of the most unhappy and consuming defects
that we know. It is a bar to all spiritual progress and
can cut off all effective communication with our fellows
because of its inordinate demands for attention and sympathy.
It is a maudlin form of martyrdom, which we can ill afford.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 238

The false comfort of self-pity screens me from reality
only momentarily and then demands, like a drug, that I
take an ever bigger dose. If I succumb to this it could
lead to a relapse into drinking. What can I do? One certain
antidote is to turn my attention, however slightly at first,
toward others who are genuinely less fortunate than I,
preferably other alcoholics. In the same degree that I
actively demonstrate my empathy with them, I will lessen
my own exaggerated suffering.

Sheryl85 · 04-13-2007, 08:31 AM

The only thing I ever got for sitting on my pity-pot was a red ring around my butt and no one to show it to.

Pilgrim · 04-13-2007, 08:37 AM

I read this one today too. This is a big one for me. I just don't have space on my plate for anything except not drinking today. I am breathing and I am not drinking. That is enough to deal with. That is just today though.

04-13-2007, 03:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ann Forum Leader Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 25,173	Daily Reflections - Comments Welcome Daily Reflections THE FALSE COMFORT OF SELF-PITY Self-pity is one of the most unhappy and consuming defects that we know. It is a bar to all spiritual progress and can cut off all effective communication with our fellows because of its inordinate demands for attention and sympathy. It is a maudlin form of martyrdom, which we can ill afford. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 238 The false comfort of self-pity screens me from reality only momentarily and then demands, like a drug, that I take an ever bigger dose. If I succumb to this it could lead to a relapse into drinking. What can I do? One certain antidote is to turn my attention, however slightly at first, toward others who are genuinely less fortunate than I, preferably other alcoholics. In the same degree that I actively demonstrate my empathy with them, I will lessen my own exaggerated suffering. __________________ “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Winnie the Pooh~

04-13-2007, 08:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 630	The only thing I ever got for sitting on my pity-pot was a red ring around my butt and no one to show it to. __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

04-13-2007, 08:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pilgrim Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,623	I read this one today too. This is a big one for me. I just don't have space on my plate for anything except not drinking today. I am breathing and I am not drinking. That is enough to deal with. That is just today though. __________________ ************************************ 3 August 2007 Be a fisher of men. You catch them. He’ll clean them! Cliff B (Texas)

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