Language of Letting Go - May 27
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Language of Letting Go - May 27
You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go
Recognizing Choices
We have choices, more choices than we let ourselves see.
We may feel trapped in our relationships, our jobs, our life. We may feel locked into behaviors such as caretaking or controlling.
Feeling trapped is a symptom of codependency. When we hear ourselves say, I have to take care of this person . . . I have to say yes . . . I have to try to control that person . . . I have to behave this way, think this way, feel this way . . . we can know we are choosing not to see choices.
That sense of being trapped is an illusion. We are not controlled by circumstances, our past, the expectations of others, or our unhealthy expectations for ourselves. We can choose what feels right for us, without guilt. We have options.
Recovery is not about behaving perfectly or according to anyone else's rules. More than anything else, recovery is about knowing we have choices and giving ourselves the freedom to choose.
Today, I will open my thinking and myself to the choices available to me. I will make choices that are good for me.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
Recognizing Choices
We have choices, more choices than we let ourselves see.
We may feel trapped in our relationships, our jobs, our life. We may feel locked into behaviors such as caretaking or controlling.
Feeling trapped is a symptom of codependency. When we hear ourselves say, I have to take care of this person . . . I have to say yes . . . I have to try to control that person . . . I have to behave this way, think this way, feel this way . . . we can know we are choosing not to see choices.
That sense of being trapped is an illusion. We are not controlled by circumstances, our past, the expectations of others, or our unhealthy expectations for ourselves. We can choose what feels right for us, without guilt. We have options.
Recovery is not about behaving perfectly or according to anyone else's rules. More than anything else, recovery is about knowing we have choices and giving ourselves the freedom to choose.
Today, I will open my thinking and myself to the choices available to me. I will make choices that are good for me.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: In the mountain air
Posts: 1,345
Love this one, Ann...
I forget that I have choices...not the regular, day-to-day choices, like what to take out of the freezer for dinner, but the ones about what I'm going to do for my life, for my future. Flowerguy recently reminded me of that, without a single clue that I needed the reminder. He told me that when looking for a job, not to just feel that I have to take any job, find one that I'll be happy with, one that offers me what I'm worth...and I was thinking just the opposite, that I had to hurry up and just find something, so as to do my part in taking care of the financial end of things around here.
I like the opportunity to choose where I'm going. I like that he understands that choices are necessary in life, and that I can't let needing to take care of anything or anyone make my choices for me.
Recovery is not about behaving perfectly or according to anyone else's rules. More than anything else, recovery is about knowing we have choices and giving ourselves the freedom to choose.
I like the opportunity to choose where I'm going. I like that he understands that choices are necessary in life, and that I can't let needing to take care of anything or anyone make my choices for me.
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Trish, I just love that flowerguy.
I did the same thing this past year, after taking a lot of time off just for "me". Deciding what I wanted to do and then going ahead and doing it...making the choice to do just that...and not worry about the financial need but instead thinking about MY own need.
It took me to a great place and work that I love because I'm working for me and have choices every day. It will take you some place good also, I just know it.
I did the same thing this past year, after taking a lot of time off just for "me". Deciding what I wanted to do and then going ahead and doing it...making the choice to do just that...and not worry about the financial need but instead thinking about MY own need.
It took me to a great place and work that I love because I'm working for me and have choices every day. It will take you some place good also, I just know it.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
