A closed mind
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Jungle
Posts: 5,435
A closed mind
Some of the wisest words I have heard have come from friends who are addicts in recovery. Perhaps they come by these wise words through their NA meetings. I don't know....but here are a few of my favorites.
A while back a friend said "Well....you can't graft a new idea on a closed mind."
Another said "Anger is the illusion of control."
Yet another "I'm not going to work harder on someone else's recovery than they are willing to work themselves."
Another said "There are two entities living within this body. An addict and me. Even I don't like the addict."
Each one of these insights were delivered to me at a specific point in time when that is just the thing I needed to hear. I believe that a Higher Power oftens uses messengers to deliver words or deeds that I need for my own growth and the timing is everything. I just need to have the open mind to receive them so that the graft can take hold and grow.
Today I am grateful for those many messengers......many of whom are here on SR. Thank you.
Have a great week.
gentle hugs
ke
A while back a friend said "Well....you can't graft a new idea on a closed mind."
Another said "Anger is the illusion of control."
Yet another "I'm not going to work harder on someone else's recovery than they are willing to work themselves."
Another said "There are two entities living within this body. An addict and me. Even I don't like the addict."
Each one of these insights were delivered to me at a specific point in time when that is just the thing I needed to hear. I believe that a Higher Power oftens uses messengers to deliver words or deeds that I need for my own growth and the timing is everything. I just need to have the open mind to receive them so that the graft can take hold and grow.
Today I am grateful for those many messengers......many of whom are here on SR. Thank you.
Have a great week.
gentle hugs
ke
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
I love this one, although now it is believed that it did not originate with Herbert
Spencer but doesn't matter it is still GREAT:
"There is a principle which is a bar against all informa-
tion, which is proof against all arguments and which
cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance .....
that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
---Herbert Spencer---
It was probably one of the first things that I heard in AA that actually stuck!
And it certainly has helped to remind me to keep an 'open mind' all these
years.
Love and hugs,
PS: Great thread KE!!!!!
Spencer but doesn't matter it is still GREAT:
"There is a principle which is a bar against all informa-
tion, which is proof against all arguments and which
cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance .....
that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
---Herbert Spencer---
It was probably one of the first things that I heard in AA that actually stuck!
And it certainly has helped to remind me to keep an 'open mind' all these
years.
Love and hugs,
PS: Great thread KE!!!!!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Jungle
Posts: 5,435
"There is a principle which is a bar against all informa-
tion, which is proof against all arguments and which
cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance .....
that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
---Herbert Spencer---
tion, which is proof against all arguments and which
cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance .....
that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
---Herbert Spencer---
That is also favorite of mine.....I believe that is quoted somewhere in the big book of AA.
That so beautifully describes a closed mind.....contempt prior to investigation.
Thanks for reminding me of that wonderful quote! I first heard that a year or so ago and I loved it.
gentle hugs
ke
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 577
One of my faves..."expectations are like pre-meditated anger". Another of my faves..."living with an addict is like trying to dribble a football". Have you ever tried? Zero control over where it goes!! (The football).
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,618
Oooh! Quotations! These are all from the magnificent J.K. Rowling. I bring her up here because of the OT of being closed minded, and as I posted in another thread, there are many people in my life who condemn me for reading her stories about witchcraft and wizardry, and I wish they would just listen to her wisdom with an open mind and heart. Yes. I love my HP. No. I'm not a witch. I'm a muggle hahahahaha!
"It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
~Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
"Those who choose not to empathize enable real monsters, for without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves we collude with it through our apathy."
~J. K. ROWLING, speech, Jun. 5, 2008
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
"Taunting Death ... means pitting oneself against a wily enemy who cannot lose."
~The Tales of Beedle the Bard
"We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."
~ J. K. ROWLING, speech to Harvard Alumni Association, 2008
"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
~ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"Decent people are so easy to manipulate."
~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
"Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!"
~Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
"It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
~Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
"Those who choose not to empathize enable real monsters, for without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves we collude with it through our apathy."
~J. K. ROWLING, speech, Jun. 5, 2008
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
"Taunting Death ... means pitting oneself against a wily enemy who cannot lose."
~The Tales of Beedle the Bard
"We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."
~ J. K. ROWLING, speech to Harvard Alumni Association, 2008
"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
~ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"Decent people are so easy to manipulate."
~ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
"Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!"
~Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 505
Here's another one for you, Lily. I don't know for SURE that J. K. Rowling said this, but according to FB (which is where I continually see it), she did, LOL!!
"And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."
I think this is pretty appropriate for recovering addicts and codies alike!!
"And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."
I think this is pretty appropriate for recovering addicts and codies alike!!
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