personal growth
Having faith sometimes requires stepping into the unknown
When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. —Edward Teller Belief is an…
Read MoreWe can only see what is in front of our eyes; we cannot see the history.
We see anger but not the earlier years of abuse or fear We see selfishness but not the previous poverty of love We see self-centeredness and self-righteousness but not the low self-esteem or the despair of self-loathing. We see the inability to engage in healthy relationships but not the absence of spiritual core with lack…
Read MoreMeasure progress by how far you’ve come—not how far you’ve got to go
We are human; our daily performance sometimes falls short of our expectations. We may revert back to our old ways, making choices and taking actions based self-driven will. When this occurs, we may compare our performance to where we believe we should be and become disappointed, thinking that we know better and should do better.…
Read MoreEach of us have a indwelling divine presence that offers guidance, power, and security
We have been told: Everyone has the Buddha within. Siddhārtha Gautama 550BC Nor will they say “Look here” or Look there” for the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21 We found the Great Reality deep down within. In the final analysis, it was only there that He may be found. (AA Big Book…
Read MoreThe good is often the enemy of the best; we can settle for mediocrity or strive for excellence
Settling for the good, or even the mediocre, has a definite ingrained appeal; indolence and procrastination are a part of the animalistic side of our human nature. Choosing to do as little as possible gives us an easier life. But settling leads us to accepting mediocrity in relationships, careers, and all areas of our life.…
Read MoreMake a “to be” list in addition to a “to do” list.
We get so caught up in living the rat race that we forget to actually live. We develop patterns—the mental-emotional response habits—that continually produce stress, anxiety, worry, and fear. We rush about, cramming as much activity as possible into each day; then, we crash, take a mood-altering chemical to help us relax and feel better…
Read MoreI participate in gossip by talking—or listening. Without the listener, gossip dies
Do I have an inner void, a feeling of emptiness that makes me feel ‘less than’ other people? Is gossip one of my ways to compensate for this? Do I talk about other people? Do I share a confidence just to flout that I know something another person does not know? Must I try to…
Read MoreCharacter growth or character building? One follows the natural path; the other is doing it my way.
Building indicates that I have the blueprint, that I am the planner and the “doer”; growth infers that I am willing to plant the seed, nurture and water it with the right thoughts and actions, and let God and nature decide the direction and timing of my natural growth. We’ve reached that point where we…
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