SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THE DAY
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - MISTAKES
I developed a tremendous fear of making mistakes. It seemed crucial to cover every possibile outcome, because mistakes often led to an avalanche of accusations and abuse from the sick people in my life - and eventually from myself. My self-esteem diminished because the slightest error felt huge and I couldn't let it go. So I began to cover up and rationalize my mistakes, all the while desperately trying to maitain an appearance of perfect self-control.
I've learned to take down that rigid wall of seeming perfection, to honestly admit mistakes, and to open myself for growth. I continue taking my inventory and promptly admit when I am wrong, and this process of honest self evaluation has been very liberating because it challenges me daily to be honest. Sometimes it makes me squirm, but I know that when I tell the truth, I am free of the lies that held me back. As Mark Twain put it "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
TODAY'S REMINDER
I will probably make a mistake of some sort every day of my life. If I view this as a personal failiing or pretend that no mistakes have occurred, I make my life unmanageable. When I stop struggling to be perfect and admit when I am wrong, I can let go of guilt and shame. That is cause for rejoicing.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY
"Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start."
---Book of Common Prayer---
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
GOD,
HELP ME TO KEEP CHANGE AND ACEPTANCE IN BALANCE, AND KEEP ME FROM TRYING TO CHANGE OTHERS. AMEN.
I PRAY THAT YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND GOD BLESS!
==KUMA== 4/25/06
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - MISTAKES
I developed a tremendous fear of making mistakes. It seemed crucial to cover every possibile outcome, because mistakes often led to an avalanche of accusations and abuse from the sick people in my life - and eventually from myself. My self-esteem diminished because the slightest error felt huge and I couldn't let it go. So I began to cover up and rationalize my mistakes, all the while desperately trying to maitain an appearance of perfect self-control.
I've learned to take down that rigid wall of seeming perfection, to honestly admit mistakes, and to open myself for growth. I continue taking my inventory and promptly admit when I am wrong, and this process of honest self evaluation has been very liberating because it challenges me daily to be honest. Sometimes it makes me squirm, but I know that when I tell the truth, I am free of the lies that held me back. As Mark Twain put it "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
TODAY'S REMINDER
I will probably make a mistake of some sort every day of my life. If I view this as a personal failiing or pretend that no mistakes have occurred, I make my life unmanageable. When I stop struggling to be perfect and admit when I am wrong, I can let go of guilt and shame. That is cause for rejoicing.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY
"Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start."
---Book of Common Prayer---
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
GOD,
HELP ME TO KEEP CHANGE AND ACEPTANCE IN BALANCE, AND KEEP ME FROM TRYING TO CHANGE OTHERS. AMEN.
I PRAY THAT YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND GOD BLESS!
==KUMA== 4/25/06