Snips

Many of us were oppressed and victimized as children. As adults, we may continue to keep ourselves oppressed. Some of us don't recognize that caretaking and not setting boundaries will leave us feeling victimized. Some of us don't understand that thinking of ourselves as victims will leave us feeling oppressed. Some of us don't know that we hold the key to our own freedom. That key is honoring ourselves, and taking care of ourselves.We can say what we mean, and mean what we say. We can stop waiting for others to give us what we need and take responsibility for ourselves. When we do, the gates to freedom will swing wide. Walk through.Today, I will understand that I hold the key to my freedom. I will stop participating in my oppression and victimization. I will take responsibility for myself, and let others do as they may.
Melody Beattie ©

During times of pain or struggle, it can be difficult to feel God's presence, to really know how loved we are. But God is bigger than anything we face in the world.
Mary Manin Morrissey

AA Thought of the Day / If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of the normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison. / AA, p. 66

We can learn to purposefully and intentionally practice love. Love must become more than something that just happens to us, if we get lucky, or that we fall into and out of according to some unfathomable whimsy. We can and must learn to actively make love: to cause love-energy to stir and swell and flow out into meaningful connection with others; to gratefully open to and receive love whenever it comes our way; and to create with others a world in which such conscious loving is the sole abiding reality.
Michael Sky

"A good love relationship can reinforce self-esteem, but it cannot create it. Many people carry a lot of unfinished business from childhood into relationships, and look to their partners to fulfill their unmet needs. So you get immature, dependency-type relationships that tend not to work. The more you can complete unfinished business from childhood, the better your chance in relationships as an adult."
Nathaniel Branden

If you do not know how to take care of yourself, and if you are not willing to do so, nobody else will take care of you. Your lack of love and commitment to yourself attracts people with similar lessons into your vibrational field. Then you will simply mirror back to each other that lack of self-understanding and self-commitment.
Paul Ferrini

"My will for you is not harsh or unpleasant. It is gentle and perfectly tailored to your unique needs. Do not fear my direction. I am your heart's happiest guide."
Julia Cameron

"We discover in ourselves what others hide from us and we recognize in others what we hide from ourselves."
Vauvenargues

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."
C.G. Jung