DISCIPLINE MONTH: DAY 31: “Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” — Gautama Buddha
We must stay this course. There is no resting point on which we can cruise into or through. We must maintain the consistent and persistent application of Step 10 for life to become joyful and rich. I am not able to enjoy my life without this.
Applying these principles in ALL MY AFFAIRS is a great set of tools for a wonderful life. I have a wonderful life! And it gets better every day!
It was not easy, in those first years, to persist in doing Step 10 every day. Nor was it easy to consistently apply spiritual principles in my daily life. I did not know how.
That kind of wisdom comes from having done something over and over and over. It IS like learning to drive a car or play a sport or musical instrument. If you learn to do it right, then you will become better in time at the doing of that thing.
Many of us are lazy and do these things half-assed. That is not going to serve as well. I know that many times I was not as honest or thorough as I could have been. That always back-fired at me. It hit me right upside the head and kept me from enjoying the life I was living.
I was anxious and cranky and sometimes discontent. The pain I would find myself in was the motivator I usually needed to dig more deeply into this practice.
I truly love finding out that I am the one who needs to grow. When it is YOU, I am a victim. When it is ME, I am powerful and empowered to change the painful stuff. I hate being in a victim mentality. I am destined to be resentful and angry and petulant. I act like a two-year-old who has dropped his sucker and is crying because he is trying to make it YOUR fault.
Ugh! That is so ugly and so toxic. And so what addicts DO! Look around! Is someone else to blame for the shit you don’t like in your life?
Then, stick around, we are going to talk a lot about that. All month, next month… my favorite… But, just for today, go take your own damned inventory!
Dolphin Hug 