John Bradshaw has in recent years become a prominent figure in American culture.

John Bradshaw has in recent years become a prominent figure in American culture. His book Homecoming reached number one on the bestseller lists, and a 10-hour PBS series on his work, seen by millions, won a coveted Emmy nomination. His lectures and workshops fill halls from coast to coast, and audiotapes of his books also top the charts. He has been the subject of writeups in virtually every major magazine and newspaper in the nation. In short, it's unusual for people in America to go for too many days without hearing the name John Bradshaw at some point.<br /> <br /> His fundamental message, which grew out of the emotional wounds of his childhood and was fired in the crucible of a raging alcohol addiction, is this: virtually all of us were significantly wounded in childhood, and must heal our inner child if we are ever to become healthy, integrated adults.<br /> <br /> Bradshaw's "inner child work" sees shame as a pivotal, insidious and destructive force, planted within us by misguided parents and kept alive until it is exposed to the healing light of day. His work focuses on healing these deep, shame-based wounds.<br /> <br /> In this interview with Dr. Daniel Redwood, Bradshaw goes into greater depth than ever before on a number of subjects, including one controversial issue in the recovery community--the question of labeling. If a man like Bradshaw hasn't had a drink in decades, Redwood asks, should he still label himself an alcoholic? Bradshaw's answers to this and other questions reflect both independence of thought and recognition of complexity.

John Bradshaw has in recent years become a prominent figure in American culture.

John Bradshaw has in recent years become a prominent figure in American culture. His book Homecoming reached number one on the bestseller li...

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I am loved because I deserve love.

Just for today, I will respect my own and others™ boundaries.<br /> Just for today, I will be vulnerable with someone I trust.<br /> Just for today, I will take one compliment and hold it in my heart for more than just a fleeting moment. I will let it nurture me.<br /> Just for today, I will act in a way that I would admire in someone else.<br /> I am a child of God.<br /> I am a precious person.<br /> I am a worthwhile person.<br /> I am beautiful inside and outside.<br /> I love myself unconditionally.<br /> I can allow myself ample leisure time without feeling guilty.<br /> I deserve to be loved by myself and others.<br /> I am loved because I deserve love.<br /> I am a child of God and I deserve love, peace, prosperity and serenity.<br /> I forgive myself for hurting myself and others.<br /> I forgive myself for letting others hurt me.<br /> I forgive myself for accepting sex when I wanted love.<br /> I am willing to accept love.<br /> I am not alone. I am one with God and the universe.<br /> I am whole and good.<br /> I am capable of changing.<br /> The pain that I might feel by remembering can™t be any worse than the pain I feel by knowing and not remembering.<br /> I am enough.

I am loved because I deserve love.

Just for today, I will respect my own and others™ boundaries. Just for today, I will be vulnerable with someone I trust. Just for today, I...

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You use spirituality as your drug,

You can experience this pain as a longing for God, putting that God <br />outside of yourself and giving him/her responsibility for your life. <br />You use spirituality as your drug, as an avoidance, to deny your <br />feelings, your reality. You can space out on it.<br /><span style="color: red;"><blockquote><span style="color: blue;">You use spirituality as your drug, as an avoidance, to deny your </span><br /><span style="color: blue;">feelings, your reality. You can space out on it.</span><br /></blockquote></span>

You use spirituality as your drug,

You can experience this pain as a longing for God, putting that God outside of yourself and giving him/her responsibility for your life. You...

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Codependency is an addiction to unhealthy, unproductive

<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /><br />You repeat patterns that cause you pain, yet you feel <br /><br />unable to break them. These relationships have a compulsive quality; <br /><br />you get hurt, but you keep going back for more, in the hope of <br /><br />changing something.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In codependent relationships you comply. You adapt to the <br /><br />dysfunction of the relationship and deny your own reality, <br /><br />especially what you are feeling.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You also control. You try to manipulate your partner, and the <br /><br />relationship, to be what you want them to be, when they may not be. <br /><br />You control yourself in order to try to fit when you do not. So <br /><br />compliance is a passive way of controlling.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Compliance and controlling are essentially dishonest. Dishonesty in <br /><br />relationships does not, ultimately, work; clarity and honesty do. <br /><br />Denial of what is causes it to backfire on you, to appear in <br /><br />unexpected and uncomfortable ways. If you deny your own reality, you <br /><br />will attract it in the form of painful lessons, taught to you by <br /><br />your enemies, or those who hurt and anger you in some way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When you comply, adapting with the needs of another person, bending <br /><br />yourself to fit, you lose your sense of self. This causes you pain. <br /><br />You are in a constant state of grieving for this lost Self, and <br /><br />longing to be united with it again. You transfer this longing onto <br /><br />another person, so that they become your Self; you fall in love with <br /><br />them as a reflection of yourself that you do not own. They become <br /><br />your soul. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You become dependent for your sense of self. You feel you cannot <br /><br />live without the other person, because, without them to reflect you, <br /><br />to give you life, you cease to be. You merge with them, you lose <br /><br />your identity, your boundaries, and have no protection, are open to <br /><br />abuse and violation. You become addicted to the thrill, the rise in <br /><br />adrenalin, that makes you feel vital and alive. You deny the fear <br /><br />you feel. Because the denial of feelings keeps you numb and dead, <br /><br />you need a `fix` to wake you up again; you crave more. This is the <br /><br />basis of love addiction. Dangerous, non-productive relationships <br /><br />become exciting; you do not register danger, but get high on it <br /><br />instead.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This merging is what we call falling in love. In fact, you fall in <br /><br />longing. Healthy people grow to love, gradually, as they get to know <br /><br />each other. You cannot love what we do not know. Healthy people form <br /><br />relationships that are not exclusive, that create love. People <br /><br />around them feel it. Codependents create relationships that shut <br /><br />others out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You can experience this pain as a longing for God, putting that God <br /><br />outside of yourself and giving him/her responsibility for your life. <br /><br />You use spirituality as your drug, as an avoidance, to deny your <br /><br />feelings, your reality. You can space out on it. Or you make gods of <br /><br />other people. Your compliance to their needs gets them to rescue <br /><br />you. You try to get them to parent you, to meet the needs that were <br /><br />not met for you in your infancy, when you are not an infant now, and <br /><br />when those needs are no longer appropriate to your adult life. You <br /><br />abdicate from responsibility for yourself but take responsibility <br /><br />for others instead, just as you tried to do for parents who were <br /><br />inadequate for you. In handing over control of your own life and <br /><br />trying to control the lives of others, you create even more pain, <br /><br />when you are trying to avoid or heal it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The more you deny yourself, the more you are trapped in pain and <br /><br />longing; the more you are constantly searching. But you will never <br /><br />find the Self that you are seeking in other people, in <br /><br />relationships, because it is not there, outside of you, it is inside <br /><br />you; it is not a god, but your own divinity.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The other paradox is that, as long as you involve yourself in other <br /><br />people's lives, trying to live through them, at the expense of your <br /><br />own; as long as you sacrifice your Self and your life to someone or <br /><br />something else, rather than contributing towards the greater whole, <br /><br />the emptier you will feel, and the more you will depend on those <br /><br />outside sources to fill you up. You compromise for the sake of a <br /><br />false sense of security and accept less than you would like it to <br /><br />be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the addictive quality of codependency. You use people and <br /><br />behaviours; you may use substances too, to kill the pain of your <br /><br />non-being and to fill up the emptiness, the void that you feel, when <br /><br />you do not have a life of your own, a sense of meaning and purpose. <br /><br />You cannot have a life until you have a self to live that life, <br /><br />which means a complete self with personal desires and feelings. Yet <br /><br />you are afraid to confront yourself. You do not believe in your <br /><br />ability to create your own reality, to fill yourself up from your <br /><br />own resources, because you have been taught dependency. Codependency <br /><br />has been encouraged in our society. We are taught to believe in our <br /><br />helplessness because this benefits others and gives them a sense of <br /><br />a power that they would not otherwise possess.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When you hand over your responsibility, you become a victim. You <br /><br />blame, shame, and express your anger as rage and impotence. You feel <br /><br />constant frustration and resentment. Most of your strategies are set <br /><br />up to avoid your greatest fear, abandonment, and feeling it. As well <br /><br />as clinging, to people or fantasies, obsessions, you isolate in <br /><br />order not to feel the need for other people. Then you may get your <br /><br />needs met in manipulate ways, by making people dependent on you. <br /><br />This is called counter-dependency. You appear not to need anybody.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You fear intimacy because you will lose your boundaries if you do <br /><br />not know how to be an individual, with your own identity, separate <br /><br />and independent. Mainly you have not been encouraged to separate, in <br /><br />healthy ways, from your family, from dependencies in your society. <br /><br />You have not been encouraged in self-responsibility. Yet you have <br /><br />been encouraged to appear independent and not need anybody.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You have experienced pain in the past, losses you have never <br /><br />grieved. You will experience losses in the future. But the pain you <br /><br />feel when you grieve is short-term, freeing, cleansing, sweet and <br /><br />releasing, soft pain, when you dare to look inside yourself and face <br /><br />this pain of the past. It is different to the hard, long-term pain <br /><br />of pain on pain that you accumulate when you put yourself into <br /><br />relationships or situations that recreate the pain of your childhood <br /><br />and prevent you from taking responsibility for yourself and yoor <br /><br />life today.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You do need other people, in a healthy way. A healthy society <br /><br />functions through inter-dependence. I believe that your <br /><br />developmental process takes you from dependence, which is <br /><br />biological, healthy and normal for infants, through independence, <br /><br />which you need in order to separate you from your family and create <br /><br />an identity, to inter-dependence. It is only when you are a separate <br /><br />human being that you can share who you are with others.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In my experience, it is important to examine the underlying causes <br /><br />of pain and distress, to draw a map of your childhood as the matrix <br /><br />out of which you, as an adult, were formed. I have never found it <br /><br />helpful to dwell in the past, but only to use it as a reference, and <br /><br />also to be able to identify when you are living in it, and not in <br /><br />the present. I think it is important to respect these regressions <br /><br />for what they are, and to feel the feelings as they arise, learning <br /><br />to accept them as real for then although not appropriate for now, <br /><br />converting them into what is appropriate for your age, needs and <br /><br />abilities today. In this way you can find your way out of <br /><br />codependency.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Your sharing will then be out of choice, from a place of freedom in <br /><br />yourself. Your relationships will complement what you have, rather <br /><br />than compensating for what you lack.</span>

Codependency is an addiction to unhealthy, unproductive

You repeat patterns that cause you pain, yet you feel unable to break them. These relationships have a compulsive quality; you get hurt, but...

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The Twelve Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous

We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had become unmanageable. <br /> Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. <br /> Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God. <br /> Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. <br /> Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs. <br /> Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. <br /> Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. <br /> Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. <br /> Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. <br /> Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. <br /> Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out. <br /> Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other co-dependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

The Twelve Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous

We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves cou...

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a desire for healthy and fulfilling relationships with others and ourselves.

Codependents Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women whose common problem is a difficulty in maintaining functional relationships. <br /> <br /> We share with one another in the hopes of solving our common problem and helping others to recover. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and fulfilling relationships with others and ourselves. <br /> <br /> CoDA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. We rely upon the wisdom, knowledge, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, as adapted for our purpose from Alcoholics Anonymous, as the principles of our programme and guide to living healthy lives. Although separate entities, we should always co-operate with other twelve step programmes.

a desire for healthy and fulfilling relationships with others and ourselves.

Codependents Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women whose common problem is a difficulty in maintaining functional relationships. We s...

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Patterns and Characteristics of Co-Dependence

<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Patterns and Characteristics of Co-Dependence <br /><br />We suggest that it might be helpful to think of the notations: always, usually, sometimes or never, as one evaluates each item on the checklist.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Denial Patterns: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have difficulty identifying what I am feeling. <br /><br />I minimize, alter or deny how I truly feel. <br /><br />I perceive myself as completely unselfish and dedicated to the well being of others. <br /><br />Low Self-Esteem Patterns: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have difficulty making decisions. <br /><br />I judge everything I think, say or do harshly, as never 'good enough'. <br /><br />I am embarrassed to receive recognition and praise or gifts. <br /><br />I do not ask others to meet my needs or desires. <br /><br />I value others' approval of my thinking, feelings and behaviour over my own. <br /><br />I do not perceive myself as a lovable or worthwhile person. <br /><br />Compliance Patterns: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I compromise my own values and integrity to avoid rejection or others' anger. <br /><br />I am very sensitive to how others are feeling and feel the same. <br /><br />I am extremely loyal, remaining in harmful situations too long. <br /><br />I value others' opinions and feelings more than my own and am afraid to express differing opinions and feelings of my own. <br /><br />I put aside my own interests and hobbies in order to do what others want. <br /><br />I accept sex when I want love. <br /><br />Control Patterns: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I believe most other people are incapable of taking care of themselves. <br /><br />I attempt to convince others of what they 'should' think and how they 'truly' feel. <br /><br />I become resentful when others will not let me help them. <br /><br />I freely offer others advice and directions without being asked. <br /><br />I lavish gifts and favours on those I care about. <br /><br />I use sex to gain approval and acceptance. <br /><br />I have to be 'needed' in order to have a relationship with others.</span>

Patterns and Characteristics of Co-Dependence

Patterns and Characteristics of Co-Dependence We suggest that it might be helpful to think of the notations: always, usually, sometimes or n...

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Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events.

Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events. They make choices as to the places where they live and the activities in which they engage -- choices based on what they want to be, to do and to become. Furthermore, persons and societies often change their goals and ways; they can even retrace their steps and start in a new direction if they believe they are on a wrong course. Thus, whereas animal life is prisoner of biological evolution which is essentially irreversible, human life has the wonderful freedom of social evolution which is rapidly reversible and creative. Wherever human beings are concerned, trend is not destiny

Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events.

Persons and societies do not submit passively to surroundings and events. They make choices as to the places where they live and the activit...

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I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direction. The trick, I've learned, is to be awake to the moment

I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direction. The trick, I've learned, is to be awake to the moment

I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direction. The trick, I've learned, is to be awake to the moment

I like thinking of possibilities. At any time, an entirely new possibility is liable to come along and spin you off in an entirely new direc...

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Employ the power of positive quitting

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it’s not. ‘Winners never quit,’ we’re told, when, in reality, winners quit all the time: choosing to stop doing things that aren’t creating the results they desire. When you quit all the things that aren’t working for you, when you quit tolerating all the negative things that hold you back, you’ll create a positive ‘charge’ in your life as well as create the space in your life for more positive experiences

Employ the power of positive quitting

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it’s not. ‘Winners never quit,’ we’re told, when,...

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The Big book is an esthetic and a guide.

The Big book is an esthetic and a guide. Those who want to turn it into a literal manual of life move it in a direction distant from life.

The Big book is an esthetic and a guide.

The Big book is an esthetic and a guide. Those who want to turn it into a literal manual of life move it in a direction distant from life.

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The good news is that you don't have cirrhosis; the bad news is you're gonna live a long time."- my doctor, after a recent physical.

The good news is that you don't have cirrhosis; the bad news is you're gonna live a long time."- my doctor, after a recent physical.

The good news is that you don't have cirrhosis; the bad news is you're gonna live a long time."- my doctor, after a recent physical.

The good news is that you don't have cirrhosis; the bad news is you're gonna live a long time."- my doctor, after a recent phys...

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Practising Forgiveness to my animus across the water

Practising Forgiveness to my animus across the water

Practising Forgiveness to my animus across the water

Practising Forgiveness to my animus across the water

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Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. <br /> <br /> May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be..<br /> <br /> May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. <br /> <br /> May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. <br /> <br /> May you be content knowing you are a child of God.. <br /> <br /> Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, <br /> <br /> Dance, praise and love. <br /> <br /> It is there for each and every one of us.

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.. May you not forget the infinite poss...

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Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer wrote ‘The Prophet’, 26 poetic essays in English in 1923.

<div class="zemanta-img" style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abdulbaha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abdu'l-Baha" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="288" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Abdulbaha.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Its main character is a prophet called Almustafa, inspired in the real person of Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921), the second leader of the Baha’i Faith.Almustafa he has been living in the foreign city of Orphalese, waiting for a boat to come to take him home, for 12 years when we meet him.Half way the first page the boat arrives and he is filled with joy and sadness at the same time. Sadness to say goodbye to these people, who have become his friends. The feelings are mutual, a group of citizens asks him to stay. “Won’t he answer first some more questions?” He stays and tells them about love, joy and sadness, about work, passion, pain and death, etc.Then he leaves for his homeland, (- a metaphor for death.) with the promise to come back: “A little while, and my longing shall gather dust and foam for another new body.We all have so many questions and doubts. How great to sit with someone who is willing to share his or her knowledge?! We all can share our truth, but what is ‘The Truth’? Does ‘The Truth’ exist? Some people will say something which rings a bell within and it will help you to understand. Sometimes however it doesn’t, that’s ok, than it wasn’t for us.Keep what feels right and ‘delete’ the rest. Keep your own criteria, follow the voice of your heart, no-one else’s. <br /><br />Don’t except anything without ‘weighing’ it.Ashiana sends you love and light to with discriminative discernment find your truth which brings you Peace, our ultimate goal.</span>

Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer wrote ‘The Prophet’, 26 poetic essays in English in 1923.

Its main character is a prophet called Almustafa, inspired in the real person of Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921), the second leader of the Baha’i ...

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Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDnIQLjtzEkl1uCwaWqWHA5UUvJXbkHVagz2ga_dEcazSvgBTTM7XZyvMpZ2qePfalMaoBAE8_Fs2mkVauJZ5gX9XN7QX48oZ2nKEp0LVarVM9UaN7TUmb_A0GU7NKeYHGYSrsJA5vhyu/s1600/Spiritual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDnIQLjtzEkl1uCwaWqWHA5UUvJXbkHVagz2ga_dEcazSvgBTTM7XZyvMpZ2qePfalMaoBAE8_Fs2mkVauJZ5gX9XN7QX48oZ2nKEp0LVarVM9UaN7TUmb_A0GU7NKeYHGYSrsJA5vhyu/s320/Spiritual.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Once in a while it really hits us that we don’t have to experience the world in the way we have been told to. Fraser Trevor</span>

Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to

Once in a while it really hits us that we don’t have to experience the world in the way we have been told to. Fraser Trevor

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If you want to change your life read this each morning to yourself in the mirror then post your results after 4 weeks you will be amazed.

<blockquote><span style="color: blue;">Just for today, I will respect my own and others™ boundaries.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">Just for today, I will be vulnerable with someone I trust.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">Just for today, I will take one compliment and hold it in my heart for more than just a fleeting moment. I will let it nurture me.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">Just for today, I will act in a way that I would admire in someone else.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am a child of God.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am a precious person.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am a worthwhile person.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am beautiful inside and outside.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I love myself unconditionally.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I can allow myself ample leisure time without feeling guilty.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I deserve to be loved by myself and others.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am loved because I deserve love.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am a child of God and I deserve love, peace, prosperity and serenity.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I forgive myself for hurting myself and others.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I forgive myself for letting others hurt me.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I forgive myself for accepting sex when I wanted love.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am willing to accept love.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am not alone. I am one with God and the universe.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am whole and good.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am capable of changing.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">The pain that I might feel by remembering can™t be any worse than the pain I feel by knowing and not remembering.</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I am enough.</span><br /></blockquote>

If you want to change your life read this each morning to yourself in the mirror then post your results after 4 weeks you will be amazed.

Just for today, I will respect my own and others™ boundaries. Just for today, I will be vulnerable with someone I trust. Just for today, I w...

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all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find <br /><br /><br />all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

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Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

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Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to

Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have <br /><br /><br />little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous <br /><br />effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had <br /><br />been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to <br /><br />get down to causes and conditions.

Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to

Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to fac...

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Pain a LOT

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQAXqTUjvBNNUJGR0NJm0FjCpneJcKkM0vhvezRYAmYStnTPy5umBC8JRDdcJe1BVAwtBObg-1NIfkzM5Zo1R4NEewe88bd1Jf_e45MtAyADEnVnPhcYLTpD1K76xl5t83t6DW1Z3WDUJ/s1600-h/image0044.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQAXqTUjvBNNUJGR0NJm0FjCpneJcKkM0vhvezRYAmYStnTPy5umBC8JRDdcJe1BVAwtBObg-1NIfkzM5Zo1R4NEewe88bd1Jf_e45MtAyADEnVnPhcYLTpD1K76xl5t83t6DW1Z3WDUJ/s400/image0044.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" /></a></div>

Pain a LOT

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Change

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaUZjE4Uqb8Bgju50iPst6tuIvcvOj7QSINnbeL4J6GIssnNdIWFXyTCBVeKMHTtSUTZq7Ri7iOu9_-5ehrVpMKxGCWUCkOh7q0U4X1IpRc4NeTr4QDxCi-qjFzdQMBynY6MAygaJPy_8/s1600-h/image0099.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaUZjE4Uqb8Bgju50iPst6tuIvcvOj7QSINnbeL4J6GIssnNdIWFXyTCBVeKMHTtSUTZq7Ri7iOu9_-5ehrVpMKxGCWUCkOh7q0U4X1IpRc4NeTr4QDxCi-qjFzdQMBynY6MAygaJPy_8/s400/image0099.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" /></a></div>

Change

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Judgement

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM9y7dklv-Ynl-nEiUkeQFCs3JQUGaLsNLT_V0ABbUuJRgftxsXLa_aidZaG1UpXFaVgWhew4OQtE25Z0JjPNMcpeUN6k2bdkuYnzGrCDXUCpF9Re2wR2QgLUlAN0LKSa2L1jyzRVGypJ/s1600-h/image0011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM9y7dklv-Ynl-nEiUkeQFCs3JQUGaLsNLT_V0ABbUuJRgftxsXLa_aidZaG1UpXFaVgWhew4OQtE25Z0JjPNMcpeUN6k2bdkuYnzGrCDXUCpF9Re2wR2QgLUlAN0LKSa2L1jyzRVGypJ/s400/image0011.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" /></a></div>

Judgement

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love

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cj6ln5lMl1SqvKZMeqHulaKwwc1LQAviBYZOuyKZjFD7UdTwYF8HAYjOp6o-LLrQfzOD0p7rcWRxwoXolgXWkKq6Y5WwX6gfgdKi-kPVyU_fqdDtgEzFrjAA1sdcck3Lt9hjIcJgckMG/s1600-h/image0077.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cj6ln5lMl1SqvKZMeqHulaKwwc1LQAviBYZOuyKZjFD7UdTwYF8HAYjOp6o-LLrQfzOD0p7rcWRxwoXolgXWkKq6Y5WwX6gfgdKi-kPVyU_fqdDtgEzFrjAA1sdcck3Lt9hjIcJgckMG/s400/image0077.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" /></a></div>

love

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"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."<br />What do you want ?

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question." What do you want ?

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Diálogo de sordos

There is no peace without forgiveness. Attack thoughts towards others are attack thoughts towards ourselves. The first step in forgiveness is the willingness to forgive.Of course things don’t always happen the way we wish they would. There are moments in which we feel we are seeking something that is not meant for us, knocking on doors that don’t open, waiting for miracles that don’t manifest themselves.<br /><br />But the true warrior of light believes. <br /><br /><blockquote>Because they believe in miracles, the miracles begin to happen. <br /></blockquote><br /><br />Because they are certain that their thoughts can change their lives, their lives begin to change.<br /><br /><blockquote>Because they are certain they will find love, this love appears.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />Sometimes they are disappointed. Sometimes they feel hurt.<br /><br />Then they hear the comments, “you are so naïve!”<br /><br /><blockquote>But the warrior knows it is worth the price. <br /></blockquote><br /><br />To each defeat, there are two conquests in his favor. <br /><br /><br /><br />In an interesting and diminutive book called “The Breviary of Medieval Knights,” there are some passages that have to be remembered in these moments of waiting:<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"The Path’s spiritual energy uses justice and patience to prepare your spirit.”<br /></blockquote><br /><br />“This is the Knight’s Path. An easy and hard path at the same time, as it urges us to let aside useless things and relative friendships. That is why, at the beginning, we hesitate so much to follow it.”<br /><br />"This is a Knight's first teaching: you will erase everything you wrote up to now on your life’s notebook: turmoil, insecurities, lies. And in place of all that, you will write the word courage. Beginning the journey with this word and going on with faith in God, you will arrive where you need to arrive.”<br /><br />Even so, sometimes we keep on waiting - with patience, resignation, courage - and still, things around us don’t move. But since this is the path we chose, it seems impossible that life’s blessings are not working in our favor. It provokes, therefore, a deep reflection about what we call "results:" our destiny is manifesting itself in a way we are not able to fully comprehend . Jorge Luís Borges wrote a masterly short story about this issue. <br /><br />He describes the birth of a tiger that spends great part of its life in the African wildness but ends up being captured and taken to a zoo in Italy. From then on, the animal thinks his life has lost sense and there is nothing left to do but wait for the day he dies. <br /><br />One fine day, poet Dante Alighieri passes by this zoo, looks at the tiger, and the animal inspires a verse – in the midst of thousands of verses – of "The Divine Comedy." <br /><br /><blockquote>"The entire battle for survival that tiger went through was only so that it could be at the zoo on that morning and inspire an immortal verse,” says Borges. <br /></blockquote><br /><br />Just like this tiger, we all have a reason – a very important reason – to be here, at this moment, this morning. <br /><br />So relax. And pay attention.

Diálogo de sordos

There is no peace without forgiveness. Attack thoughts towards others are attack thoughts towards ourselves. The first step in forgiveness i...

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The following exercise will help you explore what you truly want and choose the area of your life that you’d most like to transform or enhance.

In the first few days of 2010, you may be feeling energized and ready to embark on new challenges – yet at the same time you may be unsure about how to get started and where to focus your attention.<br /><br /><br />Step 1: Your Heart’s Desires<br /><br />Consider the following aspects of your life and write down everything that you’d like to experience or create in each area. Writing (or sketching, listing, or otherwise putting your thoughts into form) is a powerful first step in clarifying what you really want.<br /><br />Be as specific as possible and don’t limit yourself. What do you really, really want? Let go of any thoughts of what you “should” want. Your heart knows your deepest desires, so give yourself some time to meditate, become still, and connect to the authentic voice of your true Self.<br /><br />Financial Abundance<br /><br />What do you want on the material level? Your own house with a garden? Write that down. Do you want to pay off a loan or take a vacation? Also consider your desires for sensory gratification – sound, touch, sight, taste, and smell.<br /><br />Relationships<br /><br />Write down all your desires for your relationships – with your spouse, partner, friends, children, parents, co-workers, and yourself. Do you want to finally let go of old emotional pain and forgive others and yourself for things that happened in the past? Are you ready to open your heart to a new romantic relationship? Would you like to create a more loving relationship with your spouse?<br /><br />Spiritual Awakening<br /><br />What would nourish your heart and soul? Do want to go on a meditation retreat? Start a journaling practice? Learn yoga or tai chi? Write down the spiritual intentions you have for yourself.<br /><br />Work and Career<br /><br />How would you like to grow and expand in your work this year? Is there a new skill you want to learn? Are you looking for a new job or thinking about transitioning to a different career? Are you ready to find a mentor or life coach?<br /><br />Adventure and Fun<br /><br />Making time for fun and pleasure in our daily lives is not a luxury but a vital life force that keeps us joyful and enthusiastic. Consider what kinds of adventure and fun you would like to have in your life? Is there something you’ve always secretly wanted to try, such as scuba diving, African dance, or a solo trip across the country? Write down all your ideas.<br /><br />Personal Goals<br /><br />What areas of your life would you like to nurture this year? Do you want a new intellectual challenge such as studying a language or learning new software? Would you like more time to play or develop a hobby?<br /><br />Community<br /><br />What do you want to contribute to your neighborhood, country, or the world? Consider how you might use your unique talents to serve others.<br /><br /><br /><br />Health<br /><br />What are your health goals? Do you want to learn to meditate? Exercise regularly? Get more sleep? Attain a healthy weight? Are you ready to let go of emotional pain from the past? Write down everything you desire for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Step 2: Decide What’s Most Important<br /><br />Now that you have a clear idea of what you’d like to see unfold in your life, it’s time to choose the one or two desires, dreams, or goals that you want to focus on first.<br /><br />Maybe your top priorities right now are to take care of your health and focus on your relationship with a spouse or partner. Or perhaps you realize that what you really want most right now is a feeling of connection . . . to nurture your friendships and be part of a supportive community.<br /><br />Choose two goals, knowing that doing so doesn’t mean that you have to give up all your other desires. They will be there waiting for you to cultivate once you have fulfilled your current most important desires. Focusing your intentions creates a ripple effect, and you may find that your other desires are spontaneously filled<br /><br /><br /><br /></blockquote><span style="color: red;"><blockquote><span style="color: red;">Step 3: Commit to Action</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: red;">Now consider one step you can take today that will move you closer to your desired outcome. The action can be as small as doing a web search to find classes in your area, buying a journal, or doing ten minutes of yoga. Then tomorrow, take one more step. By committing to regular, consistent action, you will tap into an unexpected momentum and discover the universe conspiring in your favor.</span><br /></blockquote></span>

The following exercise will help you explore what you truly want and choose the area of your life that you’d most like to transform or enhance.

In the first few days of 2010, you may be feeling energized and ready to embark on new challenges – yet at the same time you may be unsure a...

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Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can get going without pep pills,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can conquer tension without medical help,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can relax without liquor, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog! <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> And you thought I was going to get all spiritual with this, huh?!

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can get going without pep pills, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and...

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The Warrior of Light and his world

The Warrior of Light is always trying to improve.<br /><br />Each blow of his sword carries with it centuries of wisdom and meditation. Each blow has to have the force and the skill of all the warriors of the past, who still continue to bless the combat. Each movement of the fight honors the movements that previous generations have tried to transmit through tradition.<br /><br />The Warrior of Light enhances the beauty of his blows. Although he behaves like a child.<br /><br />People are shocked, because they forget that children need to enjoy themselves, play, be a little irreverent, ask inconvenient and immature questions, say silly things. <br /><br />And they ask, horrified: "And this is the spiritual path? He isn’t even mature!”<br /><br />The warrior feels proud at that comment. He keeps in contact with God through his innocence and joy, and acts in this way because at the beginning of his fight he affirms to himself:<br /><br />“I have dreams.”<br /><br />After some years he realizes that it is possible to reach where he wants to go. He knows that he will be rewarded.<br /><br />At that moment the great joy that filled his heart disappears. Because on his travels he has discovered the unhappiness of others, the loneliness and frustrations that afflict so many people. The Warrior of Light then feels that he does not deserve what he is to receive.<br /><br />When he learns to handle his sword, he discovers that his equipment has to be complete – and that includes armor.<br /><br />He goes out to look for armor and hears what some vendors propose to him.<br /><br />"Wear the breast-plate of solitude," says one.<br /><br />"Wear the shield of cynicism," answers another.<br /><br />"The best armor is not to get involved in anything," suggests a third.<br /><br />The warrior, however, does not listen to them. He goes serenely to his sacred place and dons the indestructible cloak of faith.<br /><br />Faith softens all blows. Faith changes poison into crystal-clear water.<br /><br />His angel whispers to him: "Yield everything." The warrior kneels down and offers his victories to God.<br /><br />This deliverance obliges the warrior to stop asking silly questions and helps him to overcome his feeling of guilt.<br /><br />And if, even so, he still feels unworthy of his reward, a Warrior of Light always has a second chance in life.<br /><br />Like all other men and women, he was not born knowing how to handle his sword. He makes many a mistake before discovering his Personal Legend.<br /><br />No man or woman can sit down in front of the fire and tell the others: "I have always acted properly." Those who claim this are lying and have not yet learned to know themselves. The true Warrior of Light has already committed injustice in the past.<br /><br />But during his journeys he realizes that the people to whom he has acted unjustly always cross his path again.<br /><br />That is why the Warrior of Light has the impression of living two lives at the same time. In one of them he is obliged to do everything that he does not want to do, fighting for ideas that he does not believe in. But there is another life, one that he discovers in his dreams, readings, and meeting people who think like he does.<br /><br />The warrior lets both lives draw close to one another.<br /><br />"There is a bridge that connects what I do with what I would like to do," he thinks. Little by little his dreams take over his routine, until he realizes that he is ready for what he has always wanted.<br /><br />So, a little bit of daring is enough to transform the two lives into just one.<br /><br />This is his chance to undo the bad that he caused. A chance that he always seizes without any hesitation.<br /><br /><br /><br />Happy 2010!

The Warrior of Light and his world

The Warrior of Light is always trying to improve. Each blow of his sword carries with it centuries of wisdom and meditation. Each blow has t...

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Nevertheless,

Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, <br /><br /><br />it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay <br /><br />for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, <br /><br />we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the <br /><br />plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.

Nevertheless,

Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times....

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