Don't others see how much I'm hurting? Can't they see I need help? Don't they care?
The issue is not whether others see or care. The issue is whether we see and care about ourselves. Often, when we are pointing a finger at others, waiting for them to have compassion for us, its because we have not fully accepted our pain. We have not yet reached that point of caring about ourselves. We are hoping for awareness in another that we have not yet had.
It is our job to have compassion for ourselves. When we do, we have taken the first step toward removing ourselves as victims. We are on the way to self-responsibility, self-care, and change.
Today, I will not wait for others to see and care; I will take responsibility for being aware of my pain and problems, and caring about myself.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Love is caring like this, enough to sacrifice and try to do what is best for the beloved. We learn to care about other people and work towards their best interests, and also to care about ourselves enough to sacrifice this way. It's funny how we can get our priorities confused, and our idea of what real love and caring are about.
I was taught to sacrifice in different ways, ignoring my own needs and to not care about myself in favor of a 'love' (not) that was actually enabling the dysfunctional family system. My Higher Power is the One who has taught me what Love really is.
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time