Blog entry for:

Wed, Oct 25, 2006 07:14:06 AM


∞ principles before personalities -- these words are an affirmation: ∞
posted: Wed, Oct 25, 2006 07:14:06 AM

 

i listen to my conscience and do what is right, no matter who is involved.
DAMMIT!
yes, these words go straight to the heart of the program i purportedly live in the here and now. and yet these words grate on me from time to time, well honestly much more than from time to time. in fact just about every day i find myself examining my conscience, or just plain ignoring it as i act in a manner that goes against this ideal. and what is it about this ideal that makes it difficult for this addict to live by it. on the surface it seems to appear like an easy thing to do, and nothing that is any different than the morals and values that i was instilled with by my family and culture. the real problem is between my ears! yes, i understand that i do not have to like everyone who happens to cross my path, or with whom i share my recovery with. of course i am far from cured, so what happens in this addict’s head is that i find myself having to deal with people that are just plain foul and nasty in my not so humble opinion. and the last thing i want to be when dealing with these sorts is tolerant, accepting and patient PERIOD! but that is of course the easy case and the one that is the easiest for me to deal with -- i can feel the bile rising and have warning that NOW IS THE TIME TO PRACTICE... the real tricky cases are those with whom i share my life, that i have come to know, have some recovery and clean time and still choose to act in a manner that is contrary to what i believe is correct. those are the poor folks who do not get the tolerance and patience they deserve, because i believe they should hear from the self-appointed expert (me) exactly how fucked-up they really are, and if they are not willing to take that load of shit than my life is better without them.
and there my personality has got in the way of the principles i try and live by. and once again i am going back to admit that i was wrong, behaved badly and need to repair yet another relationship. the insane part of this whole cycle, is that i never learn to keep my mouth shut, when i am ready to let go and let them have it with both barrels. however this is a program of progress and not perfection, so maybe there is a bit of HOPE for this addict regardless. after all, i did not become addicted in one day, so i can hardly expect to be cured in one day either! so off to the real world to practice what i believe in and see if i can get through this day without having to clean up any damage, practice a bit of putting spiritual principles before my personality and see what happens.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

principles before... 249 words ➥ Monday, October 25, 2004 by: donnot
∞ conscience -> personalities? ->principles! ∞ 326 words ➥ Tuesday, October 25, 2005 by: donnot
μ what does **principles before personalities** really mean? μ 388 words ➥ Thursday, October 25, 2007 by: donnot
α practicing principles does not stop with my friends or when i leave a meeting. ω 273 words ➥ Saturday, October 25, 2008 by: donnot
≅ putting principles before personalities teaches me to treat everyone equally ≅ 334 words ➥ Sunday, October 25, 2009 by: donnot
∼  listening to my conscience, doing the next right thing … 478 words ➥ Monday, October 25, 2010 by: donnot
¿ i have to practice honesty, humility, compassion, tolerance, and patience  ? 441 words ➥ Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by: donnot
¦ TAKE TWO -- putting principles before personalities ¦ 410 words ➥ Thursday, October 25, 2012 by: donnot
¿ i will listen to my conscience and do what is right ¿ 336 words ➥ Friday, October 25, 2013 by: donnot
‰ my focus will be on principles, ‰ 307 words ➥ Saturday, October 25, 2014 by: donnot
< principles > 499 words ➥ Sunday, October 25, 2015 by: donnot
≂ doing what is right, ≃ 382 words ➥ Tuesday, October 25, 2016 by: donnot
🗦 learning to treat 🗧 502 words ➥ Wednesday, October 25, 2017 by: donnot
😇 as one of the 😈 485 words ➥ Thursday, October 25, 2018 by: donnot
🔍 shifting my focus 🔎 612 words ➥ Friday, October 25, 2019 by: donnot
🌎 all my affairs 🌏 491 words ➥ Sunday, October 25, 2020 by: donnot
🧗 honesty, humility, 🦄 497 words ➥ Monday, October 25, 2021 by: donnot
🐉 listening 🐉 407 words ➥ Tuesday, October 25, 2022 by: donnot
😳 cultivating 😉 596 words ➥ Wednesday, October 25, 2023 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 1

1) The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and
exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also)
so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's knowledge,
I will make an effort to describe of what sort they appeared to be.