Hi,
This is Teresa Conte and thank you so much for joining me again today as we explore the fifth tool of the Al-Anon bookmark in the Just for Today series,
Followed by a few thoughts and reflections.
As always,
If today's quote and tool resonates with you,
Please feel free to share your experience and comments.
I'd love to hear about them.
Today's quote reads,
Just for today,
I will exercise my soul in three ways.
I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out.
If anyone knows of it,
It will not count.
I will do at least two things I don't want to do just for exercise,
And I will not show anyone my feelings are hurt.
They may be hurt,
But today I will not show it.
Now that last part,
I will not show anyone my feelings are hurt.
They may be hurt,
But today I will not show it,
Reminds me of the Al-Anon principle of staying on our own side of the street.
To pay attention to how we're feeling rather than casting blame or judgment onto the person who's already suffering from the dis-ease of alcoholism.
The tool can apply to other areas of our life as well and speaks to me about taking responsibility for how I feel,
Act,
And what I do with my experience.
Sitting in a place of mindfulness and meditation helps us get clear about what's going on inside of us rather than looking outside to place blame or judgment on others when we're feeling distressed,
Hurt,
Or angry.
Now the first part of the quote says,
I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out.
If anybody knows of it,
It will not count.
Now I love this part because it reminds me of random acts of kindness and how we can contribute and do those acts in service to others in our communities and in our lives without getting found out.
These acts of kindness can be for a stranger,
Be as simple as opening the door for someone,
Helping someone carry their groceries,
Or some other physical act.
Of course,
They can also be acts of kindness for people we know and love.
However,
It could also be something that we do in consciousness like sending someone love in a loving-kindness meditation or sending good thoughts and energy when we know they're feeling down.
We can use our imagination and be creative in how we do someone a good turn.
And not relaying what we did to someone else helps us experience and grow the good feelings that acts of kindness provides.
As we put that good energy out into the world,
We're lifted up as well.
The second part of the quote,
I will do at least two things I don't want to do just for exercise,
Reminds me of my own state of being when I'm in resistance.
Like all of us,
There are things I like to do,
Things I don't like to do,
Things I want to do,
And things that need to be done but I don't want to do.
Now,
You'll have your own list,
Which is likely different from mine,
But it could be as simple as not feeling like washing the dishes,
Taking the garbage and recycling out,
Or ironing,
Something which is my least favorite thing to do.
And yet,
When I do those things,
Even in that state of resistance,
The energy begins to shift and flow and my sense of agency and well-being grows.
Now,
You may find the same is true for you.
When you do two things you don't want to do just for exercise.
So these tools are about our spiritual and personal growth,
As they all are,
About experiencing our soul in three ways.
In today's quote,
For example,
Which expands our consciousness and moves us into new ways of living,
Loving,
And being in our personal relationships,
In our communities,
And in the world.
The tools can also help us to heal from our past as we become more mindful about our feelings and make choices that help us grow.
I hope you found today's tool and reflections helpful.
I look forward to connecting with you soon as we explore Tool 6 about being agreeable.
Until then,
And as always,
I'm wishing you a most beautiful day.
Bye for now.
