Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Space to live When you proclaim and promote your own bitterness, you do far more harm to yourself than anyone else could ever do to you. When you blame others for all your troubles, you give them control of your life.
When you expect and demand to be taken care of, you give up the freedom and responsibility that account for so much meaning in life. When you become obsessed with revenge and retribution for an injury you have suffered, you prolong and expand that injury far beyond its original scope.
By contrast, the more of your life you accept responsibility for, the more power you have to control your own destiny. The more quickly and completely you can forgive, the sooner you can get back up and get moving forward again.
Do you truly want to live a life of meaning, fulfillment and joy? Then you must set out each day to create that meaning, to build that fulfillment, and to live that joy through the vehicle of your own life.
No other person can provide you with what really matters, and no one can take it away. Because what really matters is what you choose to freely and lovingly give to life.
Bitterness, anger, blame and retribution will bring nothing of value into your life. Let go of their false promises, and give yourself space to truly and magnificently live.
When you expect and demand to be taken care of, you give up the freedom and responsibility that account for so much meaning in life. When you become obsessed with revenge and retribution for an injury you have suffered, you prolong and expand that injury far beyond its original scope.
By contrast, the more of your life you accept responsibility for, the more power you have to control your own destiny. The more quickly and completely you can forgive, the sooner you can get back up and get moving forward again.
Do you truly want to live a life of meaning, fulfillment and joy? Then you must set out each day to create that meaning, to build that fulfillment, and to live that joy through the vehicle of your own life.
No other person can provide you with what really matters, and no one can take it away. Because what really matters is what you choose to freely and lovingly give to life.
Bitterness, anger, blame and retribution will bring nothing of value into your life. Let go of their false promises, and give yourself space to truly and magnificently live.
-- Ralph Marston