प्रिंसिपल्स,नोट PERSONALITIES

 
Principles, Not Personalities

Since starting the process of life recovery many years ago, the thinking and acting on “Principles, Not Personalities” has been possibly the most important lesson I have learned in human relations.
Today I do have abiding principles I try to live by. As they relate to dealing with others, they can likely be summed up by the tried and true “Golden Rule”.
For a period of time in my life, occasionally I’d do on to others before they did it to me. I found that there were many people I couldn’t stand and honestly wished them no good in their lives. I was taught to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. It made human relations tough.
In your dealings with people today, can you relate to any of that type of thinking?
In one of the sites I participate in, I posted an article entitled “Simple Logic” hoping to share some thoughts with people who were struggling to find a power greater than themselves in their life. I am shocked at how far off topic the comments digressed, and how people got into personal assignations about others with total disregard for the principles of the site. A reminder about the importance of putting principles before personalities.
Among the things that are a part of the process of life recovery for me is attendance at group meetings- a “Fellowship” of men and women. Upon first attending I knew there were people in the group I just didn’t like and the feeling was likely mutual. Yet we all shared a common purpose, and over time I have learned that not liking is OK, but I must love all and treat them as I would like to be treated. The following is a good reminder from Daily Reflections:
The reality was that I couldn't possibly like everyone, nor they me.
As I've grown in the Fellowship, I've learned to love everyone
just from listening to what they had to say.
I must always remember to place principles before personalities. 
 - Daily Reflections,  p. 365
As I’ve learned to listen with an open mind, there is seldom a person I can’t learn something from, and this is true I with life in general. To put principles before personalities is a living skill I’ve learned through the help of others and its application is progress. I have not yet reached perfection but will march on!
Today, my human relations skills are the best the have been in my life due to a focus on my principles.
Thought to Ponder . . .Learn to listen; listen to learn.
 

PRINCIPLES ,NOT PERSONALITIES

PRINCIPLES ,NOT PERSONALITIES

PERSISTENCE-Have You Got It

PERSISTENCE-Have You Got It

MORE on THAT FIRST STEP (forgivenes)

MORE on THAT FIRST STEP (forgivenes)

HUMOUR (don't lose it!)

HUMOUR (don't lose it!)

SIMPLE LOGIC

SIMPLE LOGIC

एक्टिंग ओं लाइफ'स STAGE

ACTING ON LIFE'S STAGE!
With the fullness of time and the wisdom of hindsight, I now realize clearly that I spent much of my life playing a "character" that would please others. How many, upon reflection, know this to be true about themselves.
How do you play your roles?
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are." -- Epicetus. This was likely the approach I took to my existence. The way things are (reality) became something I consciously was in denial about; I cared truly about what you thought.
When we are basically unconscious, we live according to social roles. We perform as sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, employers and employees, as society expects us to.
As we grow in awareness, we gain the freedom to bring our own unique perspectives to these roles. We can express ourselves authentically and creatively, without letting our roles dictate how we should behave.
Those roles, the things I am in life, did not change. Son, father, grandfather, friend, husband, confidant and more, all remained. With the process of co-creative life recovery, how I played those roles (authentically) changed and changes for the better as the journey continues. I enjoy a new freedom today, a freedom based on accepting being the best me I can be is just fine and my perspectives have value and are OK. I live in truth with myself and the higher power I have frequent conscious contact with today.
We all are actors on life's stage. I have gone through a transformation that allows me to play the role of authentic Keith, and I no longer have to act a false role as well as produce and direct my life. Relief with a new found peace and serenity and a strong sense of hope.
I would love to read your thoughts about this here or at www.hopeserenity.ca,
"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth." -- Katherine Mansfield