I was aware of a few people this past week and today. What did I see? Myself. And what were they wearing that made me aware of me? Attitudes.
Bad attitudes, negative attitudes, angry attitudes, and more. But attitudes nevertheless. They weren’t affecting me so much, as they were others. In fact the more objective I was by divorcing myself from them, the clearer I could see myself, as I have been in the past. Something I’m not proud of, but the truth nevertheless.
The worst thing, as I could now see in others reacting to them, was how angry they were in response. I would have to guess that was what I once brought into the lives of others, because of what I was witnessing.
I have talked about this or thought and wrote about this many times. An old timer used to talk about this. He always said that attitudes are everything. They can change the facts. If I change my attitude I can change the facts. If I start my day with a positive attitude others will respond often in the same way. If I begin with a negative attitude others will be negative.
More than that. A negative attitude will ruin my day. Things may look dark, but, if I have a positive attitude my day will become brighter. My thoughts, my vision, will be better and my response to others will be much better. I won’t end up looking for trouble. Moreover I will end up practicing these principles in all of my affairs. Spiritual principles.
And that’s what this is all about. That’s what came to mind, as I was witnessing these negative attitudes. My thoughts were pulled to the changes I have gone through myself, as the result of this program and what it’s done to and for me. These Twelves Steps and the rest of the program have brought about a spiritual way of living I never envisioned before. Opening the door to hope and faith in a Power greater than myself and a spiritual way of living. A sober way of living.
I was reading a spiritual writer the other day and he was talking about this. He was remarking on how this kind of attitude brings about reflexive actions in our lives. He said that if we are aware of the consequences of reflex reactions, when we start to get caught up in them, just the memory of those will help us to stop, pray, and pull back and change our attitudes. We begin to act sober.
Just thinking about living a sober life.