Sept. 29, 2019 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019
Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

…words are more powerful than perhaps anyone suspects, and once deeply engraved in a child’s mind, they are not easily eradicated. — May Sarton

How burdened we became, as little girls, with the labels applied by parents, teachers, even school chums. We believe about ourselves what others teach us to believe. The messages aren’t always overt. But even the very subtle ones are etched in our minds, and they remind us of our “shortcomings” long into adulthood.

Try as we might to forget the criticisms, the names, they linger in our memories and influence our self-perceptions as adults. The intervening years have done little to erase whatever emotional scars we acquired as children.

Our partnership with God will help us understand that we are spiritual beings with a wonderful purpose in this life. And we are as lovely, as capable, as successful as we perceive ourselves to be. Our own thoughts and words, our own labels can become as powerful as those of our youth. It takes practice to believe in ourselves. But we can break the past’s hold on us..

My higher power will help me know the real me. I am all that I ever needed to be; I am special, and I will come to believe that.

Hazelden Foundation

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