The Importance of Perspective in Recovery

I’m following up on the note below, which our fearless Lead Moderator, Goldie, wrote to all of you yesterday because it really reminded me of why we must always PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE when recovering.

"The site has been down for several days due to the devastation which took place in NYC and the surrounding area's due to Hurricane Sandy.Our web designer has been working around the clock to assure that nothing was lost and our site remains safe and secure.Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by this force of nature and we keep them all in our prayers as they recover from tremendous loss and begin the process of rebuilding their lives and homes.

Puts it all into perspective when something like this happens.

Life is too short to be crying over the disordered one, when people out there are losing their basic needs, shelter, food, and security.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

God bless,
Goldie, Lisa, Hunter, Used, Spinning, and Journey
~The Path Forward Team “

Your responses have really touched me and made me very grateful that we all have each other here.

http://www.lisaescott.com/forum/2012/11/03/path-forward-and-running-woohoo

This has also reminded me of how important it is to have PERSPECTIVE when recovering.

As Goldie said: "Life is too short to be crying over the disordered one, when people out there are losing their basic needs, shelter, food, and security."

When we put things in perspective, it allows us to move on more quickly. I'm not minimizing your pain. Trust me, I know it hurts like hell right now, and you must take the time you need to mourn, grieve and “get it out.” That’s precisely why I created our on-line forum.

However, once you’ve processed your pain and worked the steps, I encourage you to PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

Why? Because after working the steps, perspective gives us that final kick in the ass we all need to snap out of the fog and move on for good.

Consider this…

“If you could fit the entire population of the world into a village consisting of 100 people, maintaining the proportions of all the people living on Earth, that village would consist of:

57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 Americans (North, Central and South)
8 Africans
80 would live in poverty
70 would be illiterate
50 would suffer from hunger and malnutrition
1 would be dying
1 would be being born
1 would own a computer
1 would have a university degree

Oh, and 6 people would possess 59% of the wealth and they would all come from the USA.

If we looked at the world this way, the need for acceptance and understanding would be obvious. But consider again the following:

If you woke up this morning in good health, you have more luck than one million people, who won't live through the week.

If you have never experienced the horror of war, the solitude of prison, the pain of torture or starvation, then you are better off than 500 million people.

If you can go to your place of worship without fear that someone will assault or kill you, then you are luckier than 3 billion (that's right) people.

If you have a full fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are wealthier than 75% of the world's population.

If you currently have money in the bank, in your wallet and a few coins in your purse, you are one of 8 of the privileged few amongst the 100 people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are a rare individual.

And so?

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like nobody has ever hurt you.

Dance like nobody is watching.

Sing like nobody is listening.

Live as if this was paradise on Earth.”

~ Lightning in a Jar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vd-NNgA5TI

Life truly is a blessing and we must always remember this. Never let any one person hurt or devastate you for longer than necessary. Again, I am NOT suggesting you avoid working the steps on the path forward. It is absolutely critical to process your pain...hence Step 2 – Get It Out – and each one of us must work the steps at our own pace. There is no prescribed amount of time that it takes each of us to work the steps. This varies greatly based on a number of factors.

Yet, one thing I know for certain is that once you have worked the steps, if you need a kick in the ass to move forward, please PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

I assure you that it will help you have a more positive outlook on life and allow you to appreciate your blessings.

We must always keep things in our life in perspective. It is an important part of "Retraining the Brain" which we do when working Step 5 - Wake Up.

If we do not keep things in perspective, we run the risk of being consumed by our issues instead of seizing our opportunities in life.

I want EACH OF YOU to seize ALL of the opportunities that present themselves to you in this lifetime. You should NEVER miss a thing!!!! You owe it to yourself and you deserve it.

Live your life! Embrace it!
Lisa

Dec 12 - 6AM
Chely
Chely's picture

?

Feb 9 - 5AM (Reply to #3)
leslieisback
leslieisback's picture

I

Nov 5 - 5PM
Journey
Journey's picture

Thanks for this Lisa, it is

Journey on...

Nov 5 - 8AM
shock and awe.some
shock and awe.some's picture

Lisa thx for this reminder