Alcohol, pornography, gambling, sex with strangers, obsessing with video games, hoarding, etc.
Prescription drugs, sleep disorders, chronic illnesses, mental health issues, abuse, obesity, etc.
What do addictions call for?
What is the problem?
Why are people sick?
What happened to normal family relationships?
Where are Dad and Mom?
What happened to civil conversations and sharing.
What is causing so much pain?
What are the unmet needs?
It seems humanity may have gotten stuck in a comfort zone and feels trapped.
There are people taking on traditional roles which no longer fit.
There are men trying to be what is expected and getting depressed and anxious.
There are women trying to be mothers with a need to do something out of the home.
There are families trying to look functional with lots of behind the scenes unhappiness and discord.
There are people both seeking death and afraid to let go.
There are adolescents trying not to grow up and shutting our the crazy world with drugs,
There are men and women abandoning their roles in families that seem to be working.
There are people struggling to pay the mortgage and still shopping for clothes and Starbucks.
There are politicians making crazy and immature decisions and still wanting to lead our nation.
There are temptations to be irresponsible with drugs and guns offered even in grade school.
There is images of immoral and violent behavior commonplace on TV, movies and internet.7
There is dress, languaging and behavior among adolescents and adults once only for the lowest in society.
There is a confused, valueless culture appearing where we seem to have lost common sense or courtesy.
What is going on? UGH!
Lack of basic rules of etiquette.
Few role models for appropriate, behavior and dress and choices.
No training in decision-making skills.
Focus on following your feelings and not what you know to be Good.
Instant or short term gratification is justifies.
Limitless and ever-increasing temptations available.
No values clarification opportunities at school, church or home.
Threats and punishment applied rather than natural consequences.
No honored elders or exemplary consultants for help in sorting out one’s life choices.
Faced with total freedom before demonstrating responsibility.
Lack of accountability for one’s mistakes.
Cultural mores in chaos.
Lack of self Love and self respect.
Inconsistent expectations in institutions and on the street.
And what can we do?
- Clean up our own act.
- Live life daily applying the highest principles we know.
- Give generously of our time and encouragement to those around us, especially children.
- Teach every to be accountable through follow-up and appropriate natural consequences.
- Be authentic in your interactions.
- Be assertively honest, rather than “nice” or passive, judgmental or aggressive.
- Learn to apologize for any mistakes, or disrespect in your behavior or language.
- Be a safe place where others can discuss and share without pushing your opinions.
- Stop availing yourself or your family to the tempations that are not healthy.
- Learn to say “NO” without losing anyone’s respect or love.
- Bring up values or principle centered discussions so others can voice their preferences.
- Seek out those who walk their talk and live their Truth.
- Give to those who feed you only the Highest Good and forget the rest.
How can we stop the pain?
How does humanity become sane and humane?
How do each one of us become the change we want to see more effectively?
Awakening humanity with me words, thoughts and actions,
Betty Lue
You are responsible for your own happiness and inner peace.
Where we are upset (angry, hurt, afraid, judgmental), our past wounds (unhealed stuff) has been triggered. This shows us where we have work to do.
The usual relationship habit is to try to “fix” the other person, to get them to change or stop saying or doing what has upset us. This makes the other feel “wrong” and guilty and hurt and angry and inadequate. This only exaggerates the problem.
It is ineffective over the long term.
The real work is to heal our own woundedness, to clear our own buttons and heal our history and forgive allowing anything or anyone to hurt us. When we have done our work, we can be truly effective, helpful and teach by example.
This is a big job.
It cannot be done overnight, but takes constant practice.
We must first take good care of ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Being conscious and taking impeccable care of ourselves is essential to quality relationships.
Begin now with learning to love, respect, trust and appreciate yourself.
The more you love, trust, respect and appreciate yourself, the more others will love, trust, respect and appreciate you.
The more you love, respect, trust and appreciate yourself, the more others will do the same for themselves and for others.
You are the living example, the teacher, with everything you think, say and do.