Something I heard on TV about our attitude

[irish]

This is something I heard on TV---can't remember when or where, but I was balancing my checkbook and quick grabbed a deposit slip and wrote it down. Very deep and quite prophetic I think.

"The longer we focus on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to cause us harm." Wish I could remember who or where, but I will never know, will I. lol Irish

[Meld256]

Irish,

Thank you for sharing this.    An important message with a great deal of great advice to us all!

[Piebird]

<3

[AAACGRL]

Thanks for posting this!

[Carolina]

"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us"
Voltaire

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/205795

hugs 

Elaine

[irish]

Thanks, Caroline for posting that info. I don't think it was Voltaire who said it on TV. lol

I am just lucky that I could remember what was said to write it down. I thought it was rather to the point. Thanks again. Irish

[susanep]

Yes, so much truth.

susanep

[stephL]

Great thought for the day Irish, thanks!

[Patty]

ahhhh... just what I need to hear! 

[Linda196]

Reminds me of something my grandmother used to say, and I don't think she ever read Voltaire. I'm pretty sure she didn't watch much TV either, come to think of it.

She'd tell us that "Fussing over your problems pampers them and makes them strong...deal with them then let them alone to fend for themselves, usually they give in and you can be in charge again!"

[ashewoman]

Irish-- THAT is exactly my main complaint with talk therapy.  Not that I didn't give it its day in court, but at some point, you're just stirring up something stinky and it stinks more.  I don't mind focusing on understanding what is happening to me with any of my issues but I prefer to do so only in the attempt to find solutions.  I suppose to each their own.... but that's what works for me.  It's okay to call something exactly what it is but bellyaching about what it is doesn't help me.  I like what you said about attitudes having power.

These days my personal growth experiments attempt to give things their proper names so I have the language to look for help and support.  But rehashing it all again and again... just makes me bat poop crazy and I have enough of that without piling up a bigger stash. LOL!

At my last appt the nurse was trying to get me to list all my issues, and I just finally told her... "Look, all that is listed in my chart.  If you really need to list it again please refer to the chart.  I don't feel like saying it just so you can rewrite it without having to look it up."  It didn't go over well with her, but I felt better.  Words have power and every time I say I'm a "blah blah blah" it is like spiritual voodoo for me. Listing my health problems like that is like shouting until I'm self-brainwashed into believing I'm just a sick and useless person.  I am not the sum of my illnesses or experiences even if they are a part of who I am any more than a garbage man is trash.  I don't want my misfortune to define who I am.  I remember this poem from school... probably will quote it wrong, but I'll give it a try. 

"Kings and queens and clowns that caper in saw dust rings
and common people like you and me are builders for eternity
each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass, and a book of rules
and each must make before life has flown
a stumbling block or a stepping stone." 

I think Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote it but jeez 30 years is a long time I could be wrong.  I like to think everything can be some sort of stepping stone rather than an obstacle even if it is rough on the feet to climb up on it.  GG

[lighthouse33]

ashewoman,

The poem you are referring to was written by RL Sharpe.  It is called Bag of Tools:

http://www.financial-inspiration.com/bag-of-tools.html

[ashewoman]

I hear ya.  I knew someone who cared more about the specifics than I did would look it up.    It's a good poem regardless and evidence I haven't lost everything I memorized in grammar school.  GG