Selfishness -- Not Always A Bad Thing.
Intro Time Demands # 1 Time Management Saying Yes Saying No The Challenge Tips Q &A Next Month:
So, here I am saying that sometimes, being selfish is not such a bad thing. And what’s more, if you live life to the fullest, as well as being helpful and considerate of others, you cannot be totally selfless. The topic for the November newsletter is “Selfishness – Not Always A Bad Thing”
We live such busy lives. Our work, family, and social obligations take up a lot of time. In fact, with only 24 hrs in a day, trying to keep up with our to-do list can be a herculean task and there’s no time left for ourselves – the usual excuse --‘it’s not important anyway!!’ #1 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) says “take care of #1”. Many people think that they mean being selfish, but not so. In AA language, taking care of yourself means not taking a drink. But in a broader sense, when you care of yourself, you’re more productive and more able to cope with people and situations that matter most to you. Isn’t that what all of us want? Time Management We think we have no time. Not so – the less time we have, the more priorities have to be set – and here’s where you include yourself in the mix. If you really evaluate what you have to do, some things hold more weight than others. Keep your priorities in perspective.
It’s much easier to say “yes” then it is to say “no”. Everyone wants others to like them, and saying “no” can be interpreted as not being ‘nice’. We also may risk a confrontation—“why not?” If you give in to pressure, you’re doing what the other person wants at your own expense. Saying “No” Refusing is not that difficult. Here’s how to do it. If you’re declining an invitation, inform the person that you’re unable to attend and explain. You don’t have to make up an excuse. Tell the person that you’re overloaded or whatever the reason, but make a point of also saying that you’ll do it another time. It’s never necessary to lie. Explain how their request would affect you. That’s it, that’s all – no long winded story. There’s really nothing more you have to say. The Challenge If you’re a ‘caregiver’ or a ‘people-pleaser’, saying ‘no’ and taking care of yourself will feel strange in the beginning. You’ll even feel guilty about doing it. It’s normal to feel this way, because you’re going against what you usually do. Keep practicing, and you’ll get used to it. The more you do what’s right for yourself, you will not only have more peace of mind, but you’ll be more effective with other people as well as doing what matter the most to you.
Prioritize --Know your limitations – you can’t do everything Relax – make time when you’re stressed to get down time Relationships – some people should be more of a priority than others See the big picture – small things are overwhelming and bring stress Get enough sleep Pamper yourself – and don’t feel guilty – light candles, a hot bath, a massage, etc Spirituality – this is personal -- don’t only focus on your external self. Speak up – don’t keep your emotions bottled inside you Include yourself along with everything and everyone else you care about. If you're not taking care of yourself, someone else will have to do it. That's not selfish, it's self-care.
Q. Hi Bev, I’m so glad I found your site. I'm 16 and my father, who was my best friend, passed away a month ago. When I was 10, my parents split, and my dad moved back to his family in another town. I visited him on weekends, until his drinking became an issue. When he was drunk, he’d text me nasty messages and it really annoyed me. So I’d changed my number and didn’t speak to him for months. Then, I’d feel guilty and text him to meet, but sometimes he would turn up drunk, which got me angry. About 6 months before he died, we met for lunch and he was very thin. I feel like I’m to blame. I was the one who pushed him away, which only made his drinking worse. I feel like I let him down. I deeply regret not being there for him. I am devastated. I want this pain and guilt to go away. My Uncle and Grandma tell me it’s not my fault, but it is eating me up. What can I do? Lilly A. Hi Lilly Children of alcoholics/addicts have very mixed feelings about an addicted parent. The parent can be nasty, abusive, demanding and worse... but on the other hand, you know they’re not well. It’s frustrating and there’s nothing you can do, because the only person who can help an alcoholic is the alcoholic himself. Be assured that nothing you could have done or said, would have stopped him from drinking. It’s normal to be angry in grief, so don't chastise yourself for that. But a child of an alcoholic has many emotions that have to be dealt with. Here is some information that may help you understand children of alcoholics:
children of alcoholics
There are ACOA programs for children of alcoholics. It might be helpful for you to join one. You'll understand that everyone there suffers guilt and anger -- even if the alcoholic parent is alive. Remember, that as you loved your dad, he also loved you. He would not have wanted to hurt you in any way. Allow yourself to grieve, but keep the good memories of your dad in your heart. Be thankful for them. Many children only have bad memories of their alcoholic parent. You’re one of the lucky ones. Don’t be hard on yourself. You will always love your dad, and there will be times that you’ll miss him, but the pain you feel today will subside as time goes on. So sorry for your loss, Bev
Surviving the Holidays – Happy times? Not always.
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