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, when you live life powerfully, and are 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 is full blown task and there’s no time for ourselves – the usual excuse --‘it’s not important anyway!!’ #1 Alcohol anonymous (AA) says “take care of #1”. Many people think that they mean be 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 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 they want 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 them that you’re overloaded or whatever the reason, but make a point of also telling them that you’ll get together another time. It’s never necessary to lie. Explain how their request would affect you. That’s it, that’s all – no long winded answer. 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 and the things that matter most the most for 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 etc. Spirituality – this is personal -- don’t only focus on your external self. Say how you feel – don’t keep your emotions bottled inside you Make yourself a priority, along with everything and everyone else. You’re not being selfish, to also take care of yourself.
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 because of /alcoholism. 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, selfish and worse... but on the other hand, you know they’re dysfunctional. 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 at times, so don't chastise yourself for that. But for a child of an alcoholic, it's harder. Here is some information that may help you to understand children of alcoholics: http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com/alcoholic-family.html Alcoholism is progressive, so his drinking would have progressed because he did nothing to get help. Dad knew that he was killing himself, but neither the medical profession nor anyone else could save him. There are ACOA programs for children of alcoholics. It might be helpful for you to join one. You'll understand that everyone suffers the guilt and shame that you feel -- 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. Your father’s death is still very fresh in your mind, and it hurts. Don’t be hard on yourself. You will always love your dad, and you’ll miss him, but the pain you feel today will subside as time goes on. Bev
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