Behind Prison Doors — Blocks to Acceptance
Posted by Second Chance to Live on April 25, 2012
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. Several years ago I wrote an article by the title of Behind Prison Doors. In keeping with my recent articles on the topic of acceptance, I wanted to share what I have found to be a block to acceptance. In the below version of the article, I have made some modifications to add accent. As you read this article and questions come to mind, please ask.
Behind Prison Doors
Posted by Second Chance to Live on October 13, 2009
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Recently I read a quote that I thought was excellent. I want to share that quote with you.
Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner. Max Lucado
This quote is rich with awareness. Although I may believe and feel justified in my anger and resentment I am the one who suffers the consequences. By choosing not to forgive I place myself behind prison doors. I have also heard that holding un-forgiveness and resentment — in my heart toward other people – is likened to drinking poison while hoping that the other person dies.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha
Many years ago I listened to a speaker share how some monkeys are trapped in Africa. Apparently, bamboo cages are built with rungs of bamboo bars that are spaced with small gaps. The spacing allows for the monkey to reach into the cage to reach the piece of fruit, but the spacing does not allow for the monkey to remove the fruit. Because the monkey focus’s on the bait, the cage traps the monkey.
In the monkey’s determination to hold on to the fruit or bait, the monkey does not recognize what they will not let go of is keeping them trapped.
Today’s Thought
The above three illustrations remind me that I can make changes to release me from my self-imposed prison. I can choose to do the work to let go of my resentment. I can choose to do the work to let go of my unrealistic expectations. I can choose not to drink the poison of bitterness. I can choose to let go of the bait of justification that keeps me trapped in a cage. I can choose to do the work to forgive and be free.
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This entry was posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm and is filed under 12 Step Recovery, acquired brain injury and feeling alienated, Acquired Brain Injury and Suicide, Adult Children of Alcoholics, adult children of alcoholics and traumatic brain injuries, Adult Children of Alcoholics living with traumatic / acquired brain injuries, Brain Injury Education, Caregivers for people with traumatic / acquired brain injuries, celebrities with brain injuries, combating brain injury isolation, Families impacted by brain injuries, Finding Your Significance, Fulfilling your Destiny, learning disabilities, Learning to Accept Yourself as a brain injury survivor, Learning to Love Yourself as a brain injury survior, life challenging experiences, living life on life's terms, living with a brain injury, Living with a Disability, Living with a Invisible Disability and feeling shame, living with a traumatic / acquired brain injury, Living with a traumatic brain injury and feeling shame, Living with an Invisible Disability, living with meaning and purpose, messages of hope and inspiration, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Personell impacted by Traumatic Brain Injuries, Military Traumatic Brain Injury Support Meetings, Overcome Being Bullied, Overcoming Societal Stigmatization, Parents of children with Acquired brain injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic Syndrome and Suicide, Soldiers and Marines who sustained traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injury, stroke, tbi adults, tbi veterans, Traumatic / Acquired Brain Injury and Anger, Traumatic Brain and Comfort, Traumatic Brain Injury and being Bullied, Traumatic Brain Injury and Comfort, Traumatic Brain Injury and Hope, Traumatic Brain Injury and Learning, Traumatic Brain Injury and Significance, Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicide, Traumatic Brain Injury and What is my Destiny?, traumatic brain injury feeling alienated isolated, traumatic brain Injury in adults, Traumatic Brain Injury in children, traumatic brain injury in schools, traumatic brain injury Iraq, Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Resources, Traumatic Brain Injury Self-Esteem and Self-Worth, Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups / Meetings, Veterans Living with Brain Injuries. Tagged: domestic violence, fearless moral inventory, Learning to forgive myself, Let Go and Let a Loving God, Letting go of resentments, Poison of Bitterness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
