Are you afraid to be different?

[caressa]

Are you afraid to be different?

On the path of evolution, we move from being a willing and obedient member of the group to wanting to take control over our own lives. This is a necessary but difficult transition.

Andrew Schneider says, "At this point we are afraid of being ourselves. We are afraid of being unique and different. We are afraid of being individually powerful, and even successful. For all of these things stand against the old ways that told us that conformity was right and individualism was wrong.

"For as long as we possibly can, we make a compromise. We try to live both lives - the dependent tribal life and the independent personal life - as contradictory and opposite as they are.

"We want approval from others. We want to be accepted and popular. We seek this comfort to overcome our fear and feel more secure. ...So, at times when we conform, we don’t feel the fear of living. But we might lose the new sense of adventure, discovery, daring and enthusiasm for life that the questioning and questing have brought us."

"Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another."

-- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

So many times we stay in active addiction because we want to be part of the crowd. We want to 'fit' in and be like others. It isn't until we realize 1) that we don't metabolize alcohol and drugs the way others do, 2) that we can't use them safely and just 'stop' when we want to, 3) that we have a mental obsession as well as a physical allergy and 4) that we suffer from a disease which affects our perception of reality.

[caressa222]

My son once said, 'i wish I had a normal mom.'. He later was grateful that I understood his disease. Not sure if alcoholism is hereditary and in the jeans. I do know I was a product of my environment. My environment went from bad to worse.

My son didn't have a chance if it was hereditary, thanks to his grandfather, his dad, step dad, and me. He also said, "There are somethings I would rather not have inherited from you.". Out is a family disease.