In my experience I have found that there are matters that are out of my control. Some of these matters involve people who do not behave the way in which I would like them to behave. I have spent too much time fretting and being aggravated by them.

What I am reminded by is that I am powerless over whether these individuals behave in a way that I deem to be inconsiderate. Although I am powerless over these people and how they behave, I need to remember that I am not powerless over my attitude. I need to remember what I have heard through support groups.

Changed attitudes, aide recovery

Realizing that I can work on changing my attitude (s) toward what I do not like does not mean that I get to like them. Changing my attitude (s) means that I get to a place of acceptance over that which I am powerless to change — i.e. the people, in my case; who are not following the rules. This is a process that I am working through to get to a place of acceptance. In my experience, I have found that as I move from being aware  to the acceptance to how I am reacting to what I don’t like, I am given the impetus to take a different course of action.

To change the things I can

Changing the things I can gives me a sense of empowerment, despite what I do not like and am powerless to change. So as was said in the beginning of an 70’s television show, Mission Impossible; “This is your mission, if you choose to accept it.” Through realizing that I a choice in how I continue to allow the matter (s) to affect me, I am given a sense of hope. And as a friend recently shared with me, although I may set a boundary to ask the person to not continue to engage in unacceptable behavior, I need to take care of myself if the boundary is not respected.

By taking care of myself

A part of this process that I need to examine in the process of taking care of myself is to examine what is going on with me that is instigating my reaction (s) to what I do not like. By engaging in this part of the process of taking care of myself I free myself of negative energy — Resentments. Resentments are the underlying reactions to the my expectations.

Consequently, I need to examine; how is the behavior impacting my self-esteem (how I see myself), pride (how other people are supposed to see me), Ambition (what I would like to have occur), Security (what I want to get out of the situation) and Personal Relations (what this relationship should look like). I need to examine these matters to have peace in my life.

By examining what I bring to the table of my reactions, I am able to keep my side of the street clean. Through keeping my side of the street clean I am able to let go of negative energy. By letting go of negative energy, I find a new freedom to use my energy to create in positive and healthy ways. By using my energy to create in positive and healthy ways, I create hope in my life.

As you read my articles and questions come to mind, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. You have my permission to share the articles that I write and publish on Create a Spark of Hope. My only request is to attribute me as being the author and provide a link back to Create a Spark of Hope. Thank you. Copyright, 2015