Daily Steps On Our Road to Recovery for Week of 7 April 2003

Published Last Week. Page Down, for each day that is added a day at a time

Monday 7 April 2003

The Good Life is recovery from Organic Disorders.

Now the DSM-III starts to give numbers to these "organic" disorders. "Primary Degenerative Dementia of the Alzheimer Type" [331.00]. Then there are special codes like [290.30] "with delirium", [290.20] "with delusions", [290.21] "with depression] and [290.00] "uncomplicated'. Then there is a special set of numbers for those under 65 of [290.10,11,12, &13]. Then there is a set of numbers for "Multi-Infarct Dementia' [290.41, 42, 43, & 40]. Now we have codes, labels, without a cure.

These are all forms of being diminished. The amount of consciousness is going down, and the amount of unconsciousness is going up. But interestingly, our unconsciousness is conscious. The person with these symptoms is just becoming less conscious of the unconscious that they are holding. What to do with the consciousness that is left?

Why do anything different than with any consciousness? Why not be doing client centered assistance with anyone? The more relevant question is: "What does the remaining consciousness want?" and "How can I assist in getting them what they want?" Is that not what love does?

Tuesday 8 April 2003

The Good Life is recovery from Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Dementia.

I updated my short story, Our Last Ignorant King. In my story is one or more secrets to healing the disorders of arrogance and egoism that have the official label of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or the recovery label of dry drunk.

Organic dementia before and after 65. Why is it surprising that after many years of negative thinking, both conscious and unconscious, that some of us experience different dimming of capabilities? Why would we expect anything else? In fact studies have been done, that tell us that the average person has 25 negative thoughts for each positive thought.

So to change directions, it would seem that we need to start consciously thinking 25 positive thoughts, for each negative thought. That is a lot of positive self talk. That is a lot of positive talking to others around us. That is a new way of thinking and a new way of living. That is very peculiar here in this world. But, in the old testament it says God's people are "peculiar" people. I find it much more comfortable being a peculiar person in a planet that is often missing this kind of peculiar.

Wednesday 9 April 2003

The Good Life is recovery from Judgments.

Once upon a time there was someone who resisted the concept of forgiving themselves. They made a mistake, and left something, that did not belong in something, they were making. They were angry at themselves. They were calling themselves stupid and things like that. I suggested forgiving themselves for judging themselves as stupid and things like that. I did not like to see them continue to prove to themselves that they were stupid, because they called themselves stupid.

They just got angry at this concept. They were independent.

Shortly thereafter they unconsciously kicked themselves hard on their small toe. They again called themselves stupid, and things like that. I was silent, since they did not want to hear about forgiving the names, they called themselves. They were now dependent, since they could now barely walk. Later they asked for prayer. What could I say? I told them there was nothing, I could say. I knew that the problem was in their head, their resistance to the concept of forgiveness. I knew that they needed to forgive themselves, since I already had forgiven them.

I knew that most prayer is really a complaint and or begging for something, instead of taking actions and or asking HOW to get what they want and being grateful for what they already have.

They said that the bible said that they could call for the elders of the church to pray for them, but since they were not going to do that, they wanted me to.

That verse reminded of laying hands on the sick. So I lay a hand on their head and let the spirit of healing do what it does. Then they asked me to get them some aspirin. At last, a prayer of action. I got them their aspirin and they took them and I noted that a prayer of action is the most effective. Aspirin is like aspire in, is it not?

Then it came to me that I could kiss them on their small toe wound and I did so. Another prayer of love in action. Now they were more receptive. I told them they could pray like "I am becoming more conscious to take better care of myself." "I am grateful that I showed myself that I need to grow more conscious." Life can be a hard teacher when we resist the information it is giving us. Been there and done that. I also affirmed the same prayers. All of us need that.

Thursday 10 April 2003

The Good Life is recovery from Alcohol Idiosyncratic Intoxication.

"Alcohol Idiosyncratic Intoxication" is just unsuccessful behavior after the ingestion of this particular medication, for the pains of life. The medication is unsuccessful because it does not cure the cause of the pain and anxiety. Many other medications are equally unsuccessful about curing the causes of the pain and anxiety, but usually do not have such behavior side effects. The unsuccessful behavior reminds me of the multiple personality syndrome. As the spiritual powers of the primary personality is eroded by the spirits of alcohol, the secondary personalities assume power. One can just look at this as a demonstration of another need to heal and integrate the sub personalities with the core personality.

Friday 11 April 2003

The Good Life is my utmost for his highest.

Another break from the DSM disorders. Today, I am adding another book to my bookstore. Two of my clients, in the same week, brought me the same book, and pointed out that this book, was telling them the same things ,I had been teaching them and myself.

The book was My Utmost for His Highest [list] by Oswald Chambers. The more I consider this book, the more I would like people, that read the bible, to read My Utmost for His Highest [review] , first. That way, they would start with a higher perspective, when reading the bible, and be better prepared to keep the bible, in a healthier spiritual context. Most people get hung up in the old testament with low levels of God, and miss the highest with JC.

Someone said, that everywhere you taste the ocean, it is salty. That is what I find with the salty ones, that JC was talking about, that have walked with Him for a while. I have not consciously walked with the salty one of the earth and heaven, for all my life, but He was always walking with me. The more I find out of his loving and understanding and saltiness, the more I am happy, I decided to find if he existed, and how he was, if he existed.

Very Respectfully,

Michael

When you would like ask questions, or contribute some of your wisdom, or want to make some comments or tell your success stories, click Michael Foster, M. A.

I appreciate any feedback, questions and suggestions that you have.

Directory of Directories & Lists

I am continuing a Directory of Directories. Please tell me your favorites.

Leadership

I am starting a page on leadership. My first link is to some articles by

Steven Covey. His book is in my recommended books library.

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A daily hint has published each day since June 1996. This is past my fifth year anniversary, since starting my web pages. I started my daily page, because it is useful for me to look for some recovery tip or secret each day for my spiritual growth. we and I only need one secret to work on and let it work on us each day. They are secrets because they are usually the opposite of what the majority of society teaches. They must be secret because they are not commonly used. A friend of mine once said "Common Sense is not much in Common.". Now that I have grandchildren I am also writing for them. I would have really liked for my grandparents and my parents to have passed on more of what they learned.

What is happening now?

I now have completed my second copy of my two CDROM's, full of free programs, for my college class. I am sending my current version, to anyone that sends me $7.

phone and http://www.recoverybydiscovery.com