Thought for today:
A member shares:
“Being in severe debt is bound to stress a person. Creditors demanding repayment, in that deriding tone of voice they were trained to use. They can be rude and obnoxious, and they seem to love it when we argue, so they can deride us further.“It’s up to us whether we take the bait. There is no law that says we have to stay on the phone when someone is nasty.”
A response is not always necessary:
Sometimes the best way to tackle a difficult debt problem such as a difficult phone call from a creditor, is to wait and do nothing until we get clarity. That can be difficult when, after years of debting, we’ve developed a habit of panicking over every little thing that doesn’t line up right. Some of us got highly emotional with creditors.
It’s at these times we need to ask ourselves, “Is there really a threat here? What’s the worst that could happen?”
Think it through – there is probably no firing squad commander saying “Ready, aim, fire!” followed by a “bang!” It’s just someone on the other end of the phone, in an office, representing people you owe money to, trying to do a job and get the money back.
What do we fear will happen? If we do nothing, facing the fears, we can learn to slow down, and put off that compulsion to action. Instead we cab thoughtfully consider our options. Reason returns, (it always does), and we find answers.
Bookending with a sponsor or action partner is often a lifesaver at these times. We learn that we can take time to think first, and respond when the answer comes to us. Until then, we can wait for the answer, mindfully aware that our sanity is worth more than any debt.
Have I learned that I don’t have to panic automatically when someone pushes my “panic” buttons?
In Embrace Your Magnificence: Get Out of Your Own Way and Live a Richer, Fuller, More Abundant Life
Meditation for today:
Worry is a form of pride. It says to us “I am so important that no one else could possibly fix this situation”. It leaves no room for your Higher Power to enter, no room for friends to help us.
Worry loves to isolate you with your fear. It limits the options you think you have available to you. Think about all the options you really have, and let worry know that you won’t be needing it’s services today!
Affirmation for today:
“I will not react automatically to abusive behavior, no matter what. I will, instead, stop, check with a friend in recovery, and respond when answers come.”
Prayer for today:
“I pray for the awareness to know when I am taking my will back, and the humility to be able to surrender again to my loving Higher Power, the source of my strength and my answers.”
Best-selling publisher Linda Joy brings you a powerful collection of stories from twenty-seven amazing women who have entered a brave new world of conscious, deliberate, positive-and most of all, happy-living. Through trials and triumphs great and small, these fearless female leaders prove that true fulfillment is the result of connecting to inner wisdom.
(The links on this page will bring you to Amazon. If you decide to purchase something there, Amazon will give us a small commission. This helps us defray the costs of running this website and does not add to your cost.)
You must log in to post a comment.