Thought for the Week

Timothy D. Stein, MFT, CSAT

January 22, 2018

“By being flexible, he no longer judges the world on the basis of ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ but on the basis of ‘the most appropriate attitude for that particular moment.'” –Paulo Coelho

Many people, not just addicts, prefer to see the world in black and white.  It seems more clearly defined.  It gives us a sense of right and wrong.  It tells us what to do in any situation to get the result we want.  The problem is, the world is not black and white.  What may be a perfectly appropriate response in one situation could be inappropriate in another situation.  Worse yet, what may be a successful course of action with one person may create an uncomfortable outcome in the same situation but with a different person.  In recovery, we are asked to accept the uncertainty of life and do our best to respond based on what is “the most appropriate attitude for that particular moment” without the guarantee of a comfortable outcome.

When have I approached situations or judged others by rigid measures (black and white, right or wrong)?  What have been the consequences of this rigidity?  What gifts await me as I accept the uncertainty of life and look for “the most appropriate attitude for that particular moment?”