Sayings, Quotes, Proverbs, and Parables – 292

You can also read a transcript of this episode.

Do you have a few sayings or quotes that support your recovery? How do you use them?

Spencer and Eric explore a long list of sayings, quotes, proverbs, and parables. We talked about all of these, some at length, and some quite briefly. Some of these have dates in the form month/day, which refer to readings in the book Courage to Change.

* Take what you like and leave the rest.* Let it begin with me.* You are not alone.* Don’t pick up the rope.* I don't have to attend every dog fight I'm invited to.* not my monkeys not my circus* There are only two types of business; my business, and none of my business.* We’re only as sick as our secrets.* Move a muscle, change a thought. (Act my way into right thinking.)* Don’t just do something, sit there. When in doubt don’t.* First thought, wrong thought.* I am a human being, not a human doing.* Participation is the key to harmony.* Worry is like a rocking chair; going back and forth and going nowhere.* The only way I can push people, is away from me.* Say what you mean but don’t say it meanly.* The enemy of serenity is indecision and hurry.* Came, Came to, and Came to Believe!* Show up, wake up, smarten up.* I can’t, he can, I think I’ll let him.* “If you understand, things are just as they are.  If you don’t understand, things are just as they are.” Zen proverb.* It works if you work it!* If nothing changes, nothing changes.* Let go or be dragged.* Stop living in the wreckage of the future.* Life on life’s terms.* Keep my head where my feet are.* Fear and faith can’t live in the same house.* When the student is ready, the teacher appears.* What other people think of me is none of my business.* Do the next right thing.* If I don’t have 5 minutes to meditate, take 10.* My best thinking got me here.* If my only prayer today is thank you, that will suffice.* The family situation is bound to improve as we apply the Al-Anon ideas.* I may not get everything I want today but I have everything I need.* Forgiveness is letting go of hoping for a better yesterday.* Look back but don’t stare.* Parable of the two wolves — Which one wins? The one you feed.* When going through hell, keep going.* When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot.* When 1 door closes, another door opens, but living in the hallway is hell.* Before sunlight shines through a window, the blinds must be raised.  American – 3/5* Patience is the key to paradise.  Turkish – 5/14* When we talk of tomorrow, God laughs.  Chinese – 5/17* The highest for of wisdom is kindness.  The Talmud – 4/13* “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abe Lincoln* “Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.”  MLK Jr – 8/6* “Even if I knew tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”  Martin Luther – 11/5* “The oak grows stronger in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”  Peter Marshal – 3/23* “There is no try.  There is do or not do.”  Yoda* “Fear leads to hate, hate to anger, anger to suffering.”  Yoda* “Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer – 12/9

Readings and Links

Links to longer explanations about or readings of the parables we discussed:

Pandoras box

Cheshire Cat

The two wolves