Small Things

The great arises out of small things that are honored and cared for.

No Great thing has ever happened without many small things that were done properly, as the cause.

The Great, — sure I’ll take as many great things as I can get. That feels like what I was trying to do during my addiction, and even afterwards, using more socially acceptable ways to grasp after things, big things. I seem to need the drama. I felt a lack of “something”, not sure what, that I would use a drug or behavior to blot out my dissatisfaction and yearning.

If the Great Arises out of small things, then I first need to attend to small things, in order for those Great things to have an opportunity to arise. OK, I will try to small things, as long as it will bring me Great things. If I am USING any aspect of my life in order to get something else, then I do not have a sense of vision or path, and am blindly groping around, and trying to create, the Good stuff. If we go through all the steps, with the end result, the reward in mind, then we have missed the boat.

Every step, literally, that we take needs to be Honored, – ( to respect, to have the privilege of ), to fully partake of each step, of each aspect of the process. We can certainly enjoy a meal, but if we have been being aware and grateful for all the steps that brought us there, the joy of the meal will be fuller, but no fuller than any of the steps. Washing the dishes we can do with an appreciation of the meal we have eaten and the good fortune that we have dishes. To respect something, is to give it your full attention.

We may try very hard to accomplish a goal in a short time, recovery is a good example. If we have a goal and try hard to get there and are then frustrated because we don’t get the result WE want, we will quit out of frustration or think that the path is not a good one. This can be devastating in recovery. We must learn to respect ourselves, others, and the world we live in. To work towards moving in the right direction without any need of accomplishment or having a goal to reach. The path is the goal. The path is the destination.

“The Lord likes small things best, especially those done with love.” Mother Teresa

The little things are most worthwhile – A quiet word, a look, a smile, A listening ear that’s quick to share. Another’s thoughts, another’s care…Though sometimes they may seem quite small, These little things mean most of all. Margaret Lindsey.

Human beings are natural seekers. We want answers and meaning, and we expect to find both in ‘big’ things. Big possessions, big organizations, big beliefs. Inevitably, we find that big, external things become a heavy weight on the soul, driving us further from a truth that can only come from within. Being and understanding are readily available through the small, humble things that surround us. To quiet down and find yourself reflected in the details of what is there, all around you. We live in the present, and hope is always in the future. Abandon all future, (and past), and start living moment to moment, rejoicing in the small things of life.

Remember, life is not made of great things; it is made of very small things. In the early morning, sipping a cup of tea, do it totally, as if this is the last cup of tea you will ever sip again. Take each moment and squeeze the whole juice of it.

Treat each person as if you will never see them again. Ohso

We have to make a sustained effort, again and again, to cultivate the positive aspects within us. Dalai Lama

When I stopped indulging in my addiction I went through a time of withdrawal. That was a rather intense time,but I had brought myself to that point very slowly, over a long period of time. My recovery, my spiritual relationship is progressive, as long as I continue to apply myself with a sense of growth and development in a certain direction, I will continue to advance in that direction, one step at a time, one drop at a time.
If I choose to not apply myself in a healthy direction, my decline will also be slowly progressive.

A personal relationship is not defined by a large event, such as a wedding or a birth or buying a house, but is defined by many many small things that foster growth, or do not. Such as compassion for the other, small touches or kind words, to make the effort to be kind when it is difficult. To understand the value of another. To support them in their growth and be of aid in difficulties. These are the brick and mortar that make a strong wall.

With a sense of awareness, patience and persistence we can keep progressing in small ways that do have a Great effect.

Meditation is a good teacher in learning to utilize the virtues of awareness, patience and persistence, that we can then begin to naturally utilize in all aspects of our lives. It also teaches us that we are human, that we make mistakes and have problems, but we are always, always a worthy and valuable part of this world. We do have a lot to offer.

When you feel the tension of not getting what you want, of others not acting like they should, (according to you), or the vague underlying unhappiness with no reason to it, breathe deeply, bring your energies into you body, and calm the energies with the breath and no thinking. Stop the manipulations andresentments. Bring yourself into the NOW, with the truth of what is occurring, that you accept and permit to guide your actions in kindness. 

In the NOW is the truth of reality, which is what you are feeling a lack of. There is no grasping or fear in NOW. Only a sense of connection and acceptance. When we need to work on difficulties in our lives we generally need to do so slowly. To acknowledge that an action or behavior that is harmful and slowly, mindfully, replace the harmful behavior with positive and healthy thoughts and actions. It takes time to override old established behaviors and replace them. Patience, and persistence, believe in yourself, always.

How do you fill your bucket? One drop at a time.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
The great arises out of small things that are honored and cared for.

Heart Of Recovery web site – fcheartofrecovery.com