NOURISHING AND TOXIC LIVING
How do we go about living a nourishing life? How do we discover what it is that we do that is nourishing or toxic to our well-being and that of others? This quest is not nearly as complicated as most people imagine. Becoming more aware of one's behavior is the beginning of change. This process begins with awareness of our attitudes and ways of relating to ourselves. The basic question is: How do I go about nourishing and poisoning myself?
In the following questions, the reader can check for himself whether his existing behavior patterns are largely nourishing or toxic.
1. Nourishing: Do I take the initiative in doing the best I can to get what I need?
or
Toxic: Do I wait and hope that somehow what I need will be brought to me by someone else?
2. Nourishing: Do I decide what's most important for me?
or
Toxic: Do I allow others to make decisions for me?
3. Nourishing: Do I give up my attempts to control the world and accept life as it is?
or
Toxic: Do I live my life dominated by fears of catastrophe for which I continuously attempt to prepare?
4. Nourishing: Am I willing to take reasonable risks and experiment with new behavior that might be more satisfying?
or
Toxic: Do I cling to obsolete behavior patterns which mainly offer the security of being familiar?
5. Nourishing: Do I focus on what I am doing in the here and now?
or
Toxic: Do I usually wander into fantasies of the future or mistakes about the past?
6. Nourishing: Do I pay attention to one experience at a time?
or
Toxic: Do I try to do two things at once and thereby split my attention into pieces?
7. Nourishing: Do I take for myself the central role of determining my life style?
or
Toxic: Do I give over this function to others?
8. Nourishing: Do I take responsibility for satisfying my own needs?
or
Toxic: Do I try to manipulate other people into doing it for me?
g. Nourishing: Do I function as best I can in the here and now of my life?
or
Toxic: Do I cling to the misfortunes and tragedies of my past (real or imagined) and use these as excuses to avoid taking responsibility for myself in the present?
10. Nourishing: Do I live my personal life as I see fit and take my chances that some people will reject me?
or
Toxic: Do I go through Me explaining myself and needing everyone's approval?
11. Nourishing: Do I see life as exciting and stimulating?
or
Toxic: Do I experience myself struggling to stay alive in a jungle of hostile forces?
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