Broken Reflection of Self

I was talking to a dear friend last week and we were comparing notes on various realities people create stemming from how they view themselves. I find it curiously amazing how slanted someone can see themselves, from being the worst addict or alcoholic on the planet to a completely self absorbed ego maniac. I speak from personal experience cartwheeling from thinking I'm the best counselor on the block to hiding under the covers afraid the next bill collector may knock on my door. I relate to the circus mirror we often see ourselves in spinning from arrogance to acceptance, from fear to faith, from patience to pissed off with the whole damn world! I thought deeply about what my friend said and considered how my own self-image has evolved over the years resembling the stock market highs and lows, crumbling to dust from rejection and then rising from the ashes like the phoenix, creating a perfect circle never really progressing or digressing just staying the same, which I hear is the definition of insanity in the rooms of A/A! Many people who come to see me often make vows, promises and declarations to make significant changes in their life and I believe they really mean what they say. Unfortunately they make the common mistake of focusing on the external superficial material parts of their life, instead of the intimate, genuine, essential personal characteristics we need to build a better life and sustain us through the storms of adversity. There are many triggers, hurts and dissappointments that can damage, hinder or even break people's sobriety, destroying themselves and the relationships in proximity to their implosion. If we are to stand a chance at creating a better life for ourselves we have to correct our vision, to where we can clearly see who we are, strengths and weaknesses, and also who we want to be! I understand that many of us have been shattered into many pieces but just like a puzzle those pieces can be put back together bringing forth something new even more amazing than before! The vision of our future self is birthed out of who we believe we are at present, right now, today! The gift of today is only a gift if we can see how truly unique and remarkable we really are, putting the pieces back together again one piece at a time, one day at a time...