When you think of having a truly bountiful life, what comes to mind? Security, a loving family? Maybe what you want most is for a loved one to stop using drugs or alcohol. On the other hand, your loved one may have stopped using, but the behaviors that made life difficult continue. We have some tools and suggestions for growing up in recovery and healing. You may need workbooks to think things through and learn a new language to heal.
What makes for a bountiful life
Over the years we’ve done many articles on what makes people happy. It’s really not what you think. Riches and fame do not make people happy. Being able to purchase anything you want at any time does not make people happy. Award-winning author and professor at Columbia College Chicago, David W. Berner, offers five tips that resonate with us.
Can you image that listening can lead to a bountiful life
Truly listen. Look in the eyes of others and be in the moment. Wait to speak. Take in the words they offer and savor them before reacting. You might call this “the patience of thought.” You cannot honestly connect with another living thing if you are only considering your own response. Understand your fellow human and you will understand yourself, Professor Brown tells us in tip #1
In Lindsey’s book 100 Tips For Growing Up, listening instead of arguing is a tip for restoring broken relationships and getting along in the workplace. Being kind to others is learning compassion, if you don’t have it already. You can walk only in your shoes, not judge or control others to be as you want them to be.
Living your vision instead of striving makes for a bountiful life
In 100 Tips For Growing up, you learn it’s vital to have a belief in your vision and stick to it no matter what. This is what David Berner says.
It’s not necessarily about dreams or specific goals, but more about a belief in your own vision. Stand up everyday and be the person you admire.
A bountiful life is one lived with simplicity
You don’t have to compete with others or have the best of everything. We learn this lesson in recovery. When we have lost everything, we can value the simple things much more than before.
David Berners 5 tips for a Bountiful Life can be found here.
