It takes a long time to recognize your own bad habits.

One of mine was that I’ve spent most of it projecting negativity on people I claimed to care about. Some I still care for despite who caused the distance.

I do my best to forgive myself for doing that, and for other habits that were once hard wired.

I often succeed. Still do.

The other times I risk getting stuck in that once comfortable self-pitying. That feeling that you’re not so different from your old self. Like you’ve only learned how to hide it better from everyone, including yourself.

What are your ways to remind yourself that you’re not speaking the uncomfortable ways you used to? The ways which you feel may have driven people away?

What makes you think that will change when you speak about goodness in its place? Have you noticed that the more you speak up about negative traits, the more you attract the like-minded and repel those that benefited from your old self?

And not all people will develop the same way, for reasons I will leave to medical, psychological, and even spiritual experts. But when it’s done, when you even so much as share memes dedicated to whistleblowing the dark behaviors, even most of the suspects and the convicted will want to keep watch.

By the time you take even that much in, will the awareness of that stop you? It hasn’t for me.

My focus is what it’s always been, to leave behind my word and inspire others to do the same when they’re ready. When you are ready.

And if you’re already doing it, keep going. It’s a great reminder that you really have changed.

D.F.