Times of Reprogramming

Paraphrased from a passage from "The Language of Letting Go", written by Melody Beattie.

   Do not ask for love unless I'm ready to be healed enough to give and receive love.
   Do not ask for joy unless I'm ready to feel and release my pain, so I  can feel joy.
   Do not ask for success unless I'm ready to conquer the behaviors that would sabotage success.
   Wouldn't it be nice if I could imagine myself having or becoming_and then immediately receiving_what I wanted? I can have and be the good things I want. All good things are mine for the asking. But first, groundwork_preparation work_must be done.
   A gardener would not plant seeds unless the ground was adequately prepared to nurture and nourish those seeds. The planting would be wasted effort. It would be wasted effort for me to get what I wanted before I was ready.
   First, I need become aware of my need or desire. This may not be easy! I have become accustomed to shutting off the inner voice of my wants,needs and desires. Sometimes,life has to work hard to get my attention.
   Next I let go of old "programming"_the behaviors and beliefs that interfere with nurturing and nourishing the good. I have strong sabotage programs,learned from childhood, that need to be released. I may need to "act as if" for a while until the belief, that I deserve the good becomes real.
   I combine this process with much letting go,while I am being changed at the core.
   There is a naturalness to this process, but it can be intense. Things take time.
   Good things are mine for the asking, if I am willing to participate in the work of groundbreaking. Work and wait.

   I have the courage to identify the good I want in my life and to ask for it.  I have the faith and the stamina I need to go through the work that must be accomplished first.