The following cards (#13-30) are additional spiritual principles and practices that can be essential in recovery.
An oxpecker on an impala
When the topic of tolerance comes up, cynics often complain that it is necessary to make judgments in life. Yet there is an important distinction between the kinds of judging we do. Judging a person based on whether we find them likable is simply a subjective opinion (which often defines us more than the other person). It is quite different from judging a situation that offers us impartial, useful information (for instance on safety or progress). While tolerance does include avoiding biased conclusions, it is more than simply putting up with difficult people. It involves approaching people who are different with an objective attitude while treating them with respect. Tolerance allows us to live peacefully and work cooperatively with each other. This principle gives us a chance to widen our knowledge and educate ourselves beyond our own personal experiences. We may not understand what it’s like to live in someone else’s skin, but we can make a start by being unafraid to look at reality from their perspective instead of just ours. In doing so, we might discover we have much more in common with them than we originally thought.
People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.
~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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