Emotional Health Help: AA Slogans for Emotional Health: Keep it Clean

Relationship and Emotional Health Help: Alanon Slogan 'Keep it Clean'

Al-Anon and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)provide a great toolkit for emotional health. It's called the Al-Anon Slogans. Part of recovery from addiction or emotional illness includes 'Keep it clean' in relationships. 'Keep it clean' means that in your dealings with others, keep the strands of thread separate. You're a big boy/girl. You know the difference between trouble at work and trouble at home. Keep it straight and keep it clean.

Whatever you are experiencing, no matter how negative, it is never appropriate to take advantage of an innocent bystander. 'Trouble shared is trouble halved' is an old saying. But there is a huge difference between sharing troubles in a non-confrontational safe way and making them part of the problem. If you are taking advantage of your spouse's support, encouragement, listening ear and willingness to share your burden, shame on you if you take advantage of that love. Because your spouse is willing to share your trials, does not make him/her your personal toxic waste dump. If you expect your spouse to be there for you, be there for him/her when they need you. And don't pollute the waters of your relationships by dragging your own demons into your relationship and expecting him/her to rescue you. Problems at work? Boss picking on you? Don't drag your spouse into the mud. It isn't his/her fault that you have problems at work and it's not his/her responsibility to fix them.

Is one (or all) of your kids bugging you? Is your mother, brother, family member driving you crazy? This is not your spouses problem and if you try to make him/her responsible for it because she/he isn't bailing you out, be prepared for hell on earth at home. If you are so lazy and selfish that you believe that it's fine for you to harass, pester, undermine, insult and hurt innocent people because you are having trouble, you don't deserve a relationship. Pull up your big boy/girl panties and wake up. The world doesn't revolve around you. There is a higher power in the universe but you are not it. Everyone else has problems, worries, frustrations, pain and suffering. It called the human condition. If you can't or won't accept that fact, do yourself and everyone else a favor. Go live in a cave where you won't be a thorn in everyone else's side. If you can't pull your fair share in this world and own your own problems and pain, then get out of the race now. Don't expect anyone else to be your conscience, emotional crutch or personal leaning post.

For more straight talk on relationships, emotional issues and recovery, visit me at www.onintimacy.blogspot.com and www.emotionalhealthhelp.blogspot.com