Melody Beattie Quotes

As we develop our lives, set our goals, and find things to do that interest us, peace will become comfortable — more comfortable than chaos.

Sometimes codependents were blamed; sometimes they were ignored; sometimes they were expected to magically shape up (an archaic attitude that has not worked with alcoholics and doesn’t help codependents either). Rarely were codependents treated as individuals who needed help to get better. Rarely were they given a personalized recovery program for their problems and their pain. Yet, by its nature, alcoholism and other compulsive disorders turn everyone affected by the illness into victims — people who need help even if they are not drinking, using other drugs, gambling, overeating, or overdoing a compulsion.

People may get angry at us for setting boundaries; they can’t use us anymore. They may try to help us feel guilty so we will remove our boundary and return to the old system of letting them use or abuse us. Don’t feel guilty and don’t back down.

Learn the words: “This is what I need from you. This is what I want from you.

The vocation of putting people straight, of tearing off their masks, of forcing them to face the repressed truth, is a highly dangerous and destructive calling,

The test, the mark, of a person that's on a spiritual path is whether they can live in harmony.

Codependents appear to be depended upon, but they are dependent.