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Post by caressa on Jul 25, 2011 13:25:26 GMT -5
This is a topic requested by a member is something that I always try to ask myself, "What is my motive? What is my intent?" These are things my sponsor taught me early in recovery.
What is my primary purpose!
My primary purpose since walking into recovery was to stay clean and sober. It says in the Big Book, unless I give my sobriety away to others, I can not stay sober.
You can't give away what you don't have. So I had to look at me, work the Steps, and it wasn't until I had 2 years of service that I qualified to go out and help others.
I did service at my home group. It helped me with my self-esteem and self-worth. I found I was worthy of recovery, and my motive and intent was to maintain my sobriety one day at a time.
Before recovery, it was always about me and what I want. In today, I try a day at a time, to change that and help others.
Because of my disability the last 10 years, I haven't been able to get out to f2f meetings like I did before. I am so grateful for the internet that allows me to share with people from around the world. The internet makes the world a small place.
The Fifth Tradition has always been my purpose, and my motives and intent is to share my recovery road with others.
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Post by Lin on Jul 29, 2011 15:13:43 GMT -5
I don't recall ever asking myself my INTENT, but I do often ask myself my motive. If I am trying to decide if I should say or do somehting...likle give somebody my unsolicited opini0n...I ask myself my MOTIVE. ANd believe it or not, more often than not, myt motive is selfish or not so nice so it helped me zip my lip!
LIN
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Post by caressa on Jul 29, 2011 22:53:42 GMT -5
How true Lin, when we find self-honesty, so much is left unsaid. Unfortunately, I think that thought is an energy and by thinking it, I automatically project it. In the hospital, I left a 'few' things left unsaid, unfortunatley, the energy went out and was directed at a few people. Have some work to do in this area.
Not as bad as it was before recovery, but that doesn't make it right in today. My attitude before recovery was not nice, generally "Eat nutse and die!" So any thing Ithink of in today, is good by comparison, but that doesn't make it right.
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Post by caressa on Jul 30, 2011 23:47:27 GMT -5
Posted it here and on another site, the thought I had following a spiritual awakening. You can say the words, but if the motive and intent behind them are not for the Higher Good of all, then they mean nothing.
A prayer can be selfish and self-centered if the motive and intent is not good. As my mother use to say many years ago, "Do your prayers hit the ceiling and bounce back." She use to mean you of little faith. I take it more as a trust issue.
These are questions I try to remember to ask myself:
What is your purpose for saying the words? Are they meant to cover up a multitude of sins or a few white lies. It really doesn't matter, the motive is not coming from a place of Good. God is Good. Good is God.
What is your reason for saying and going through the motions if you don't mean them? Are you people pleasing? Are you looking for strokes? Are you putting someone else down to make yourself feel better?
What you are speaking is it your truth? Is it your reality. It is your perception, is your perception on or off a little bit. Does it need healing and adjustment.
Through this inventory, I try not to be too hard on myself and give myself a break once in a while. Not too much of one, because it can lead back to old patterns and behaviors.
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Post by SunnyGirl on Jul 31, 2011 16:09:49 GMT -5
Motive and Intent
When I first read the topic for the week my first thought was
the quote:
"Hell is paved with good intentions." - - Boswell
It was my good intentions (enabling) that got me into trouble
and led me to 12-step recovery. In fact most of my intentions
are good ones, they just don't always turn out that way!
I never been a me, me, me person, even as a child (middle one
of 3 girls) I tried to either be a helper or a fixer.... Never thought
about a motive behind my actions as I got nothing more or less
than the other 2 of us girls. Married and started a family and
my needs always came last....
Motive and intent remind me of the Dr. Phil question, "Do I want
to be happy or do I want to be right?" When it comes to a
debate, I used to want to be right. Now I'm older, more tired,
older... and I want to be happy. Most times I've learned how to
pick my battles and I've learned to T.H.I.N.K. ! Is what I'm saying:
Thoughtful, Helpful, Intelligent, Necessary and Kind.
At the very least I want to be able to lie down in my bed
each night knowing I've done the best I can for today....
Peace on the journey, SG
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Post by majestyjo on Sept 30, 2019 2:28:38 GMT -5
Have a meditation card that has "Intent" written on it. My reply is always, to stay clean and sober in today. Just for today I choose not to use or abuse any person, place, and/or thing.  |
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Post by majestyjo on Mar 29, 2020 15:11:21 GMT -5
.T.H.I.N.K. ! Thoughtful, Helpful, Intelligent, Necessary and Kind  |
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. I will be back looking for Lin and others.