Topic of the Week, words beginning with the letter "P"

[majestyjo]

P is for Priority. Our recovery must come first. It has to be our main priority or we have nothing at all. SLIP - Sobriety loses it's priority. Hugs not drugs.

[majestyjo]

"What has happened in the past is just that -- the past! What I should have done about certain issues no longer matters. What I do now is of greatest concern."
Williamsville, June 2010

"Able to Dream,"
AA Grapevine

[majestyjo]

"More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very
much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character.
This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a
certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesn't deserve it."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 73~

We need to let go of the past and ask for an attitude adjustment about ourselves and change the old way of life.

[majestyjo]

P is for Procrastination. When we put things off, we generally double the load and sometimes double the trouble. This is a one day at a time program and it is so important to live in the moment. When something needs doing, I need to do it. That is what I keep telling myself, but it hasn't happened. Hopefully when I finish postings. God and I need to do some more work on this. My son promised to wash my floor tomorrow so that would be a good time to do it.

[majestyjo]

P is for Practice these principles in all our affairs. The program isn't just for our drug and alcohol problem, we don't do that any more. This is a living program and it applies to our daily lives. Principles before personalities means we apply the program not only in our hoe and at our group, we practice in the community too.

[majestyjo]

As Bill Sees It

Prayer Under Pressure, p.250

Whenever I find myself under acute tensions, I lengthen my daily
walks and slowly repeat our Serenity Prayer in rhythm to my
steps and breathing.

If I feel that my pain has in part been occasioned by others, I try
to repeat, "God grant me the serenity to love their best, and
never fear their worst." This benign healing process of repetition,
sometimes necessary to persist with for days, has seldom failed to
restore me to at least a workable emotional balance and
perspective.

Grapevine, March 1962



When I heard people praying for me, I would tell them to pray quietly so I didn't hear them. I had to change my attitude, no more, "Don't tell me what to do, watch me," had to go. Later as I grew in the program, it was, "You can say a prayer if you wish, but I have a direct line."

[majestyjo]

P is for Purpose. Tradition 5 states: Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to recover from alcoholism.

~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

We get so bogged down in worldly things, we don’t understand that we’re here for a spiritual quest.

~ Oprah Winfrey ~

Those of us in recovery are perhaps luckier than most; we have learned that our journey is spiritual. We have come to believe that we each have a special mission and that a Higher Power travels every step with us. However, we can get bogged down. We can get upset by the experiences that come to us hour by hour, forgetting they are part of our unfolding divine life.

Because we are human and imperfect, we forget that we are in God’s care at every moment. We also forget that the people who share our lives now are helping us learn the lessons we need for this stage of our development. Some people will leave us and others will join us when the time is right. The plans have been made. All we have to do is show up and peacefully trust that God is in charge.

I am here for a purpose bigger than I might imagine. God’s guidance will be clear if I follow my inner voice throughout this day.

[majestyjo]

Each Day a New Beginning

Promises that you make to yourself are often like the Japanese plum tree--they bear no fruit.
--Frances Marion

The resolve to fulfill commitments we make to ourselves and others may be lacking until we learn to rely on the wisdom and strength offered by our higher power--strength that will make us confident in any situation; wisdom that will insure our right actions. What is difficult alone is always eased in partnership.

We promise ourselves changed behavior, new habits, perhaps, or a positive attitude. But then we proceed to focus on our liabilities, giving them even more power, a greater hold over us. We can practice our assets, and they'll foster the promises we want to keep.

No longer need we shame ourselves about unfulfilled promises. Whatever our desires, whatever our commitments, if for the good of others and ourselves, they will come to fruition. We can ask for direction. We can ask for resolve, and each worthy hope and unrealized promise will become reality.

I disagreeets, when strengthened through use, pave the way for God's help. Any promise can bear fruit when I make it in partnership with God.

[caressa222]

Father Leo's Daily Meditation

PRINCIPLES

"At the back of every noble life are the principles that have fashioned it."

-- George Lorimer

God is to be found in the principles of life. The suggested patterns of behavior that lead to happiness, freedom and unity in the world. God is not just a "good idea", an  intellectual philosophy or other worldly entity. God is practical goodness that can be  demonstrated and seen in the world. Principles lead to action; principles produce change in attitude and behavior; principles must have a practical result.

Sometimes you hear the phrase "walk the talk", implying that the principles we talk about should be evident in our daily lives. Also principles should be seen in the small things of life being courteous, giving a smile to a stranger, offering a hug to a friend in pain. God is alive in the principles of life.

Help me to practice the principles I believe in.

I was raised with them and as my addiction escalated, I lost them along the way, dropping them one at a time, with a lot of justification and rationalization along the way.

[caressa222]

Perfection

"Day by day, we try to move a little toward God's perfection.
So we need not be consumed by maudlin guilt for failure to achieve His likeness and image by Thursday next.

Progress is our aim, and His perfection is the beacon, light-years away, that draws us on."

Bill W., Letter, 1966
c. 1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 15

Thought to Consider . . .
Remember the 3 P's:
Perfectionism (leads to) Procrastination (leads to) Paralysis.

From AA Thought for Today

Don't leave everything to the last moment.

[majestyjo]

P is for Progress, not perfection. As I was told, by a gentleman in New Zealand, Ms. Perfection is part of my disease, it is not a recovery tool. All I am asked to do is the beest I can do in today, all i have to do is try. Failure isn't trying and not meeting our expectations, it is in the trying in the first place. Progress is trying and each time getting a little better, some days, not doing so good, while on other days, we are motivated or willing. I often have to pray for the willingness to be williing.

[caressa222]

One Day At A Time

POSITIVE THOUGHTS
“I’ve always believed that you can think positive
just as well as you can think negative.”
James Arthur Baldwin

What did I think about before I was in recovery? I worried about what others thought of me. I thought of what and when I could eat next. I picked apart the way others' bodies looked, while being jealous of them. I didn't know that thinking of negative things brought my energy level down. I thought self-discipline meant disciplining myself -- which meant mentally beating myself up.

My Higher Power has shown me a way of thinking that was new to me, but is age old -- positive thoughts. Thinking positive brings me to a level of serenity. When my mind wanders, I can bring it back. When I find myself obsessing over something negative, I can work the first three steps with it. I am powerless over negativity. I have a HP who can remove it from me. I choose to let my HP direct my thoughts. And then let myself to think of something else.

One day at a time...
I choose to think positively. The result is serenity.
Nancy F.[/quote[

[majestyjo]

P is for Participate. I need to take part in my life and not just let it slip by. I need to be an active participant. The same with my home group, I need to be an active participant and not just occupy a chair, but do service like being a greeter, setting the meeting up, putting things away, putting out literature, wash coffee cups and throw away the garbage. Then you can be a GSR or Inter-group Rep. It is not what my group can do for me, it is about what I can do for the group.

Play nice.

[caressa222]

One Day At A Time

PERFECTION

“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God

as my successes and my talents, and I lay them both at His feet.”

Mahatma Gandhi

I don't know why I used to think that if something wasn't done perfectly, it wasn't worth doing. I was an all-time overachiever and to fail at anything was totally unacceptable. Since I set such impossibly high standards, it was hardly surprising that I couldn't love -- or even like -- myself. I was constantly pushing to excel at those things I was good at, and I would beat myself up if I failed to meet my high expectations. I was especially critical of my body. I thought that if I had the perfect body, my life would be perfect.

When I came into the program I had to learn to not be so hard on myself. For the first time I began to realize that I was human and could still be loveable and worthy ~ even with all my imperfections and character defects. I am lovingly reminded by my sponsor and my friends in the fellowship to be gentler with myself. They remind me that I don't even have to do the program perfectly. I just need to do the best I know how for that day; then I can see progress one day at a time. I don't have to push myself to be perfect all the time in order to win approval or gain love. What a relief that is!

One day at a time...

I don't have to be perfect all the time. I just need to be the best me that I can be for today…and that's the way God intended me to be.

~ Sharon S.

[caressa222]

Perspective Author Unknown

A minister was attending a men’s breakfast. He asked one of the older farmers in attendance to say the prayer that morning.

The farmer began, “Lord, I hate buttermilk.”

The pastor opened one eye and wondered to himself where this was going.

Then the farmer said, “Lord, I hate lard.”

Now the pastor was worried.

But the farmer prayed on, “And Lord, you know I don’t care much for raw flour.”

As the pastor was about to stop everything the farmer continued, “But Lord, when you mix ‘em all together and bakes ‘em up, I do love me those fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we just don’t understand what you are saying to us, we just need to relax and wait ‘til You are done fixin’ and probably it will be something even better than biscuits.”

Amen!

[majestyjo]

P is for Polite. Where have all the manners gone. Where are the good manners disappeared to, life is so busy that we don't have time for others. A caring "hello, thank you, please, excuse me, how are you?, etc.

If you have recovery, show it.