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Post by majestyjo on Jun 9, 2018 22:38:10 GMT -5
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 21:11:41 GMT -5
Day By Day Being different Some of us feel so different that we think no person or group could help us or even understand us. We feel alone and isolated. Whatever these differences are they can be lessened by concentrating on the purpose common to us all: we are learning to live a life free of alcohol or other drugs by connecting with a power greater than ourselves. Our Higher Power does not want us to be alone. It would help if we would accept that we are all more alike than defferent. It would help if we could recognize the love that is available to us in our brothers and sisters. Are we looking for what we have in common, or are we looking for ways to be alone and different? Do I realize that our common purpose can outweigh all differences? Higher Power help me feel connected by looking for what I share with my fellow members. Today I will overlook all differences or look for what we share in…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 21:41:36 GMT -5
Day By Day
Taking off the masks
We’re not much different from other people (except that we couldn’t stop abusing mood-altering chemicals). Like other people, we, too, wear masks. We’re afraid that others will find out who we really are, especially since we no longer hide behind chemicals.
But if we work the program, we will get stronger, If we work the program, we won’t need our masks because we will accept ourselves (and others) more.
Can I stop wearing my masks?
Higher Power, help me work the Steps and to accept myself and my recovery.
Today I will practice treating myself well. I will practice being myself with…
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 25, 2018 19:39:31 GMT -5
Day By Day Getting honest There is an intuitive understanding between recovering addicts and newcomers. Old-timers know well the games that newcomers play at first. Newcomers are not asked what they’re thinking, they’re told what they’re thinking! They don’t need to be trapped into lies; old-timers tell them the lies they were about to tell. Thus, in the beginning, we start to get honest because we hardly have a choice. We give up on playing games because there are no tricks left in the bag. Being confronted by others, we have to get honest – honest enough to save our lives. Have I stopped playing games? Am I getting more honest? Higher Power, let me be grateful for the intuition and quick tongue of my fellow members: They can help me get honest. I will practice honesty today by…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 25, 2018 22:27:28 GMT -5
Day By Day Analyzing Our constant analyzing could mean we don’t work the Steps; eventually, it could cost us our lives. It’s as if we were standing in a burning building, in front of a fire escape, trying to understand the principles of oxidation. What we need to do first is to get out of the fire; we can learn about oxidation – addiction and recovery – later. It is dangerous to stand on the fringes of addiction; it can be dangerous to delay a commitment. Have I made a clear choice? Higher Power, help me learn to relate to you as well as to my analytical mind. Today I will let go of analyzing and take Steps!  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 26, 2018 14:00:28 GMT -5
ay By Day Listening by reading We need to listen to drug-free members of the program to hear what it takes to stay clean and sober. But “listening” is not limited to meetings: There is a lot of literature that discusses the program and how to work it more effectively. When we first come into the program, it is wise to keep our mouths shut and our eyes and ears open. Reading books, magazines, and pamphlets is an important way of listening. It is a gift from our fellow addicts that so much listening is available to us. Am I well read on the program? Higher Power, help me to “listen” in all the ways available to me Today I will read  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 27, 2018 8:45:53 GMT -5
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 29, 2018 9:48:38 GMT -5
Day By Day Practicing To recover, we must change; it doesn’t happen by itself. Change requires practice. If we get lazy about our recovery, if we get smug or self-satisfied, we may stop practicing. If so, we may lose what we have gained, risk a slip, or even relapse. In recovery, practice is all-important. Staying clean and sober takes practice. For starters, we must practice carrying the message to others who still suffer. Higher Power, help me practice the program so that I can keep growing and recovering. Today I will work on…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 29, 2018 21:27:57 GMT -5
Day By Day Living the “today” approach We must understand from the very beginning that in the program, we learn to live one day at a time. We learn, for example, not to take that first fix, pill, or drink “today.” This is easier for us to do than to think of abstaining for years or a lifetime. But many of us miss the fact that the “today” approach can be applied to all areas of our life, not just abstinence. It helps if we can deal with issues such as love, sex, death, honesty, and resentments one day at a time. God expects no more of us than to do what we can do today. Am I living “today” today? God, help me live the “today” approach in all areas of my life. Today I will apply the “today” approach to…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 11, 2018 1:00:16 GMT -5
Day By Day Avoiding criticism Criticism is hard to take. If we don’t want to be criticized, we shouldn’t criticize others. At the same time, expressing concern in a loving way is not being critical. We are entitled to our opinions, but we are not entitled to put other people down. Sharing our experience, strength, and hope is a way to help others, not to make them feel small. Can I express loving concern? Can I share without making comparisons? Higher Power, help me recognize when I am becoming critical; help me to be loving and humble. Today I will praise…  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jul 11, 2018 15:02:05 GMT -5
Day By Day
Showing empathy
When we first got into recovery, most of us were quite unhappy. We were in pain; we were vulnerable. We were angry and impatient. We probably didn’t like ourselves very much and may not have liked other people much.
But what if others had treated us according to these feelings? Weren’t we forgiven? Accepted? (And if we weren’t, wouldn’t it have been better if we had been?) Today, we see that we are the same as everyone else who is struggling to achieve or maintain a drug-free life. If we treat everyone well, it will help us recover.
Am I practicing generosity and compassion?
Higher Power, help me to treat others as I would want to be treated.
Today I will be especially campassionate toward…
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 13, 2018 22:10:22 GMT -5
This book was a part of my early recovery. like a lot of books they got passed on to others.
This reminded me of my attitude, it was I kknow who God is and I am not insane. By the time I got to my one year anniversary, I didn't know who God was and I realized that I was totally insane.
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 13, 2018 22:29:37 GMT -5
Day By Day
Lacking power over others
When we look closely at our lives, we may realize that we have little power over others (as shocking as that may seem). Yet often our arrogance gets so blown out of proportion that we think our actions can get people high or keep them straight! Think of that!
We are so important to ourselves, we begin to think that we are that important to others. We seldom see that our affairs have about as much weight with others as theirs do with us – and that iDay By Day
Lacking power over others
When we look closely at our lives, we may realize that we have little power over others (as shocking as that may seem). Yet often our arrogance gets so blown out of proportion that we think our actions can get people high or keep them straight! Think of that!
We are so important to ourselves, we begin to think that we are that important to others. We seldom see that our affairs have about as much weight with others as theirs do with us – and that is often little.
Do I realize that I can manage no one?
Higher Power, help me realize that my power over others is actually slight and protect me from my own arrogance.
If I find myself trying to manage others today, I will…s often little.
Do I realize that I can manage no one?
Higher Power, help me realize that my power over others is actually slight and protect me from my own arrogance.
If I find myself trying to manage others today, I will…
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 14, 2018 21:27:15 GMT -5
Day By Day Paying for freedom Henry David Thoreau said, “The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” The price we paid for using alcohol and other drugs was our freedom. We finally realized that it costs too much to feel oblivious. The price became so high that we could no longer barter with mood-altering chemicals for our time and freeedom. The chemicals had absolute control. Unless we wake up and pay the price for freedom-which is spiritual growth- we will be a slave to chemicals until death. But if we turn our lives over to God, all the liberty we need is made available to us. Am I paying the right price for my freedom? Higher Power, help me always to remember that the cost of using chemicals in my life is much too high. Today I will pay for greater freedom by…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 15, 2018 21:44:52 GMT -5
Day By Day Recognizing opportunities Today is a day of opportunity. Any experiences that we have today – good or bad – can be seen as opportunities, opportunities to grow closer to God. As bread is food for the body, opportunities are food for the soul. Do I see all the opportunities in my daily life? Do I take advantage of them? I pray that I may use my experiences as opportunities to grow closer to God. Today I will look for opportunities by…  |
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Post by caressa222 on Jul 18, 2018 22:47:40 GMT -5
Day By Day Practicing sanity When we were getting high all the time, we were practicing insanity. It was a lot of fun. We got so good at it, however, that we couldn’t see how serious it had become. Whether we’re straight or high, insanity seemed to take over. Now we can practice sanity daily. Practicing anything will eventually make us pretty good at it. With the grace of God, we can get pretty good at sanity too. Am I letting go of my insane behavior? Higher Power, help me face the fears of sane living, fears I tried to hide from with addiction. Today I will reflect on my unresolved problem behaviors by…  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jul 19, 2018 13:50:51 GMT -5
Day By Day Taking just one It’s that first fix, pill, or drink that gets us high. It’s not the second or third or fourth one, or the second day or the second week of using that gets us into trouble. It is the first one. And until we understand this concept, we will keep trying-without success-to gain control over our drug use. For us, control no longer exists. And it never will. When we start thinking, Well, just one won’t hurt me, we are on our way back to that same pain and discouragement of a drug-filled life. Do I believe that even one is too many? Higher Power, please help me remember that I can never regain control over my drug use. I will avoid taking that first drink or drug today by…  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jul 20, 2018 23:16:24 GMT -5
Day By Day Making a decision We made a decision, a decision to try this program because all else had failed. (We still doubted it would work, but we were desperate.) This decision was made mostly on hope and a belief. At first, it did not reflect belief in a Higher Power but belief in other people. When we make a decision to do whatever is necessary, our belief can grow. It can grow to a point where no power on earth can shake our foundation. And from this foundation we can, in turn, offer hope to others in need. We can plant in them the same seeds of belief that made it possible for us to be clean and sober. Is my belief growing? Higher Power, help me stay strong in the program and help others who need to establish roots. Today I will renew my commitment to the program and its members by  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jul 22, 2018 6:47:43 GMT -5
Day By Day Judging other addicts As addicts we tend to judge each other in a cruel way; it can help us feel better about ourselves. For example, alcoholics look down on junkies, junkies look down on speed freaks, and everyone looks down on glue-sniffers. But what’s the difference? We’re all in this together. We’re dealing with life-and-death matters. Making value judgments about the kind or severity of another’s addiction is a childish and dangerous game. Have I stopped judging other addicts? Higher Power, help me accept myself – and accept others – in all aspects of life. I will acknowledge someone addicted to another chemical today by…  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jul 22, 2018 7:19:03 GMT -5
Day By Day Being rational As practicing addicts, we were impulsive. We just did what we felt like doing. We didn’t think things through. Actually, we didn’t think much at all. We often acted irrationally. As recovering addicts, we may still have some distored ideas and may still behave irrationally at times. That’s okay. But if what we’re doing seems serious to our sponsor or a couple of recovering friends, we need to talk more about our actions. Am I learning to use reason to test my actions? Higher Power, help me plant both feet on the ground and to practice sharing my thoughts. I will talk with my sponsor today about...  |
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. I will be back looking for Lin and others.