Post by lildee on Dec 21, 2004 10:17:47 GMT -5
A Life of My Own
Powerlessness is at first hard to understand.
Step One says, "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable." This Step is difficult for us. . After all, we think, alcohol isn't our problem, it's the alcoholic's.
We like to control. We like to manage. We resist admitting we aren't able to make others do as we wish. And we abhor the idea that our lives are "unmanageable." But there is hope for us. Given enough time, we'll begin to see how the First Step applies to our lives.
Reflection on the earlier years might help us remember how seldom we succeeded at getting other people to do our will. We tried, incessantly no doubt, and failed. How many situations turned into crises because we were "overmanaging" the outcomes? We filled our days with the behavior and the concerns of others. The details that were clearly ours to handle often got lost in the chaos.
The Twelve Step program can give us relief. With effort, we'll admit we're powerless. And as the idea grows in us, we'll even begin to love that we're powerless. Our burdens will be lifted as if by magic.
I will be grateful that I'm in control of no one but myself today.
Powerlessness is at first hard to understand.
Step One says, "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable." This Step is difficult for us. . After all, we think, alcohol isn't our problem, it's the alcoholic's.
We like to control. We like to manage. We resist admitting we aren't able to make others do as we wish. And we abhor the idea that our lives are "unmanageable." But there is hope for us. Given enough time, we'll begin to see how the First Step applies to our lives.
Reflection on the earlier years might help us remember how seldom we succeeded at getting other people to do our will. We tried, incessantly no doubt, and failed. How many situations turned into crises because we were "overmanaging" the outcomes? We filled our days with the behavior and the concerns of others. The details that were clearly ours to handle often got lost in the chaos.
The Twelve Step program can give us relief. With effort, we'll admit we're powerless. And as the idea grows in us, we'll even begin to love that we're powerless. Our burdens will be lifted as if by magic.
I will be grateful that I'm in control of no one but myself today.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.