|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 15, 2006 13:39:16 GMT -5
A is for Attitude. Spirituality is described in the Big Book of AA as a personality change sufficient to bring about recovery .
Our attitude defines who we are and what we do with the tribulations that trip us. When we are confident or relaxed about the events in our lives, they usually unfold smoothly. On the other hand, when we are nervous or controlling, we can count on trouble. We get what we get in this life. What really matters is how we respond to it. Taking control of our attitude is all that's necessary.
- Daily Open-Mind
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 15, 2006 13:43:25 GMT -5
B is for getting back to Basics. Go to meetings, get a sponsor, clean house, get a home group and get active, and find the Higher Power of our own understanding. From "How It Works:"
"Perhaps there is a better way -- we think
so. For we are now on a different basis;
the basis of trusting and relying upon God.
We trust infinite God rather than our finite
selves. We are in the world to play the role
He assigns. Just to the extent that we do
as we think He would have us, and humbly
rely on Him, does He enable us to match
calamity with serenity."
c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 68 |
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 15, 2006 13:47:31 GMT -5
C is for Change. Unless I change and deal with what brought me to recovery I leave myself open to relapse and block myself from healing and getting better.
Everything that is alive changes. Over time, seeds become plants, fruits ripen, creatures are born and die. Over time, grief can turn to acceptance, pain can turn to joy. Change is inevitable in our lives.
There are times when we can influence its direction by making choices that are more likely to result in positive, rather than negative, changes. Paths of spirituality and healing, like those of Twelve Step programs, change the effect that time's passage has on us. Committing ourselves to our values and visions, we open to the process of healing in
ourselves and others.
Time is on our side, as we develop a sense of our loving connection to others and of the usefulness of our example and service.
Today, I am unafraid of change. I meditate on an aspect of my life and notice whatever progress I have made over time.
The Book, "Glad Day,"
By Joan Larkin C 1998
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 16, 2006 9:53:27 GMT -5
D is for Discipline. I need to put order into the chaos of my life. Discipline meant more security for me.
Discipline
Children need discipline to feel secure; so do adults.
Discipline means understanding there are logical consequences to our behavior.
Discipline means taking responsibility for our behavior and the consequences.
Discipline means learning to wait for what we want.
Discipline means being willing to work for and toward what we want.
Discipline means learning and practicing new behaviors.
Discipline means being where we need to be, when we need to be there, despite our feelings.
Discipline is the day to day performing of tasks, whether these are recovery behaviors or washing the dishes.
Discipline involves trusting that our goals will be reached though we cannot see them.
Discipline can be grueling. We may feel afraid, confused, and uncertain. Later, we will see the purpose. But this clarity of sight usually does not come during the time of discipline. We may not even believe we're moving forward.
But we are.
The task at hand during times of discipline is simple: listen, trust, and obey.
- Language of Letting Go
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 19, 2006 21:48:58 GMT -5
E is for Emotions. I buried mine for many years. I used people, places and things to take me out of myself so I didn't feel or have to look at myself. When I came into recovery, I had feelings that I couldn't name let alone know how to deal with them.
Many of us believe that we need to keep a tight lid on our emotions. We fear that if we ever allow these emotions to be expressed, they will do serious damage.
But if we summon up the courage to truly feel our emotions, we discover that they don't last. The monster in the closet turns out to be a girl thingycat. In fact, if we are willing to experience our emotions completely, without resistance of any kind, they burn themselves out in only a few minutes.
The only thing that keeps emotions alive within you over long periods is your unwillingness to acknowledge them.
"By starving emotions we become humorless, rigid and stereotyped; by repressing them we become literal, reformatory and holier-than-thou; encouraged, they perfume life; discouraged, they poison it."
-- Joseph Collins
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 20, 2006 22:11:59 GMT -5
F is for Faith. We can have our beliefs, but unless we have the faith behind it, it doesn't always work. As the saying goes, "Faith without works is dead."
Faith
from: "To Wives"
"The faith and sincerity of both you and your husband will be put to the test. These work-outs should be regarded as part of your education, for thus you will be learning to live. You will make mistakes, but if you are in earnest they will not drag you down. Instead, you will capitalize them. A better way of life will emerge when they are overcome."
© 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 117
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Dec 23, 2006 2:26:04 GMT -5
G is for Goodness. It is important to find the goodness in all things.
God is good!
Good is God!
Letting Go of Guilt
"There's a good trick that peope in dysfunctional relationships use," said one recovering woman. "the other person does something inappropriate or wrong, the stands there until you feel guilding and end up apologizingl"
It's imperative that we stop feeling so guilty.
Much of the time, the things we feel guilty about are not our issues. Another person behaves inappropriately or in some way violates our boundaries. We challenge the behavior, and the person gets andgry and defensive. Then we feel guilty.
Guilt can prevent us from setting the boundaries that would be in our best interests, and in other people's best interests. Guilt can stop us from taking healthy care of ourselves.
We don't have to let others count on the fact that we'll always feel guilty. We don't have to allow ourselves to be controlled by guilt-earned or unearned! We can break through the barrier of guilt that holds us back from self-care. Push. Push harder. We are not at fault, crazy, or wrong. We have a right to set boundaries and to insist on appropriate treatment. We can separate another's issues from our issues, and let the person experience the consequences of his or her own behavior, including guilt. We can trust ourselves to know when our boundaries are being violated.
Today I will let go of my big and little guilty feelings. Light and love are on my side.
- The Language of Letting Go by Meoldy Beattie
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Dec 30, 2006 5:08:47 GMT -5
H is for HUGS> I love the HUGS I get when I go to my face to face emetings. Those folks really are my true friends. They love me unconditionally and totally understand my frustrations. They CARE.
{{{{CYBER HUGS}}}}}} to each of you!
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Jan 2, 2007 17:48:32 GMT -5
I is for "If only." Many times in recovery I was told to act as if, and to think of "what if..." To think of the worst thing that could happen during a certain incident, and then when the end result happened I could look at see that things were never as bad as I thought they would be, especially when I had my Higher Power on my side.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Jan 10, 2007 5:33:41 GMT -5
J is for JUST FOR TODAY...a wonderful bookmark I got at my f2f meeting! It has so many awesome bits of wisdom. Dear Abby even posted it in the paper a couple of weeks ago.
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Jan 12, 2007 15:10:08 GMT -5
K is for Knee.
God answers Knee-mail. With my arthritis so bad, I am guilty of using my knees for the heavy duty stuff. Although, I do an attitude of humility, not humiliation is the answser. When I go down, I can't get up.
I do have faith that my prayers are heard no matter what position I take physically, it is my emotional, mental and spiritual condition which may cause my prayers to hit the ceiling and bounce back as my mother use to say.
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Jan 16, 2007 19:06:42 GMT -5
L is for Letting Go and Letting God. Always much easier to say than do.
God's Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."
I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Feb 18, 2007 4:58:28 GMT -5
M is for MARRIAGE. My marriage was a changce to get out of a home where drinking was out of control. I jsumped at the chance. I only knew him 5 weeks before we wre maried. By the time I realized he was also an alkie, it was too late. I stuck around and it's been 38 years.
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Mar 7, 2007 5:41:14 GMT -5
N is for NEWCOMERS...They remind me how far I have come. MOnday was my 14 year AlAnon birthday.
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Mar 11, 2007 2:35:56 GMT -5
O is for OBSESSING...one of the things I dont do as often as I used to. THANK GOODNESS!
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Mar 12, 2007 12:30:08 GMT -5
P is for Prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer. God answers knee mail.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Mar 14, 2007 15:40:12 GMT -5
Q is for QUIT...quit repeating destructive behaviors..break the cycle. QUIT holding resentmetns and anger.
QUIT trying to change people and things I cannot change.
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by Lin on Mar 15, 2007 8:12:02 GMT -5
R is for RESENTMENTS...they hold me back from my recovery. They are a cup of poison I prepare for another but end of drinking myself. I pray to be free of my resentments.
LIN
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Mar 15, 2007 12:15:18 GMT -5
S is for Sobriety. My sponsor use to say that sobriety meant peace of mind without chemical dependency.
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Mar 23, 2007 6:34:11 GMT -5
T is for Trust. I trust in my Higher Power. I trust that this too shall pass!!!
|
|
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.