The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today's reading provides the opportunity to try on a new perspective in regards to how we see our feelings and emotions. Instead of viewing resentment, jealousy, fear, and anger as 'bad', we can try viewing them simply as signals, without the value judgment of 'good/bad'.
Some of those feelings may have been what brought us to AlAnon. Some of them may have motivated us to rely on a higher power, or make adjustments in our life to reduce their presence in our minds. Feeling them does not make us a 'good/bad' person, it makes us human; it simply signals an opportunity for a change in our thoughts or behavior.
Today's Reminder: Uncomfortable feelings don't have to be seen as 'bad'. We can see them as opportunities to act, to make an improvement in our wellbeing. This is an opportunity to use the incredible power of our mind for a positive outcome.
"My feelings are neither right nor wrong but are important by virtue of being mine." - ...In All Our Affairs
************* I really like this reading. AlAnon is about focusing on ourselves, not the alcoholic, and remembering the tremendous power we have if we keep the focus on us. This includes making a choice about what our feelings mean to us, and how we can decide to make them work in a positive way.
A red warning light on our dashboard gives us the opportunity to take action before we do irreparable damage to our engine. Feelings are our warning lights, giving us the opportunity to make adjustments before causing damage to ourselves and relationships.
Today I will try focusing on my feelings with this perspective, taking note of how I first react to them, but then trying to find a way to see them in a positive light. Grateful for the program
__________________
Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Good Morning Paul, I love this reading and have reflected on the message often.
Prior to program, I know I only wanted to feel happy feelings and when the negative feelings talked about here surfaced, I reacted quite strongly, used my denial and pretend tools in order to get back to my"Happy place'
I must admit that these feelings certainly did introduce me to the power of this program and of my HP. .When I understood that "Feelings were not facts" simply feelings " I was finally able to sit with them process them and and accept the importance of paying attention to all my feelings not only the positive ones.
Serenity is a wonderful base to operate from and I am grateful that program has provided this.
Happy Monday all and good morning.....Thank you Paul for your service and the daily. Thank you both for your ESH.
When I read readings about feelings, I have to often read twice. I came to the program as one who rarely considered my feelings. Those which I seemed to recognize most were anger and shame. I dreaded the perpetual doom and gloom I had adopted most days as a coping mechanism. It wore me down and it was not a pleasant way to exists.
Learning that my feelings were not facts but just feelings was a great piece of information. As I was taught to lean into the feeling to seek the source and the solution, I began to feel different. As I spent more time reflecting on me, and what I felt in the present moment, I was truly surprised to find not everything was as negative as I thought. I then became able and willing to do more program work as I liked the shifting of my feelings.
Today I know that whatever I feel, it's OK. It's not good or bad - it's what it is. Adopting new ways of going through my days helps me stay as balanced as possible, and owning my feelings and using them for growth allows me serenity. I am very grateful for Al-Anon, MIP, You all here and my HP.
Make it a great day!!!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Thankyou for this. I know in conjunction with my intensely vivid imagination, my feelings are often fed to a degree its masochism. I do often remind myself over and over that feelings aren't facts. I like this reading which extends that to a degree of neutrality, for if a feeling is neither framed as good nor bad, healthy detachment from emotional state is more possible. One thing I continue to struggle with is emotional responses to emotions. Particularly when I feel cheated. My emotional reaction is to get revenge. Feeling cheated feels deeply personal, terribly bad and threatening. But it is just a feeling and there are are a wealth of tools now to understand the role of feelings. I like the way you said there is a choice now. Thank you for your service Enigmatic.
