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 discusses the concept of recovery - "Let it Begin With Me". The reading suggests it's easy for us to sit and itemize the defects of our qualifier/others. We can spend hours thinking of the ways others should/could change!
Yet, not one time has this mental criticism improved anything in my life. Instead it has us focusing on someone other than ourselves. This can keep us from admitting how powerless we are over another person's choices and attitudes, and has us thinking again that we have some level of power here.
Often, when this processing happens, we are left a little more bitter, a little more hopeless and even at times - more frustrated. Nothing about our situation or another person has changed!
Our program instead suggests we gently apply these to ourselves - take our own inventory. More often than not, we find the same attitudes exist in both of us - it just manifests differently.
Today's reminder -- Al-Anon says, "Let it begin with me." When I identify something I dislike in another, I can look for similar traits within myself and begin to change them. By changing myself, I truly can change the world.
Today's Quote comes from, "This Is Al-Anon" -- "Peace of mind depends on recognizing our own shortcomings. An honest personal inventory helps us recognize the faults that so often increase confusion and despair."
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I sit here often and chuckle - wondering how my HP knows which reading to put forth today that applies to me, my situation and/or my life. I love Let it Begin with Me - like so many other slogans, it helps me pause long enough to align with my HP before I say or do something that will cause me regret.
The program has gifted me with tools, steps, literature and fellowship - not to fix anyone else, but instead to help me love and improve me. I may be powerless over alcohol, yet at the same time, I have complete power over how I let people, places and things affect me, my feelings, my thoughts and my outlook.
Before recovery, it was super easy to sit and inventory others around me. I can not count how many times I called my sponsor and began with these inventories. She would repeat, gently and softly, over and over again, what is your part in this? How does that make you feel? What can you do differently? I almost feel as if she's got a script in front of her that allows her to guide me to the proper place - self-inventory for growth and peace of mind.
I am so grateful that recovery showed me how to channel my energy, thoughts and actions towards what I can change - me. Grateful for all of you too!
Happy Friday to one and all - feeling much better today so far! (((Hugs)))
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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
Al-Anon says:"Let it begin with me" so when I do identify something I dislike in another. I can look for similar traits within myself and begin to change by changing myself. The readin points out that by doing this we truly can change the world.
The quote is from," This is Al-Anon:; "peace of mind depends on recognizing our own shortcomings. an honest personal inventory helps us recognize our strengths and weaknesses."
I do love how Al-Anon always emphasizes the fact that we must look at our strengths when we look at our weaknesses. When we do this ,we are kept from diving headlong into negative thinking and destroying ourselves. Finding balance is the key.
Thanks for your service. I do hope you are feeling better today .
Thank you, IAH for sharing the daily, and you both for great ESH on the topic of LIBWM. This is a great page, so much power! The minute I stray outside my circle and start pointing out all of the things that need to be changed, my frustration, anger, and unhappiness skyrocket. Returning my gaze to what I can change brings me right back to form...I do have complete power over me, and that is an incredible gift of awareness that AlAnon has led me to. I am very grateful
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
