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I love searching the board for topics on issues I am working on at the moment. I came across a thread from 2010 that Jerry F. started on working powerlessness.
He was looking for ESH concerning powerlessness for his Super Saturday meeting and asked people to tell how they worked their powerlessness behaviors, thoughts, feelings. perspectives, etc.
Since I am working on powerlessness right now, I thought it would be a good to do this again. Thanks Jerry F. for the idea, because this is a great topic; one I have to go back to again and again!
-- Edited by Summerlady on Friday 19th of May 2017 05:28:43 PM
Thank you Summerlady for this topic, powerlessness is an issue I return to often also. I was a real hot mess before recovery, I tried to control by manipulation because my ego was running my life. Today when I accept people/places/things as they are, I gain an inner feeling of gratitude, and I am forced to hand it over to HP, rendering myself powerless. It's a process for me for sure, ((hugs)).
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- Carrie
Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there'. Eckhart Tolle
Me too every day. I am powerless over just about everything except my own attitude and even that can be put of my control at times. I love being powerless I live being able to let go and let God. I'm free because of my powerlessness. Nice share thanks.
I got a chuckle out of hot mess - I can so relate!!! BR (Before Recovery), I really, really thought I had control over all kinds of things that were well beyond my wheelhouse! I am grateful that I can see today better that which I am powerless over - and most definitely - people, places, things...
I have found in recovery that I have a physical reaction (heart starts racing, as does my mind) when I am troubled/disturbed. I know it's most likely anxiety and I've had panic attacks in the past. I believe that it's my duty to myself to be willing to go to any lengths for my own peace of mind. Realizing that I am powerless over so much of what's going on, and focusing instead on how I can be of service to myself or others really tends to calm me down.
When life is happening and I'm not entirely sure what's next, I do the best I can to pause/pray/listen. I am one who meditates with prayer/slogans, and my favorite include the Acceptance Paragraph from 449 in the Big Book of AA ----
"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situationsome fact of my life unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in Gods world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on lifes terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."
My other is the Serenity Prayer, as it's written. For me, when I say the first word, God and before I get to the word serenity, it centers me. I have a hard time getting to sleep - always have and always will - and instead of counting sheep or the like, I repeat the Serenity Prayer over and over again....works like a charm!!
Great topic and great shares!
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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
