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.
First, that I am powerless over alcohol, and my confusion surrounding this fact has led to an unmanageable life. Next, I came to believe there was help, a power greater than myself, and I needed this help because my own best efforts left me less than sane.
Without these admissions and the required humility, the writer suggests that I can save myself the effort of going any further in the steps, for there will be no progress.
Today's Reminder - True and complete surrender, fueled by humility, is the first step toward recovery from my insane, unmanageable state. If I take care of this side, my higher power will guide me to the answers and solutions I seek...and to peace.
"Comfort and a peaceful heart are the rewards of those who rely on his help."
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The first two Steps are the anchor to my recovery. When I begin to hold expectations or steer people and events according to what I think they should be, my peace and serenity are replaced with distress and unhappiness.
The program works when I keep it simple. Very grateful for the reminders
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Thank you, Paul for today's reading, your share and your service to this board.
Today's reading is a powerful one. Surrender can feel so difficult in the midst of insanity. I came into Alanon and learned I'd been trying to fix everything with my bare hand with no tools. Those efforts proved to be only temporary and I became exhausted from endlessly trying to fix something "alcoholism" over which I was powerless. Thankfully, my frantic unaccomplished ambition to fix the alcoholic/addict in my life led me to admission that as much as I loved and was giving my heart and soul be of help, I could not make things right for another person. I am so thankful today to have taken Step 1 to release my hands from the alcoholic/addict relinquishing my self imposed title of higher power in his life as well as my own life. It was an awakening to embrace that a power greater than ourselves guides each person's life. I'm increasingly grateful to have reached hands outward to such a higher power whom I've entrusted with my own life.
I came, I came to, I came to believe... that a power greater than myself could restore me to sanity.
(((hugs))) TT
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Surround yourself with people and elements that support your destiny, not just your history.
Thank you for your service and share, Paul. I find I'm often still struggling with step 2, worrying and/or afraid of how things will turn out, unable to let things unfold as they must. Just yesterday I was so stressed, mostly about the pile of work not done in time at my job. I tried a new approach to my usual one, which is to just hang on somehow till the end of the work day and hope tomorrow I won't be so stressed and will be more productive - I convinced myself not to worry overmuch just for the next 4 or 5 hours, until the work day was done, and THEN I would worry, if I still wanted to. I didn't succeed for 100% but I definitely succeeded some, since I got more things done than in my usual stressful-at-work kind of day, which are in general not very productive... I will try to test this again, see how it goes :)
Thank you Paul for all of your service and filling in while I've been a traveling gal!!! I am happy to report that I am HOME safe and sound. Goodness - it was 103 yesterday and back to reality - 65 and cloudy! Grateful to be home, sad to have left my parents!!!
Step One and Two (and Three) are a daily gig for me. I was taught in early recovery to pray each morning and each night. Pray for God's will in the AM and thank him for all my blessings in the PM. Boy, oh boy.....this felt really artificial and superficial when I first began. It's now a 'good habit' and as silly as I felt when I began, I'm grateful that I practiced what others suggested!! All of my program effort has contributed to where I am today - and that's way better than where I was when I arrived.
I am one who's defects have improved greatly and some removed. However, when I don't stay aligned with this program through daily effort, I forget that I am powerless and can get crazy fast. I have the tools to re-align, yet prefer, when possible to be pro-active vs. re-active in my own personal sanity and self-care. It just goes so much better for me and those I am around if I can stay centered in my spiritual journey!!
I am proud to say I am powerless over others today. I am prouder to own my insanity and believe that a power greater than me can not only restore my sanity but grace me with what I need in that moment to do the next right thing.
For me, recovery has been a miracle. So, so grateful for Al-Anon and all it gives me and MIP too! (((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
Thank you Paul for your service and for ODAT on Step 1 and 2and thank you too those who gave ESH before me. I especially like (IAM) the idea of praying in the morning for God's will and then praying in the evening for my blessings. Step 2 for me is like falling backward and trusting God will be there to catch me. Maybe daily prayers of surrender and gratitude will build up my trust to give my worries to God and stop trying to take them back. I am so much better at not being the worry bird thanks to MIP and Al-Anon.
-- Edited by Stan1 on Wednesday 24th of May 2017 05:17:56 PM
Thanks, all, for the shares...so much to ponder and be grateful for regarding these steps, it truly has been an evolution for me and a daily work in progress.
Welcome back IAH, glad you had a good visit, returned safely and are bringing some warmth with you! Serenity split duty with me, glad to pinch hit. Now to get you prepared for sub-100 temps
__________________
Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
