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.
Step 7/Humility: The writer speaks of calmly asking the God of her understanding for help. She says as she asks for the removal of her shortcomings, she can be in a partnership with HP. Humility is defined as perpetual quietness of heart. She will do her part and let God take care of the rest. She can remain serene as she asks HP for healing.
Today's Reminder: Today, when I ask my Higher Power to remove my shortcomings, I will try to do so with a peaceful heart.
Quote from Alcoholism, the Family Disease: Humility will help us see ourselves in true perspective and keep our minds open to the truth.
This reading reminds us to see our shortcomings but without demeaning ourselves. All I used to be able to do was criticize myself, and see myself in a negative light. What a relief to learn that I can see my flaws, share them with a sponsor and others, yet be kind to myself as I work on change. What a concept! Permission to not be perfect! I am growing and healing and no longer want to criticize myself. Instead I try to see my assets. Grateful member of Alanon, Lyne
Hello Lyne When I entered program , Humility was a challenge for me as I viewed it as degrading and could not embrace the principle.
Alanon's statement that" changed attitudes aid recovery" is so true. When i discovered the truth about humility, i readily embraced it. Now Humility signifies that when i have tried everything and discovered that i am truly powerless . I can then surrender to a Power Greater than myself and ask for help. I now understand and know that Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Great topic
Thanks for your servie
Thanks Lyne for the daily and your service. Thanks to you and Betty for your shares and ESH. I too struggled with the concept of humility as I had a/nother distorted definition or view of it. I confused humility with humiliated and considered it weak, less than, etc. I was asked to consider the idea of being teachable instead and that made it more easy for me to accept, digest, embrace and practice.
I know today that I'd rather be happy than right. I also know better today to select my battles wisely. I have learned through this program and my HP that I am a better person when I actively listen, determine my role if any, pause to consider my choices and allow my HP to lead me. Life is far from perfect, yet it's vastly improved and continues to do so one day at a time.
I am glad you posted early - I'm golfing in the AM tomorrow and going straight north to hang with my HS gal pals. My friend with cancer has had a return of the disease and we are gathering before she has surgery in the next week/so. It's going to be a long day but a fun-filled one. I desperately need it as we lost another program friend (double winner) to suicide on Thursday. That's 3 in my small piece of the world in a very short period of time, and I am reminded again how cunning, baffling and powerful this disease really is.
Make tomorrow as good as you can as we never know what lays ahead. (((Hugs))) to all!
__________________
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
Thanks for your service, Lyne, and the ESH shared above. Humility is still a tough one for me, and this reading reminds me that my resistance is causing me discomfort. I'm on a train to my workplace now, and the well-known anxiety is here again, and this seems so connected with this topic. I am again not surrendering to the fact that there are people around but fighting it inside of me, so there is the pain. The growth I see is that I'm acknowledging this and also there are times now when I don't have this social anxiety in transportation at all, and in general it has lessened in intensity somewhat.
Thank you everyone. This one is a challenge for me in this area. The workalholism/desire to get back to work/healthy again asap etc. I've been pondering the areas of applying the program to this for at least a week......really much longer. Time seems to get lost.....but today needs applied the most. Fear of going to PT this morning and a room full of men, too close quarters and the gossip there is horrendous. I go in and out of the quietness of the heart......but it's a challenge most of all when being around people in an uncomfortable setting. Today I talk to the PT about change...more so change of person/place and biz doing the PT. I don't need toxic added to my life while trying to heal. The area of injury to the spinal cord......needs the 7th step. I need to trust God more to take care of me and stop trying to push myself, rush the process. Anxiety a bit on overload and I see where I need to address the situation with humility and assertiveness.......oh boy..........
Good morning to all! Lyne, thank you for your service.
I like the imagery of today's reading - humility with quietness of heart. What comes to mind for me is the slogan about being gentle with ourselves. When I am gentle with myself, I can look at a situation and say that I wish I had handled it better, but know that I handled it the best way I could at the time. This allows me to ask HP for help, without fear or demeaning myself. What a lovely reading for a Monday morning. I hope everyone makes today a great day!
__________________
Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
