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 in courage to change is about the freedom that comes with accepting truth.
The author shares that it can be hard to admit mistakes, especially when the mistake affects another person. It can be easier to justify actions, pretend nothing happened, or pretend that the mistake doesn't matter, but there is a heavy cost to these approaches: guilt. The author dragged guilt with them for years because of their inability to admit that they are not perfect. AlAnon's 10th step offers an alternative: continually taking personal inventory and promptly admitting mistakes or wrongs. The author shares that admitting errors allows us to take responsibility for our actions, and thus be freed of the guilt. The author shares "It becomes much easier to love myself if I accept myself as I truly am, mistakes and all."
Today's Reminder: Today I will have the courage to look the truth in the face, admit my errors and my achievements, appreciate my growth, and make amends where I have done harm
Today's Quote: "I care about truth not for truth's sake but for my own." Samuel Butler
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I carried a lot of guilt around for years. I think it came with the territory of living with those impacted by the disease of alcoholism, but also because of my own early learned behavior. Even before I was married to an alcoholic, I carried a large amount of guilt around with me, and I ruminated on mistakes I'd made, things I wish I'd handled better, things I wanted to do differently next time.
It took me a long time to get to AlAnon, but I wouldn't change the events that got me here, because in AlAnon, I learned how to see things as they are, be gentle with myself, take responsibility for my actions, and most importantly, let go of the guilt I'd been dragging with me for years.
Today, I am able to take responsibility for my mistakes right away and move past them. I see them as learning experiences, things to grow from, or even sometimes exactly what they are: mistakes. I know I'm not perfect, and I do not need to be. I just need to be the best version of myself that I can be.
Make it a great day, everyone!
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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
Hi Skorpi Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this powerful subject. Changed attitudes do aid recovery so that as i kept showing up, using the principles and tools, I discovered that my attitudes automatically changed. I uncovered the courage to embrace the truth, let go of denial and used the wisdom and courage of program to live life on life's terms. trusting HP. Thanks for your service . have a great day
Happy Wednesday all - or as we say in my world....Happy Hump Day! Thanks Skorpi for the daily and your service. Thank you and Betty for your ESH and shares. I know for me I spoke of acceptance but deep down, battled with what was my will and my wants vs. HP's will and needs. I had such denial that it took me a while to see/own my part and that's when more guilt arrived.
I found freedom in working this program and the steps to the best of my ability. Understanding, believing and embracing fully that I and others are imperfectly perfect so helped me with forgiveness of self, others and allowed me freedom from the past, my guilt and shame. I do not carry that burden and it feels really, really good to be able to 'see' my alcoholics and myself with total acceptance and love in spite of the disease.
We skipped spring completely and summer has arrived! During our walk this morning, my fur baby opted to walk straight through a yard sprinkler instead of around it....made me chuckle as she's typically afraid of sprinklers. I've got things to do around the house and then a golf league this evening. Make it a great day to all - (((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
Thanks everyone. These are all important to me to keep working on: seeing my truth, acceptance of myself and others with all of our respective flaws, and of course, letting go of guilt, which I am better at some times than others. I appreciate all the shares, Lyne
Thank you Skorpi, Betty and IAH! Freedom is a good word. I am finding this in this program. I do relapse back into guilt on occasion but I don't "live there" any longer. The pointing the finger was there and yet in it all, i find most the times......that finger was pointing at me in the form of guilt and fear that was buried deep and against myself all along. It's a good day and I'm off to town.
