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.
Started thinking about Step 3. How do you get yourself ready to turn your life over to your Higher Power? You know you should do it to get yourself better but whats the process?
I don't know about anyone else, but I can tell you what I have done. I began by getting to know my HP and figuring out what kind of God (or HP) I believe in. I had begin by having a relaionship with him. I also had to start out by turning over individual events and problems to him, such as my husband's drug use, my daughter living with her dad...and having Faith that he would take care of things. I have to do my part, but can't interfere with his plan. I talk with my HP everyday in the form of prayer. I ask him to open my heart to His Will and opening my eyes and heart to recovery. It's not something I was able to do overnight. I hope that helps
It's learning how to give up trying to control everything and learning to let my HP, whom I call God, lead my life, rather than fight my will through it. Have you done the step work for steps 1 and 2 in any sort of book preparing you for this step? Once you learn how to really turn things over, you get a lot more sleep.
Josey
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Julianne - It's best to move on. You cannot look back in anger in life. It's too short
Barbara, I am sure everyone has their own process to surrendering.
My experience was, I thought about the word, "surrender." What it meant to me. I thought about when you surrender in battle, I see someone humble, allowing what ever is next to happen.
Then I got so scared I would lose my home. So scared I just thought to h with it. If hp wants me to live under a bridge i will live under a bridge.
I mean it. I keep putting one foot in front of the other. Meaning one day at a time. I do my best, pay what I can, arrange what I can etc. do not look far ahead at all.
Surrendering freed me. I rarely worry at all. Part of my problem was anxiety. Was awful. That rarely happens anymore.
I have a place on my deck that I look out to the mountains. I will throw my sadness or concerns to my hp. Just let them go and visualize them going away. Like clouds floating away from me.
Most times I am serene. Sometimes the A bs still hurts of course. We are still human. But I remember my skills and or come here and everyone is so supportive and they remind me too.
It does not matter I maye been at this longer than others. NOT at all. Becuz when I am in the pit of pain, I need every thing these loving people tell me. They remind me of the serenity prayer and let go and let god. And so much more. Sometimes for me, I am so lost I am a new person all over again. Then next time I can share my experience that may help someone new.
Surrendering is also to me, a relaxing of my gut. I take deep breaths and drop my elbows. I literally let go of that stiffness. that tensing of holding onto to pain.
I hope this helped some. I tell ya, it changed my life big time to surrender.
