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.
The C2C reading for today speaks about the fact that we have choices. . The reading suggests that we do not have to react, but can stop, look into our heart determine what we want to do according to our principles then make a decision and act in our own best interest.
The reading point out that many times we do have to do things we do not want to do like pay taxes, etc but we need to act after feeling the feelings and then take the action and let go of the results
That is why the One Day at a time bookmark suggests that we do at least one thing we do not want to do each day for practice..The reading suggests that to create a balanced life we need self discipline.
The quote is from S Scott Peck:" Self discipline is self caring."
I am grateful to alanon for helping me to eliminate my black and white thinking and thereby enabled me to see the different choices I had in each situation . Keeping an open mind works
Thank you Betty for the daily, your ESH and your service. I remember how defeated I felt when I arrived at the program. My distorted thinking had me believing that how it was is how it was always going to be.....I projected the worst and honestly did not see choices, nor know I had them. I felt broken and like a failure and looked outside myself often/always for the cause.
Learning that I had choices was eye-opening. Learning to pause, examine my own motives and then respond instead of reacting was empowering for me. Today, when another person creates drama unnecessarily, I can choose to avoid it and live my life as I see fit. I don't have to pick a side, I don't have to referee - I am free to walk to the other side of the street and not engage. So many affected by this disease need to be right and cause drama/chaos to avoid looking at themselves. My HP wants me to avoid these scenarios, as it distracts me from working on me, and my destiny.
Having choices, and making the best decision for my program has given me so much peace. I too have set aside my black/white thinking and processing and try to work on balance as best I can. Off to a meeting in a few minutes, then softball early today and then softball later this evening!
We have lovely weather - going to be a great day! Make yours the best it can be! (((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
Thank God I have learned I have choices, and it is through alanon that I have arrived at such a life-altering path. Today I am putting in a bid for a town house I am buying two counties away from my A. It has caused enormous stress and grief, including not allowing her to go with me today. For the first few years I will split my time between the two places. When I came to alanon 3 years ago, I felt devastated and stuck. No more. I can even make a hard decision such as this. Who knows, maybe she will miss me and take a look at herself. I'm not counting on her to change, but I am counting on me continuing to change. Progress not Perfection, and ODAT. Amen, Lyne
