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.
Talk about the power of slogans! If they aren't a part of your repertoire yet, really work on putting them into you life!
Rather than debate a point to death, (like I would have in the past) now I go to, " How important is it?" OR " Keep it simple." OR " Do I want to be right or be peaceful?"
My current favorite go to is, " He's going to drink. What are YOU going to do?" That one helps me to immediately focus on ME.
Depending on the day, I can usually be found mumbling the serenity prayer and its shortened version of "Bless them, change me."
By turning to the slogans on a more regular basis, it calms me down faster and sometimes I even find humor. For example, I would much rather be right! However, I will go with peaceful......sigh.... Lol.
Have a wonderful Friday! Another nice day in western NY is starting. Hugs- Ellen
Thank you Ellen Thisis indeed a powerful message. I love the slogans!!! I know when I first entered program and reviewed the tools, the Steps seemed a little overwhelming but the Slogans were easy to remember and reflected similar principles as the Steps. They seemed manageable for me.
I am so happy you have found them as helpful. I still live by "How important is it" and" Let go and Let God ".Have a great day
Lovely share Ellen and I so agree! I too rely heavily on the slogans....they're my immediate go to and I now feel that my HP throws them into my mind to replace my own thinking when I am going 'left of center'. So many have brought me back to the moment on so many occasions that I don't even know if I can consider one my favorite over another!!
We've had a wickedly windy storm that woke me about 5am here - yet it's passing and the sun is trying to come out. My flowers are loving the natural watering we've been getting this year!
Make it a great Friday everyone - I am having a new stove delivered this morning so am clearing a path for the guys to bring it in. (((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 for your share Ellen. I can really relate to it. I use many of the slogans but recently my favourite slogan is Live and let Live. I make sure I put a lot of emphasis on the first Live. That slogan has helped me a lot. I have spent so much of my time focused on other people and abandoning my own wants and needs. Using this slogan reminds me to stop obsessing about the other person and look at what I want or need right in that moment. It lets me get the things I need done and it also lets others get on with doing what they need to do without my interference.
When I first got to Al Anon, I thought the slogans were pretty goofy and trite. But that only lasted a few minutes! Their is easily transmitted wisdom in the slogans, a lot like oral histories would use, which lends itself well to an organization based on anonymity.
