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 points to the power of prayer and gratitude in our recovery. When we are struggling, a plea for help from our higher power may be all we can manage. The help we receive from such a prayer can really boost our faith and confidence in our hp.
Prayer can also convey our gratitude for this lifeline and spiritual connection. Regardless of our circumstances, we can find reasons to be grateful. Focusing on these reasons and expressing them in prayer keeps them in the forefront of our thoughts and encourages healing and feelings of peace.
Reminder: Recall and focus on our reasons to be thankful and grateful. "You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy." - The Prophet
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For a long time before I found AlAnon, I neither asked for help nor expressed gratitude through prayer. After working steps 1-3, establishing a higher power, and discovering the power of regularly expressing gratitude for the blessings in my life, I don't know how I managed before.
Actually I do: barely, and with little happiness, contentment, or serenity. My life was unmanageable and I was insane. By reaching out to my higher power for guidance, turning things over, and identifying the reasons for gratitude in my life, I can experience peace and serenity even during difficult times.
It's been like a miracle, just a bit slower and with a lot more work...still a dramatic and welcome change from my past! I am very grateful
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Hi Paul, I can really identify with your process and share . I began to write a gratitude list at the insistence of my sponsor(although I could not feel grateful and could find little to be grateful for).After a short time even though I did not know that I had changed, I was completely amazed to discover that I was no longer reacting in my usual manner but responding from a more compassionate, loving place within me and was" feeling grateful deep within". I realized that HP had done for me what I could not do for myself .
Today, I recite the serenity prayer as I walk instead of recalling my past anger and" feel grateful" when I see a flower, a bird and nature what a gift .
Good morning - thank you Paul for your service and the daily. Thank you Paul and Betty for your ESH - this is a great reading to start a new day/week! I can also relate to working the steps, believing in a HP and working each day to be a spiritual being vs. a self-will wild thing! I had stepped away from any/all faith or concept in help from a power great than me, and was a stressed out, controlling, unhappy human wondering what I did to deserve where I was!
Through suggestions from others, the steps, meetings and a great sponsor, my life and my attitude are very different - improved significantly. I no longer have to place blame on the diseased or the disease for my own thoughts, actions, reactions and emotions. I truly believe in a HP that wants me happy, joyous and free - free to be me, of service, to love others and be a part of instead of a part from.
Recovery has given me so many tools and gifts that I feel able to stand tall in the middle of a storm....I can feel the presence of my HP guiding me to be a symbol of peace instead of the center of the chaos before. I can smile at the insanity of the disease, as I feel protected by an invisible armor that allows me to be shielded and serene.
Love the Serenity Prayer, the abbreviated one and have really been focusing this year on the Prayer of St. Francis....for me, it's a great tool to understand what a spiritual person might act like as often as possible...
Make me an channel of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Happy Monday all - Softball is over for 2016! I am so glad for the winter break. Been cleaning my stuff up, doing laundry, put a roast in the crock pot and other productive things! Won 7 out of 8 games since Thursday night so --- finished strong. Had a bit of drama last night at the fields, and was able to use my tools and detach. Make it a great, great day 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
Thank you both...I see more and more the power of gratitude and its turn-around power: turn around negative feelings and surround with calm. I will focus on this more pointedly.
IAH, I do like that prayer, very helpful as a call to action and template of good behavior...will use it! Congrats on your strong finish, now for a well deserved break. This fall has been beautiful, enjoy
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
You are so right Paul - we've had such a lovely fall. It appears (forecast) that this week might be the end for a bit. Headed out to golf today - lovely day to be out in the beauty of all that surrounds us....
Make it a great Tuesday!!!
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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
