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.
One saying in AlAnon is that 'No situation is hopeless.' Our reading notes that hope and despair describe only our feelings about a situation, not the situation or our life itself. This is an important distinction, because the only thing separating a hopeless feeling from a hopeful feeling is belief.
Today's Reminder - Relying on our own strength, tools, and intuition to address the problems we see will leave us in despair, as this approach is truly hopeless. If we are willing to turn to AlAnon for guidance, however, we will be able to see how following our higher power's will rather than our own is cause for hope and happiness.
Our situation or qualifier doesn't have to change in order to have hope, but our mindset must. Others in the program with problems greater than ours have found peace and serenity. It can be done, it is being done, and we can do it in AlAnon.
"...all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark
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The power of the mind is incredible, but was something I long misused and underutilized. Before I came to AlAnon, I spent most of my energy trying unsuccessfully to change others and control outcomes. The tools of the program helped me realize incredible returns on effort when I focused on my own beliefs and actions.
I came to believe as I saw immediate results from admitting my powerlessness over others and trying newly learned, basic concepts and tools of the program. I have experienced enough 'victories' in the program to trust that feelings I have of fear, anxiety, or despair are signals that I have let my program slip; they remind me to turn things over to my higher power rather than my will and expectations.
It's a new week, and I am very grateful for the program
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Thanks for this share Paul Finding "Hope" upon entering the alanon rooms was so very startling to me. I came to alanon because I was at my bottom and had no hope . Attending meetings, listening to learn, and picking up literature seemed to remove my hopeless attitude and helped to restore " Hope" within my soul. I kept coming back because I felt better at meetings and knew that I could learn to develop healthy tools to live by and then know how to live life with acceptance, courage, serenity and wisdom.I am so grateful to have embraced this program and be able to share this" Hope" with others.
Thank you Paul for your service and the daily. Thanks to all above me for your ESH - I so agree....the mind is an incredible gift we have. I truly never understood that viewing things as good/bad - negative/positive was a choice that I had some power over. The program, steps, sponsor and meetings have truly helped me flip my attitude and thinking. What a gift to realize that having a bad moment does not mean the whole day is bad.
What a gift to believe and have faith that everything happens for a reason, and I get a direct or indirect benefit from it. Each hardship I face helps me with fear, courage, growth and development. Each blessing bestowed on me reinforces that a spiritual life has great benefits over my previous self-will run-riot existence. Each uncertainty I face is but a reminder to pause, pray and meditate and the direction will be revealed.
I have a very magical magnifying mind. Before recovery, it tended to magnify negative things and blow them out of proportion. Myself, ego, self-will and mind have been right-sized in recovery and while it can still over-focus on issues, I can change my negative focus to neutral or positive with the tools we share.
Great reading, great shares and fills me with gratitude! Make it a great Monday all! I stayed up late watching the Chiefs win in OT - what a great game! I've already been to the grocery store and the Department of Motor Vehicles. I see a nap in my future and am going to a fellowship dinner tonight - taco night. It's a great day and I'm grateful for my changed outlook - just for today!
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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
