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.
AlAnon provides many gifts to its members. One of the greatest gifts is freedom from the despair many of us arrived with as we tried to control the uncontrollable, alcohol. Today's page notes that there is a price to be paid to receive them.
This price is acceptance of Step 1, where we give up our self-directed efforts and surrender to the wisdom of the program and guidance of the god of our understanding. Our choice is simply to decide if the peace and freedom of the program is worth our effort...
Today's Reminder: Success in the program calls for honesty and willingness to give up attitudes and actions that have long been a part of us. As our attitudes change from hostility to forgiveness and acceptance in the program, our words and actions will follow.
"Freedom has many facets, but mostly it releases us from much that has been troubling and defeating us. We pray for this release into freedom." - Anonymous
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Some have described the first three steps as: I can't, a power greater can, I will let it. In my experience, admitting I can't was not difficult, I had tried everything I could think of without finding manageability.
After seeing immediate results and increased peace from applying basic Alanon principles, I saw a way better than mine, and believed it could guide me to sanity. With work and patience, I was able to begin turning my life and my will over to it.
For me there has been/is a real price to pay for the freedom and peace I enjoy: daily work, meditation, honesty and certainly today's focus, acceptance. It's an ongoing, daily effort, but so, so worth it. I am grateful
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
I remember when I first came to Alanon, I was not sure what else could be tried. The Alanon tools seemed so simple, I was sure they couldn't work. But right away, I heard ideas that were drastically different from anything I had tried before, and I saw how applying Alanon's tools to my relationship with my wife resulted in a huge blow-up, followed by positive change. Every time. I started to think that Alanon might just be the thing I needed, and I saw how things were getting more manageable, and my life more peaceful.
The price I have to pay for this peace is constant self-improvement, constant attention to my program and what I am doing. This is a very small price to pay for the serenity I feel in my life now.
Make it a great day
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Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Thank you Paul for your service and the daily. Thank you to you and Skorpi for your ESH. I readily admit that I struggled big time with letting go. It was a foreign concept to me as I was a controlling person and had appointed myself the Queen of Everything @ Home! It was clearly not working well and I came to Al-Anon defeated and exhausted from all the effort and energy I spent trying to fix, control, change all which wasn't even my responsibility.
So - I doubt seriously I had an open mind. I truly wanted the magic potion or formula that was going to fix my qualifier(s). When it was suggested I put me first, focus on me and keep the focus on me I thought it sounded like voo-doo BS. Yet, small efforts resulted in minor changes in my attitudes and thinking and that got me willing to be/do different. Little by little, I did feel and see different results with different responses (less insanity) and while it still doesn't always make sense, it does work when we work it.
I am off to pick up my son and take him to court. He missed his first appearance when he was picked up because they had him locked up in the suicide watch area ... he was so messed up that he couldn't stand for the video conferencing court session....*sigh*
I am 'stock-piling' a bit of program just for this moment to remind me that God has got this and all I have to do is be of service. Please send prayers if you got one to spare! (((Hugs))) to all and happy Monday!!
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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
Good morning Paul great reminder and powerful tools! I know when I entered program I thought that my attitudes and principles were beyond perfect and that I did not have to change.
Al-Anon says "changed attitudes, aid recovery" so that picking up the tools and having the courage to face myself, my motives, my hidden agendas enabled me to become honest and grow. Al-Anon reinforces the fact that acceptance of life on life's terms with honesty and gentleness, enriches every body.
I did not realize how confused and off target my attitudes had become. Today I am able to identify my principles, and place them above personalities. What a gift that has! been
Thank you for your service and have a lovely day Thank you Skorpi and IAH for sharing your thoughts on tfis topic as well.
Prayers and positive thought on the way IAH, in support of your son and yourself today, please keep us updated.
Thanks Betty - all charges dismissed - witnesses would not cooperate with the prosecutor....good and bad in freedom for one with this disease - he's now on his own to continue recovery or not...prayers continue for all who suffer from it and all who are affected.
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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 all for ESH on this page; basic but so powerful...I still struggle daily to keep my self will and desire to control in check, but am so grateful I have many successes to look back on and the daily ESH from the fellowship of working the program...so encouraging!
Thoughts and prayers with you IAH for what you've been through and for those still struggling...hopefully you had a chance to enjoy this glorious day, this seems like the kind of weather you dream about when you think of getting out on the course or the diamond
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
I know that's right Paul - great weather!!! It's another glorious morning - loving it! Thanks for the prayers and thoughts!
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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
