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 is about detachment. Many of us have talked about how detachment can be a difficult concept, especially when first coming to the program. Today's reading goes beyond detaching with others, and adds that sometimes it is to our benefiit to detach from ourselves.
There are times that I feel my brain is off to the races, mulling over every past hurt I can remember or cringing over every decision I've ever made. The suggestion from this reading is that it may be helpful to detach from myself. The writer mentions that his/her sponsor described this as bringing the mind to where the body is by doing something physical and repeating the action in our minds such as 'I am scrubbing the floor' or 'I am running'. This reminded of me of my early adjustments to getting and being divorced. One of the ways I was coping with the grief of that was to tell myself 'next I will brush my teeth' or 'now I will fold the clothes'. It helped me a lot to focus on these tasks and in its way kept me in the present moment. I didn't know that I was detaching from myself and runaway emotions but it makes sense to me now.
Today I will do my best to keep my mind and body in the same place-
Hi Mary Love the last sentence "Deciding to keep my mind and body in the same place"- is a great new tool to utilize. Detachment really saved my sanity and life when I was able to use it continuously and accepted the fact that I was powerless over others and that my main responsibility was to myself- No more taking care of others so they would take care of me. . I could still treat each person kindly and with respet but then focus on myself and my needs. Great tool. Thanks for your service and I hope your day is bright
Today's topic brought me back to how I dealt with life after the loss of my partner. I found the grief and pain to be overwhelming, and so I only allowed myself to focus on the current or next task, and nothing beyond that. I seem to have forgotten all about that strategy in my years of living with an active alcoholic. Early in my Alanon journey, I often struggled to keep my mind from racing, and stay focused on any one thing. I found myself to be inefficient at home and at work by trying to do too many things at once. This reading is a great reminder of another tool that I can use to keep the focus on myself and what I am doing at the present moment, and let the future take care of itself.
I hope everyone has a lovely 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
Hi Mary-What an interesting concept I have not been aware of-detach from myself. It makes perfect sense! I heard a saying once: keep your head over your feet-I think that's what you are talking about . Thanks for a great reminder, Lyne
Good morning and thank you all for the ESH above me! Thank you Mary for your service and the daily. I have struggled for as long as I can recall to 'keep my mind and body' in the same place - love how this reading suggests we need to detach from ourselves at times too.
I am grateful for all that is suggested in Al-Anon as it helps me to live one day at a time, doing my best version of me. When I am troubled, I can find a way to go through it and heal - what a powerful road map for personal success.
Have a marvelous Tuesday to one and all!!
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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
Great share,this is what got me through some very tough times in my life is ding the next right thing,sweeping the floors,etc,etc,
I love that to,,,keeping mind and body in the same place= serenity....thanks for this reminder and your service yanksfan
All these daily are really hitting home for me .
Hi Mary thank you for Today's hope and for your service. Kind of giggled a little reading keep your mind and body in the same place because it reminded me of my Mom telling me to calm down that I was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Certainly that was my mode of operation before Al-Anon, I would get myself so worked up trying to accomplish too much at once and ended up not accomplishing anything to my satisfaction, which of course was perfection :). Al-anon has taught me things go much smoother One Day At A Time
