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 how many of us came to the program with the instinct of taking everything we hear (about ourselves) to heart. I know that I have the tendency to dwell and ruminate on things that are said to me and I have been working on letting some things wash past me, without holding on to every syllable and dissecting! The writer points out that one strength of the program is that it helps us learn to love the whole of ourselves-- our strengths, weaknesses, things we are proud of and those we are working on. As I was reading this morning I was thinking--alanon helps me see the bigger picture, not focus solely on the most minute details.
I appreciate the quote from "Courage to Be Me": '...the most important person to gain love and respect from is myself.'
I hope you all enjoy and appreciate yourselves today :)
Happy Sunday Mary - thank you for your service, the daily and your ESH. Before recovery, I did take everything to heart and gave those words tons of power over my own thinking and views of self. Early on, I heard QTIP - Quit Taking It Personally, and it was suggested I carry a Q-Tip in my pocket to remind me that words are just words - they are not truth, powerful, etc.
Today, I am better able to allow others to be who they are, and trust that my HP made me as he wanted me. I work to be the best version of me, and always consider feedback. Yet, I don't give it all the power as I used to, and look for the lesson instead.
It's super cold this morning - extra coffee and tea day! Make your Sunday the best it can be! (((Hugs))) to all!
__________________
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 Mary What a great reading I know that when i entered program I was fully "other " focused. I did not have any concept of "Liking" myself, validating myself or asking for what I needed. In my FOO that would have been deemed "selfish" .
As you pointed out, thanks to meetings and practicing this powerful program, I did gain self esteem and the ability to see myself as "Human" like others and acceptance grew. I was also told that alanon is no a self improvement program but a self acceptance one and that helped.
