Al-Anon Family Group

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.

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: C2C, 10/30


~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 2768
Date:
C2C, 10/30


Practicing gratitude:  Today's reading talks about the ways in which we can discover and practice gratitude.  The author says that he/she would hear people in meetings say they were grateful for being involved with an alcoholic, which brought them to Alanon.  And he saw people who were happy in spite of their problems.  He said he had to hit a bottom and feel the pain before he could reach out for help. But because of program, he has a relationship with a Higher Power, and he has friends who give him real support.  He learned that gratitude and forgiveness where necessary to find peace of mind, and at last he is a grateful member of Alanon.

Today's reminder:  Today I will practice gratitude.  I will think of some of the things, big or small, for which I am grateful.  Maybe I'll even put this list in writing or share it with an Alanon friend.  Sometimes a tiny action can be a great step towards seeing my life with increasing joy.

Quote from ODAT in Alanon :  When things look blackest, it is within my power to brighten them with the light of understanding and gratitude.

------------------------------------------------------

I have come to share this writer's experience of finding gratitude and trying to practice it, especially when things are tough.  Lately for me, my life is filled with several very difficult issues, but I make sure I can also see my blessings.  Without gratitude for the positive elements in my life, things would seem bleak.  Gratitude helps me find balance in times of troubled waters, Lyne



__________________

Lyne



~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 17196
Date:

Hello Lyne I can remember when I first entered alanon, I had difficulty saying the word"gratitude" and could certainly not "feel it. My sponsor suggested simply making a gratitude list , even if I could not think of anything to be thankful for, would be a start on recovery I could list gratitude for my health, that I could walk and talk etc. That was the extent of my gratitude list and it worked. By Working the Steps, using the slogans, attending meetings making my gratitude lisit each day I slowly began to "Feel" grateful. As I walked along and saw a flower or a bird I added this to my gratitude list and felt grateful . Today many years later I have many items on my gratitude list. Birds, dogs,kitties, family friends etc. how fortunate I am o have found this program!!

thanks for your service and have a great day

__________________
Betty

THE HIGHEST FORM OF WISDOM IS KINDNESS

Talmud


~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 1095
Date:

Good morning Lyne and Betty!

I remember when I started working in the program, things seemed bleak, and although I found a few things to be grateful for (time at work, fur-babies, a house that was energy-efficient), there were many time that I found myself focusing my attention on what I did not have and the problems I was facing. I have heard it said that we tend to get more of what we focus our attention on, and for me, that is true with gratitude. I find myself with more gratitude when I focus on things I am grateful for, and that gratitude helps me to get through the problems without spending too much time or attention on them.

Thanks for your service, Lyne. I hope you have a lovely day.

__________________

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



~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 554
Date:

hi All, Thank you for your service Lyne and thank all for the great shares.
Gratitude is something I have been intentionally practicing for quite a while now. My Sponsor makes gratitude lists and encourages me to do the same. I make a list of 5 things every day that I am grateful for and I really try not to miss writing this list. At first it wad difficult but the more I practiced it the better I got. I heard in a meeting that "whatever you focus on gets bigger". That is definitely true for me. When I focused on my problems they seemed bigger, when I focus on what is great in my life they get bigger. I find more and more to be grateful for every single day. I hope everyone has a great day!

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 164
Date:

Thank you for your service Lyne, I can really relate to todays reading. I try to make a conscious effort to stop what Im doing throughout the day to make a mental list of things Im grateful for in the moment especially, if Im feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Before program all I could do was complain about everyone and everything, I was so focused on all that was wrong, I couldnt see the miracle of life. Today I do struggle to find gratitude in an extremely chaotic or dramatic situation right away, but Alanon has taught me the more I practice the steps, the gratitude is coming to me more quickly. I gain true acceptance of what is when I see past the chaos and put the focus on what I have to be grateful for.

__________________

- Carrie

Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there'. Eckhart Tolle



~*Service Worker*~

Status: Offline
Posts: 11569
Date:

Thank you Lyne for your service and the daily. Thanks to all above me for your ESH. I too came to recovery angry at the world and really felt I had nothing to be grateful for. After all, in my mind, my life sucked big time and I saw no relief. I am certain I may have eye-rolled publicly when gratitude was first mentioned!

Yet, there is something very centering to pause and consider how I am blessed. Even when I feel sad/mad/depressed, I have many things to be grateful for. I love that we are reminded often of the tools available to help us heal/deal with the affects of this disease. Who knew that something as simple as gratitude could change my attitude? Clearly - - - not me.

Grateful to be a member of the MIP family, Al-Anon as a whole and for all that both give me daily. Hope everyone is having a great day! (((Hugs)))

__________________

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

 

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 373
Date:

The holidays are a difficult time for me. 

One thing I am grateful for is learning to take xare of myself on the holidays. 

1) Do not rely on anyone else. 

2) Prepare prepare prepare 

3) Insulate myself be good to myself 

4) Do not compare. I have learned hard I do not know what I am comparing myself to. 

5) Focus on the positive

6) Be extremely careful because the holidays are a big trigger for me 

 

I know my exoectations around the holidays were a big issue for me. At the same time I was never seriouslyl taking cate of myself.   I was always trying to get other people to do what I wanted.  I spent serious money trying to get them to g8ve me the thanksg8ving I wanted.  They were completely incapable of it.  Their lives were always unmanageable.  Who did I think I was hoping they would switch up.for me. 

 

I had to really focus on my triggers because I would be seripusly tripped on the holidays.   I do not need to be in those dark places. 

 

I am seriously grateful I found my.way through. 

 

Maresie 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



__________________
Maresie
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.