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.
The ODAT reading for March 24. Speaks about the irrational fear and dread that we develop as a result of living with the disease of alcoholism. The reading points out that attending meetings and reading Al-Anon literature, such as "Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism" .our courage starts to seep back in. Yet sometimes,when we are asked to do something new,such as speaking at a meeting, our old fears and doubts come surging back These negative feelings only last for a moment because we then remind ourselves what we have learned in program and the dignity and confidence you have received.
The readings suggests that when we accept the
help of HP it makes us feel capable of doing anything that we are called upon to do.
The quote is quite simple; "courage is fear that has said its prayers".
Hi LU Thank you for posting your thoughts on this important reading. I love the alanon definition of fear--- False Evidence Appearing Real. I have found this to be true- since I developed new tools to live by such as . prayers for courage and serenity as well as minding my own business. I no longer am frozen by projected fear.. Thanks for your service .
I also love this post. I had no idea so constantly denied that I felt fear. It took everything Al-Anon had to offer to show me otherwise and then how to fix it. Part of my recovery regarding fear is the awareness that the opposite of Fear is Love. I cannot fear and feel love at the same moment so I choose Love...which from my experience is also one name for the Higher Power.
Mahalo Looking up and Betty. ((((hugs))))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Saturday 24th of March 2018 03:21:02 PM
Thanks LU for the daily and for your service. Thanks to Betty, Jerry and LU for your shares and ESH. I was in so much denial, I didn't even realize that my fears and projections, etc. caused by this disease was irrational. It made perfect sense to me when I arrived at recovery to distrust everything, everyone and live with walls all around me. Yet, I came to see and understand through the sharing of others that was not being authentic, and kept me blocked from HP and the sunlight of reality.
I still have a small ball of fear that comes forward in my belly when I consider a new activity or event. I have gotten better about pausing and praying and then leaving the outcomes to HP. I came to recovery 'acting as if' I had it all together and was strong always. Step work showed me that much of that was not real and being imperfect was perfectly good and expected.
I too choose Love today. I also have no issue today trusting others as my 'picker' is improving all the time...I still make mistakes, yet I know that mistakes are a part of learning, living, growing and changing. Happy Saturday all - I'm all ready to start watching some March Madness - love college basketball this time of year and as of right now, today, we've got 2 teams still in!
((((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
Thank you for your service, LU, and thanks for the ESH above. The program has worked its way with me as I have lost many of my fears already, and this is a great gift as I used to practically live in constant fear and anxiety, and this thinking/attitude had become a habit that was destroying me and that I didn't know how to stop. I'm grateful I am so much better now. I also love the program acronym for fear, though I still tend to forget it now and again, so I'm grateful for the reminder. Have a great Sunday all :)
Thank you LU for the daily reminder and for everyone's ESH on one of my current stumbling blocks; Fear. I have Paused, I have Prayed and then an encounter with AS and I'm taking it back and it's on the hamster wheel in my brain. I know that there is absolutely nothing that I can do or say and my brain jumps in and starts the what if's. Something was said tonight that hit me at the core. AS has no idea what he said nor will he remember tomorrow. It really has nothing to do with him aND everything to do with me. I on the other hand realize that when I did a 4th Step and felt I had uncovered most issues with my family of origin and accepted and recovered that I missed one. I am fearing the feeling of not being wanted by a father for my future grandaughter. This is something I will need to work through in step so there is NO projecting. Sometimes I just need to talk about my fear and get it out so it's not so scary.
