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.
Good morning MIP. Today's reading talks about being authentic - Al-Anon gives us a safe place to be ourselves. We can share embarrassing secrets that were previously buried with Al-Anon friends and we learn that sharing is the key to healing. When we learn to share honestly with people we trust, we challenge the old, negative ideas of self.
In Al-Anon, we find that many of our self criticisms were exaggerated and we are worthy. We can come out of hiding and be ourselves.
Today's reminder -- Even when I feel ashamed, someone in the fellowship can help me see my situation in a different light. With their help, if I'm willing to permit it, the truth will set me free.
Today's quote -- from August Wilson -- "You get to the point where your demons, which are terrifying, get smaller and smaller and you get bigger and bigger."
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I have learned in Al-Anon that the truth does set me free. When I showed up, defeated and full of fear, I was very angry that others suggested I needed to work on me. I was one who believed I was 'fine' and it was all others in my world that were causing me pain, anger and more.
Instead, I heard others sharing about similar feelings, similar actions and reactions to the disease. I realized much of my efforts to cure this disease and help others weren't very healthy. How I felt and judged myself and others was also not very kind or loving. I am grateful to others who showed me how to be true to myself, honest in my recovery and practice this program one day at a time in all my affairs. To thine own self, be true.
Make Friday awesome MIP family. I'm off to golf this morning and grateful for the sunshine and better temperatures!
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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, MIP! IAH, thank you for your service
For me, sharing what I thought was an embarrassing secret and hearing from others in my AlAnon group that they had experienced similar things helped me to be more gentle with myself. I realized that it is ok to make mistakes, because making mistakes and learning from them is how I grow. I can own my mistakes and embarrassing secrets today, because without them, I would not be where I am and I would not be who I am. I'm working on becoming the best version of myself that I can be, and I have learned that sharing openly helps to make my terrifying secrets small and not scary.
I'm hoping that most of our snow melts away today. Looking forward to the potential of a puppy walk after work, if it is warm enough!
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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
Good Morning IAH Being authentic was a challenge for me early on in program I mistakenly thought that this meant i had to speak every thought that came into my mind, This did cause many problems in my relationships. My sponsor suggested that I take time learn not to react but to process a situation and then respond using alanon principles.
I too thought that I was the sane one in my marriage and did not need to change--not so I am so glad that i embraced alanon tools so ht my demons could shrink
Thanks for your service
