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.
Tomorrow's reading talks about Step 3 - turning our will and life to the care of a Higher Power, and how it's an ongoing process. For many of us, we are willing to surrender the big issues - felt we had no other choice. Our best efforts had let us down and we clearly were powerless.
As the writer progressed in recovery, more trust in a HP came about. The writer considers asking for guidance on just about everything and seeks greater spiritual awareness each day.
Reminder -- Faith takes practice. I will include my Higher Power in more of my actions and decisions today.
Quote -- from Al-Anon's Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions -- "Step Three suggests I teach myself, from this moment on, to be receptive, to open myself to help from my Higher Power."
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Simply, for me, I would not be who I am, where I am or how I am if I had not came to believe and rely on a power greater than me. It took the disease of alcoholism affecting those I love for me to really understand how small I am in this great big world and how marvelous a spiritual journey can be. When I figured out that it's so not about me, things got easier. When I decided to align with a power greater than I, things got better. As I live one day at a time, doing what's suggested in this program, I know I am not alone, and all will be well as long as I set aside my will and my ego.
I am grateful for the willingness to keep practicing this step and all program principles in all my affairs! I stress less and live more! I am a grateful member of Al-Anon who is spending tomorrow with the 3 YO little person! He's got Croup, my AH and ASon both have the flu so it's going to be a long day but I am up for it!!! Wish me well....taking God with me!
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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
Thank you for posting the daily, IAH! I hope a houseful of sickies doesn't get you worn out! LOL!
Step 3 was the hardest for me. I was "stuck" on it for what I thought was a long time. And, like the reading explains, it is an ongoing process for me. I had completely lost faith in a higher power. The notion of God? Forget about it! I even fought giving up my "power" and control over my situation! But I certainly felt I was adrift at sea... buffeted by the gale-force winds, and tossed by the currents. There just had to be a better way!
So yes, letting go the notion of control on the big-ticket items were the easiest. Other things have come later, and a daily reliance on my HP is more fluid. Some days I feel It's power... other days I feel like there is nothing, no one.
So as of today, I rely on my Gratitude Lists, and the thought that I will continue to seek greater spiritual awareness... however it may come.
Today it came in the form of a reminder: "Faith takes practice. I will include my Higher Power in more of my actions and decisions today."
Grateful member, Peace!
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"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Thanks for your service IAH. I particularly like the quote which suggests we remain receptive and open to HP. I came to program with a spiritual belief in a power greater than myself, and alanon has just deepened and expanded my relationship with HP. I feel lucky in this dept. I have many struggles and stressors, but I am just grateful understanding HP is not one of them, Lyne
Thank you, IAH, hope you are having a great day. This reading is timely for me because I have been thinking about Step 3 lately. I've kind of skipped over it in the past, because that "turn my will and my life over" was a scary thought. It gave me the feeling of jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
Turn it over to who??? to what??? How can I trust anyone but myself, and I'm not so perfect either! Let go??? Well that's just crazy!
When I re-read the step, I notice the word CARE. Turn my will and life over to the CARE of a higher power ... someone who actually cares about me, maybe even more than I care about myself. I've had evidence over and over again that there are people who care about me. It's been hard to accept that, but the data is persuasive. I have been helped in my darkest moments. I am cared about, even if sometimes I have not realized I am worthy.
This makes it easier to turn things over, just knowing that somewhere out there someone cares about me, even if I don't know how or from whom that caring is going to show up.
Thank you IAH for today's reading and your thoughts. I agree it was always easy for me to turn to my HP for the BIG things....it's almost an autopilot reaction to something big. What this program has taught me is to be grateful for my blessings and even my not-so-blessings, as they are opportunities to learn and grow. I have been much better at keeping up an ongoing dialogue with my HP during my waking hours. Even for the littlest of things...and sometimes I will chuckle at something that has occurred and can imagine my HP chuckling right along. Like a wink, chuckle and nod. It brings me great comfort to view my HP as an ally who only wants what is best for me.....and understands my feelings with only love.
Step 3 required me to make the decision to turn my will and my life over to a Power Greater than myself which is presently a habit for me that comes into operation from the second I open my eyes in the morning until the first second of the next morning. I have found that my Higher Power continues on that decision itself without my permission or acknowledgement. I have a Higher Power with me now because my Higher Power wills it. Blessed. (((((hugs))))) Thanks for the share.
I had completely lost faith in a higher power. The notion of God? Forget about it! I even fought giving up my "power" and control over my situation! But I certainly felt I was adrift at sea... buffeted by the gale-force winds, and tossed by the currents. There just had to be a better way!
So yes, letting go the notion of control on the big-ticket items were the easiest. Other things have come later, and a daily reliance on my HP is more fluid. Some days I feel It's power... other days I feel like there is nothing, no one.
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OMG, PnP, this could be ME....I read your post TWICE , I was so impressed as to how much I relate.....I, too, had lost faith and am "practicing" "acting as if" "casting the burdens" on the big stuff because what have I got to lose, and yea, some days I feel it...something higher than me...other times I get the voice mail...Nothing....but I have to practice, like you....Something beautiful created the creatures, the beautiful flora and fauna, the seas, the sky, soft rain that smells so delicious, something incapable of visiting bad on me...but there to give me strength, peace and guidance and maybe even a helper or two when I need it.......I just have to practice....
THANK you, girlfriend for you OH SO BEAUTIFUL share that I got SO much out of............XOXO
Thanks for the share.