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 and Happy Thursday! We have another mild, spring-like day and that's so refreshing!
Today's reading is about progress, not perfection. In Al-Anon, we discover that many of us have spent 'waiting for the past to change'. Many of us have chosen to do 'nothing different' or nothing at all, fearing failure or lack of success. The author suggests that perfectionism, procrastination and paralysis were the three worst effects on their lie from alcoholism.
The more we practice, the easier things become. The lowering of expecting perfect allows us to accept and embrace progress as success. Letting go of outcomes frees us to enjoy the present. Taking risks is a good thing, as we accept we will not be perfect!
Reminder: Al-Anon encourages me to take risks and to think of life not as a command performance but as a continuing series of experiments from which I learn more about living.
Quote from James Russell Lowell: "All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action."
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In these trying times where we are all facing a pandemic, we can make choices how we best deal with it. What I know is most of us are facing some level of fear - varied depending upon the who, what, where, when, why...as I ponder the here and now, and watch news, people, places and things, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have a recovery program.
I can choose faith over fear.
I can choose joy over sorrow.
I can be a part of the solution, I can trust the God of my understanding and I can practice what the experts suggest.
For me, this is all progress. I do not have to condemn those who think different, do different, act different - instead, I can just avoid them (social distancing) and pray. Fear ran my life for so very, very long, just for today, I choose faith.
Happy Thursday all - make it the best day possible!
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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 Iamhere for your service. This is a light in the tunnel most of us are in right now! I pray that you and your loved ones stay healthy.
The 3 P's (perfectionism, procrastination, and paralysis) do not limit themselves to the alcoholic. I have found that I "lived" in one, or sometimes all three states at one time! I have a hard time lowering expectations of myself... I am a work in progress... that I CAN accept! LOL!
Thank you for the great reminder!
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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
Thank you IAH for your service and for both above shares. I know of the three A's, and the three C's, but had never heard of the three P's until now. I most readily identify with the paralysis part, from fear, shame, and no self-esteem. What a huge relief it has been to learn through program that I am OK, and I choose to work on my shortcomings to move forward step by step. I love our slogan, progress not perfection. Lyne
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