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Good morning MIP. Happy Thursday to one and all. Today's reading talks about the Seventh Step (Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings). Simply put, when we take this step, we are asking for help - not begging and not demanding. We don't build ourselves up nor grovel and we are not trying to impress anyone!
We are just accepting our place in our relationship with our HP, no more and no less. Humility is necessary to take our proper place and be comfortable trusting in a power greater than self. Humility is defined in this reading as a perpetual quietness of heart. It means we do our part and trust God to take care of the rest. While we may not know how our help will come, we can remain serene and just ask our HP for healing.
Reminder: Today, when I ask my Higher Power to remove my shortcomings, I will try to do so with a peaceful heart.
Quote from Alcoholism, The Family Disease: "Humility will help us see ourselves in true perspective and keep our minds open to the truth."
My experience is the simpler I keep things, the better my life goes. This reading suggests my approach - we are just asking for help, humbly. I am one who BR (Before Recovery) associated weakness with humility and had to rethink this. The reading suggests 'True humility should never be humiliating' and I simply agree. I adopted the definition of Be Open and Teachable for the word humility and it's served me well. I believe every person I encounter and every event or situation I encounter offers me a chance to learn more about me, how I see the world and how I can continue to grow and change.
BR, I rarely was able to quiet my heart or my mind. Through practice of our program and use of suggested tools, I have improved in this area. I am grateful to take my place today in the relationship I'm building with the God of my understanding. I am grateful for where I am and for the gift of humility, forever reminding me that I am and will always be a Work in Progress.
Love and Light all - continuing to quarantine @ home, as suggested - so, so ready to get outside and do something but will remain compliant! (((hugs)))
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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
I am so , so glad to hear that you continue to enjoy good health!
I have gotten into the practice of doing a "mini-7th Step" each day on my commute to work. As was suggested by Betty when I first arrived here, I list what I am grateful for, and then I ask for humility and patience in dealing with my day... the people, circumstances, and yes, even my own thoughts. I ask to be of open mind, and open heart.
It seems to work for me... I seem to always feel lighter in spirit when I get finished!
I really like the definition: 'Humility... a perpetual quietness of the heart.'
Just realized that I get a 3-day weekend! Whoo Hooooooooooo! Can't go anywhere, but I don't care... one more day to my weekend... one more day to relax, unplug & recharge!
Happy Thursday, MIP!
&
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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 IAH for your service and for both wonderful shares on this topic. Betty comes to my mind as well, as she taught me about humility and being humble, which I was very confused about BR. Sometimes being quiet in heart and mind comes naturally, and other times I have to work very hard to achieve it. Only human here! Progress not perfection. Much to learn and practice I'm willing because it's worth it, Lyne
How did I miss this great post? I know I have been in a lot of pain but this post I really needed to see and I am glad that I got to see it tonight
The biggest growth for me this year has been a loving relationship with my higher power whom I call God and I used to think that humility meant humiliation because in my FOO thats what it was but here in the program it is such a necessary thing because if I cant handle myself to my higher power discussing my weaknesses and faults and wrongs that Ive done then I cant move forward into changing old bad behaviors. I am so glad now that I can confess my wrongs to my higher power and two other, safe people, preferably In recovery and also if I hurt someone outside of recovery, I find it so much easier now to accept my mistakes and to sort it out with the other and to make amends. It sure helps with the serenity, and like you, I find life is much better when I keep things nice and simple. My goals right now are to slow down, pay attention, be in the moment, and KISS
Thank you for this post and thank you for your service