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 decisions and choices we can make to be happy. We have all heard that happiness is an inside job, and that we can be as happy as we choose to me. While we all recognize it's unrealistic to be happy all the time, we can be happy most of the time if we make a commitment in our decision to choose happiness over alternatives.
Committing to any choice takes hard work and discipline. When we make a decision, we decide what we really want and then how willing are we to work for it. Old habits can be hard to break, yet a change in attitude can help as well as viewing problems as opportunities to up our commitment to our choices. Every obstacle can prompt us to assert that we really mean it - we do want to be happy.
Reminder: When I make a choice and then stick with it, I teach myself that my choices do have meaning and I am worthy of trust. I have an opportunity to make a commitment to one of my choices today.
Quote from Robert Frost: "Our very life depends on everything's Recurring till we answer from within."
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For me, simply put, I choose to make a commitment each morning to be happy....I then use any/every tool at my disposal to maintain my chosen state of being. This means that I don't give my power away to other people, places and things and when I am faced with any obstacle, I commit to Pausing to Pray before I Proceed.
Al-Anon has given me many tools to assist in my daily commitment. In the worst of times, when life appears to be throwing curve ball after curve ball after curve ball, I practice choosing faith, gratitude and recovery over fear and self-pity. Only through practice have I learned that trying to rely completely on self, and trying to impose my will and force solutions does NOT work well - I am more apt to stay in my chosen state of happiness by relying on my HP, trusting my tools, recovery and the 'master plan'.
An attitude of gratitude helps greatly. Staying focused on me vs. others also helps greatly. Choosing to look within vs. outside for answers also helps greatly. All that I have learned through those who came before me matters one day at a time!
Happy Thursday MIP! We had quite a bit of rain overnight and the ceiling in my master BR has sprung a leak. I will be working on 'that' today...we've got much cooler weather, soggy grounds and more rain coming! Enjoy your day - find and keep your joy!
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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
What a wonderful topic and share IAH--thank you! I couldn't agree more that many times now, when faced with awful challenges (my back went out on Sunday and it's not 100% yet), thanks to program I can get things in a good perspective. In this case, I remind myself I don't have the virus, I don't have cancer, and it is improving. I see my chiro on Tues., and many, many times in my past, this has happened and it resolves. Now BR, there was no thinking process like this happening. I became filled with doom and gloom and had a major pity party. The tools I practice from program help me with all kinds of situations. The attitude is key.
Hi Iamhere! Thank you for your service & the Daily!
Oh, how I envy the fact that you are enjoying rain!! Now is just about the time of summer when I crave a little shower!
I really like the notion of looking at obstacles as opportunities... I try and keep this in mind as I work through my days!
Sending out prayers and love to my buddies in TX & AZ. Boost your immune systems, get plenty of rest, and be mindful of how germs travel! &
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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
Good morning, all. Thank you, IAH, for your service -- and I'm so sorry you have a leak in your ceiling! I have experienced this many times.
My attitude towards these types of things has changed. I no longer panic or worry about the leak, I just put a bucket under it and call on higher powers -- in this case, a reliable roofing company that can diagnose and fix the problem. The plumbing in my house is old, and I know from experience that some day, it's going to spring a leak somewhere. I will know what to do. Been there and survived.
These days, I feel -- heck, I have lived with an alcoholic and survived -- almost nothing scares me now, because I did not go through that alone, and I know I do not have to go through future challenges alone. In fact, if I didn't know what to do about my roof or plumbing, I feel confident some of my Al-Anon friends would be able to advise me.
Following a series of days where my anxiety seemed to keep coming back around, I recommitted this morning to at least be aware of this slow-boil fear I seem to be in, and make decisions/take steps to focus on my life and build from there at any given moment, instead of constantly being preoccupied with another person's everything - life, history, family, thoughts - oh I'm such a great mind reader. Mind reading makes me miserable and I want to choose happiness as much as possible. Very timely topic for me.
We also had very heavy rain here last night and I was cautiously watching the ceiling.
-- Edited by ClearTheFog on Thursday 30th of July 2020 11:23:26 AM
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Willpower alone, does not work- but it is an essential ingredient. For change, for me- gratitude was a starter...
Thanks IAm, and y'all...