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.
The writer speaks about when dealing with a change, problem, or discovery, awareness frequently is followed by acceptance, and then action can be taken. We call this process the Three A's: awareness, acceptance, and action. A new awareness can be uncomfortable, but unless we can face reality, taking effective action will be difficult.
ODAT in alanon is quoted: Acceptance does not mean submission to a degrading situation. It means accepting the fact of a situation, then deciding what we will do about it. Acceptance can be empowering because it facilitates making a choice.
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I've always liked the Three A's. Awareness can feel unbearable. Denial can appear to be a better option, but it can cause becoming frozen. As the reading says, accepting what is can then foster seeing my choices and choosing an action is up to me. Many times we are dealt a lousy hand, but I find running away from it solves nothing. This program encourages me to see the truth, a healthy choice is to accept it, and from there I have control over what I will do.
I like the reminder that acceptance of facts doesn't mean that I am powerless. I can then decide what I will do about those facts.
Seeing the truth can be painful, but when I do look at the truth, and accept it, I feel empowered rather than trapped, because I know I have choices.
__________________
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
Thank you Lyne for your service and all shares. I struggle with accepting that I still willfully refuse to accept the obvious. There's lots of pain in accepting that the person who has let me down the most is me. Grateful to have HP, Al-Anon tools and friends I've never met (MIP) to direct my path to positive action/change.
