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.
Thank you Debbie for your service and share. What struck me as I read your passage above, is that before program I didn't like myself. I was critical and thought I couldn't do anything right. If I had a true self, I certainly couldn't see it. All I saw was shortcomings. First my sponsor and then in meetings, I came to terms with my "true self." Yes I have shortcomings and need to work on them. Program gave me permission to see my character defects. But especially in the relationship built over time with my sponsor, she helped me to see many positive qualities. So I'm good with Step 7 and all the Steps. I will never be perfect and will always need to strive to improve. But now I can see the balance--I also have many wonderful qualities and I'm a nice human being. Love alanon.
Thanks Deb and Lyne for great stuff above, those are all great questions...
I fancy myself pretty decent at introspection, but for the spiritual type and my ALanon journey I really appreciated Paths to Recovery, and used the questions at the end of every chapter topic to learn more about myself.
Paths asked me to think about what humility meant to me, and identify how I saw it demonstrated in others, which of my old behaviors got in the way of my being humble, whether I could laugh lightheartedly at myself and find humor in my shortcomings, and how could I humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings.
All of these questions are helpful in that they drive thought and meditation, encourage drilling down to explore what I'm really thinking, what's driving my perspective, expectations and thus my worldview and actions.
Finally, by finishing always with spiritual realignment, over time, I am encouraged to adopt a more spiritual mindset...grateful for the wisdom and reminders
__________________
Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Thank you Debbie for your service/ESH.
I appreciate the useful questions and shares above. I tend to overthink which often leads to bad actions or crazy conclusions. Thanks for reminder to use Paths to Recovery. I am consistently inconsistent so a constructive guide to direct/challenge my thinking sounds like a good idea. First, I have stop thinking about it and start doing it. Grateful for a patient HP.