Friday, March 17, 2017
Today's Gift
The comfort of a true friend in a time of trouble, the strength we sense in being with someone who truly knows us, the affirmation of life that comes with enduring friendships - no other experience is like these. Recovery, once our addictive behaviors end, is mostly through relationships. In this program we are developing a friendship with ourselves, with other men and women, and with our Higher Power.
True friendship happens when we lower our guard and let our feelings show. It happens when we listen without judgment. It accumulates over time in many little experiences with someone. There is friendship in returning to someone when we feel offended or hurt so the relationship can be repaired - and in returning to him when we have been the offender. Sometimes friendship means humility, or accepting our worthiness to be forgiven. The development and deepening of our friendships, with other men, with women, and with ourselves sustains us in recovery.
Watch
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When
these crop up, we ask our Higher Power at once to remove them. We discuss them with
someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.
Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 84
Thought to Ponder . . .
Sobriety is a gift, the price of which is eternal vigilance.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S O B R I E T Y = Staying Off Booze Recovery Is Everything To You
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Thrive on the challenges
by Ralph Marston
When one path is blocked, you’re forced to look for another path. There’s a good chance that other path could be a better one.
When the usual options are unavailable, you must look for other options. That could very well lead you to a more valuable option.
It’s easy to get complacent when things are going smoothly. But if you remain complacent for too long, you’ll wake up one day to discover you’ve been left behind.
Sure, unexpected challenges can be bothersome. But they can also keep you on your toes.
That sudden, difficult situation can lead to new, valuable skills, knowledge, wisdom and vigor. When events don’t go as expected, it’s your opportunity to expect more from yourself.
You are flexible, adaptable, resourceful, able to transform setbacks and surprises into new progress. Decide to thrive on the challenges, and you’ll find an even better way.
For me, life is about being positive and hopeful, choosing to be joyful, choosing to be encouraging, choosing to be empowering. --Billy Porter
You can think. You can feel. You can solve your problems. You can take care of yourself.
Those words have often benefited me more than the most profound and elaborate advice.
How easy it is to fall into the trap of doubting others and ourselves.
When someone tells us about a problem, what is our reaction? Do we believe we need to solve it for the person? Do we believe that that person's future rests on our ability to advise them? That's standing on shaky ground - not the stuff of which empowerment is made.
When a person is faced with the task of assuming responsibility for their life and behaviors, what is our response? That the person can't do that? I must do it myself to save them from dissipating into ashes? From crumbling? From failing?
What is our reaction to ourselves when we encounter a problem, a feeling, or when we face the prospect of assuming responsibility for ourselves?
Do we believe in others and ourselves? Do we give power to people - including ourselves - and their abilities? Or do we give the power to the problem, the feeling, or the irresponsibility?
We can learn to check ourselves out. We can learn to think, and consider our response, before we respond. "I'm sorry you're having that problem. I know you can figure out a solution. Sounds like you've got some feelings going on. I know you'll work through them and come out on the other side."
Each of us is responsible for ourselves. That does not mean we don't care. It does not mean a cold, calculated withdrawal of our support from others. It means we learn to love and support people in ways that work. It means we learn to love and support ourselves in ways that work. It means that we connect with friends who love and support us in ways that work.
To believe in people, to believe in each persons inherent ability to think, feel, solve problems, and take care of themselves is a great gift we can give and receive from others.
Today, I will strive to give and receive support that is pure and empowering. I will work at believing in myself and others - and our mutual abilities to be competent at dealing with feelings, solving problems, and taking responsibility for ourselves.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©
From: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation - Thought for the Day http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/recovery/thought-for-the-day
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
The reward of friendship is itself. The person who hopes for anything else does not understand what true friendship is. --Saint Ailred of Rievaulx
The reward of friendship is itself. The person who hopes for anything else does not understand what true friendship is. --Saint Ailred of Rievaulx
The comfort of a true friend in a time of trouble, the strength we sense in being with someone who truly knows us, the affirmation of life that comes with enduring friendships - no other experience is like these. Recovery, once our addictive behaviors end, is mostly through relationships. In this program we are developing a friendship with ourselves, with other men and women, and with our Higher Power.
True friendship happens when we lower our guard and let our feelings show. It happens when we listen without judgment. It accumulates over time in many little experiences with someone. There is friendship in returning to someone when we feel offended or hurt so the relationship can be repaired - and in returning to him when we have been the offender. Sometimes friendship means humility, or accepting our worthiness to be forgiven. The development and deepening of our friendships, with other men, with women, and with ourselves sustains us in recovery.
Action for the Day: Today, I will be true in my friendships.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums
Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
****************************
One Day At A Time
Watch
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When
these crop up, we ask our Higher Power at once to remove them. We discuss them with
someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.
Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 84
Thought to Ponder . . .
Sobriety is a gift, the price of which is eternal vigilance.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S O B R I E T Y = Staying Off Booze Recovery Is Everything To You
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
***************************
Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
Thrive on the challenges
by Ralph Marston
When one path is blocked, you’re forced to look for another path. There’s a good chance that other path could be a better one.
When the usual options are unavailable, you must look for other options. That could very well lead you to a more valuable option.
It’s easy to get complacent when things are going smoothly. But if you remain complacent for too long, you’ll wake up one day to discover you’ve been left behind.
Sure, unexpected challenges can be bothersome. But they can also keep you on your toes.
That sudden, difficult situation can lead to new, valuable skills, knowledge, wisdom and vigor. When events don’t go as expected, it’s your opportunity to expect more from yourself.
You are flexible, adaptable, resourceful, able to transform setbacks and surprises into new progress. Decide to thrive on the challenges, and you’ll find an even better way.
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