Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Today's Gift
Though we be sick and tired and faint and worn--Lo, all things can be borne! --Elizabeth Chase Akers
What bothered us most a year ago? A month ago? Even a week ago? It's probably that whatever it was, we were obsessed with it, certain that our futures were ruined, that there was no reasonable solution. It's also probable that we feared we simply couldn't survive the complexity of the situation. But we did. And we always will be able to survive any and all difficulties. We are never, absolutely never, given more than we can handle. In fact, we are given exactly what we need, at any given time.
We have many lessons to learn. Fortunately, we have the structure of the Twelve Steps to guide us through the lessons. We need mainly to remember what we are powerless over, that there is a power greater than ourselves, and that life will become simple; we'll need no extra homework when we've turned it over to the care of our Higher Power.
A Power
Let us make haste to reassure you. We found that as soon as we were able to
lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater
than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for
any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is our Higher Power.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 46
Thought to Ponder
Willpower ... our will-ingness to use a Higher Power.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A R T = Always Remain Teachable
In between
I like to play the grey areas in life - that's the most uncomfortable place to be. Nobody likes to be in that in-between state where there don't know what's going to happen. There's a lot of tension in that, and a lot of stuff to play with - where it's uncomfortable and awkward and sad and scary. Melanie Lynskey
In Between
Sometimes, to get from where we are to where we are going, we have to be willing to be in between.
One of the hardest parts of life is the concept of letting go of what is old and familiar, but what we don't want, and being willing to stand with our hands empty while we wait for the Universe to fill them.
This may apply to feelings. We may have been full of hurt and anger. In some ways, these feelings may have become comfortably familiar. When we finally face and relinquish our grief, we may feel empty for a time. We are in between pain and the joy of serenity and acceptance.
Being in between can apply to relationships. To prepare ourselves for the new, we need to first let go of the old. This can be frightening. We may feel empty and lost for a time. We may feel all alone, wondering what is wrong with us for letting go of the proverbial bird in hand, when there is nothing in the bush.
Being in between can apply to many areas of life and growth. We can be in between jobs, careers, homes, or goals. We can be in between behaviors as we let go of the old and are not certain what we will replace it with. This can apply to behaviors that have protected and served us well all of our life, such as caretaking and controlling.
We may have many feelings going on when we're in between: spurts of grief about what we have let go of or lost, and feelings of anxiety, fear, and apprehension about what's ahead.
These are normal feelings for the in between place. Accept them. Feel them. Release them.
These are normal feelings for the in between place. Accept them. Feel them. Release them.
Being in between isn't fun, but it's necessary. It will not last forever. It may feel like we're standing still, but we're not. We're standing at the in between place. it's how we get from here to there. It is not the destination.
We are moving forward, even when we're in between.
Today, I will accept where I am as the ideal place for me to be. If I am in between, I will strive for the faith that this place is not without purpose, that it is moving me toward something good.
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
What bothered us most a year ago? A month ago? Even a week ago? It's probably that whatever it was, we were obsessed with it, certain that our futures were ruined, that there was no reasonable solution. It's also probable that we feared we simply couldn't survive the complexity of the situation. But we did. And we always will be able to survive any and all difficulties. We are never, absolutely never, given more than we can handle. In fact, we are given exactly what we need, at any given time.
We have many lessons to learn. Fortunately, we have the structure of the Twelve Steps to guide us through the lessons. We need mainly to remember what we are powerless over, that there is a power greater than ourselves, and that life will become simple; we'll need no extra homework when we've turned it over to the care of our Higher Power.
Action for the Day: Whatever my problem today, I will let my Higher Power have it. A solution is in the making. I'll see it just as quickly as I can let go of the problem.
Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
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One Day At A Time
Let us make haste to reassure you. We found that as soon as we were able to
lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater
than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for
any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is our Higher Power.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 46
Thought to Ponder
Willpower ... our will-ingness to use a Higher Power.
AA-related 'Alconym'
A R T = Always Remain Teachable
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) http://www.aa-alive.net/index.html
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Daily Motivation
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
by Ralph Marston
Listen to the silence in between the sounds. And you will greatly improve your understanding of all that you hear.
Experience the stillness in between your thoughts. And your thoughts will have greater power, greater meaning, greater purpose.
Give just as much care and attention to the relaxation between the efforts as you do to the actual efforts. And those efforts will become immensely more effective.
When life gets too far out of balance, it cannot continue on that same path for very long. When the noise, the frenzy and the striving seem overwhelming, direct your focus to the silence, the stillness, the time for relaxation.
Give your awareness not only to the things that demand it. Give your awareness also to the quiet, peaceful stillness from which those things arise.
In between the sounds, in between the thoughts, in between the efforts, the sights, the complexities and the activities, there is much treasure to be found. In between the demands of the outer world, is the inner substance to keep you going.
Listen to the silence in between the sounds. And you will greatly improve your understanding of all that you hear.
Experience the stillness in between your thoughts. And your thoughts will have greater power, greater meaning, greater purpose.
Give just as much care and attention to the relaxation between the efforts as you do to the actual efforts. And those efforts will become immensely more effective.
When life gets too far out of balance, it cannot continue on that same path for very long. When the noise, the frenzy and the striving seem overwhelming, direct your focus to the silence, the stillness, the time for relaxation.
Give your awareness not only to the things that demand it. Give your awareness also to the quiet, peaceful stillness from which those things arise.
In between the sounds, in between the thoughts, in between the efforts, the sights, the complexities and the activities, there is much treasure to be found. In between the demands of the outer world, is the inner substance to keep you going.
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