Friday, April 20, 2018
Today's Gift
A strange and intriguing mystery confronts us in the Twelve Steps. We are mending our ways; we are becoming accountable; we are striving to do what is right, yet we are learning to let go. This seems like a contradiction of logic, but it leads us to a spiritual awakening.
We are becoming like the accomplished tennis player who has practiced diligently to develop every detail of their skill. Yet when they are playing the game, they cannot focus on control. They must get their ego out of the way and let themself go. It is in letting go that they rise to their highest level of fulfillment. Today we will do what we must. We can make the choices we are faced with. Then we allow ourselves to be carried along by our Higher Power to complete and fulfill the process.
Fortunate
We who are alcoholics can consider ourselves fortunate indeed.
Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter with the juggernaut of self-will,
and has suffered enough under its weight to look for something better.
So it is by circumstance rather than any virtue that we have been driven to AA,
have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want
to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 37 - 38
Thought to Ponder
Simply asking for help seems to be a help in itself.
AA-related 'Alconym'
H O P E = Hold On, Pain Ends
By the end of this day
Hurried and worried until we're buried
And there's no curtain call,
Life's a very funny proposition,
after all. —George M. Cohan
Often, when we involve ourselves in a whirlwind of activities, plans, and expectations, we push ourselves so hard that we don't derive any satisfaction from success. We need to face our limitations. We can't do everything we want. Even when we can do a great deal, if we overextend ourselves, take on too much, we will not enjoy ourselves, and there is no reason not to enjoy our work.
Our activities are part of what we are. If we choose to live in a frantic hurry, worrying about the next moment instead of this one, we'll miss life entirely. Part of self-knowledge is learning to pace ourselves to our own speed, learning to set goals we can attain for each day. When we do this, we can say, "Now that I've completed this, I don't have to do one more thing to feel worthwhile."
Am I trying to do too much too fast?
From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families ©
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 first skill needed for the Inner Game is called "letting it happen." This means gradually building a trust in the innate ability of your body to learn and to perform. --W. Timothy Gallwey
The first skill needed for the Inner Game is called "letting it happen." This means gradually building a trust in the innate ability of your body to learn and to perform. --W. Timothy Gallwey
A strange and intriguing mystery confronts us in the Twelve Steps. We are mending our ways; we are becoming accountable; we are striving to do what is right, yet we are learning to let go. This seems like a contradiction of logic, but it leads us to a spiritual awakening.
We are becoming like the accomplished tennis player who has practiced diligently to develop every detail of their skill. Yet when they are playing the game, they cannot focus on control. They must get their ego out of the way and let themself go. It is in letting go that they rise to their highest level of fulfillment. Today we will do what we must. We can make the choices we are faced with. Then we allow ourselves to be carried along by our Higher Power to complete and fulfill the process.
Action for the Day: I will look for opportunities to let it happen today.
From: Bluidkiti's Alcohol and Drug Addictions Recovery Help/Support Forums Daily Recovery Readings - http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
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One Day At A Time
Fortunate
We who are alcoholics can consider ourselves fortunate indeed.
Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter with the juggernaut of self-will,
and has suffered enough under its weight to look for something better.
So it is by circumstance rather than any virtue that we have been driven to AA,
have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want
to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 37 - 38
Thought to Ponder
Simply asking for help seems to be a help in itself.
AA-related 'Alconym'
H O P E = Hold On, Pain Ends
From: AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net)
Excerpt of The Daily Motivator
By the end of this day
by Ralph Marston
At the end of this day, you can be stronger than you are now. Live with that possibility in mind, looking for opportunities to fulfill it.
By the end of this day, some of the problems that now plague you can be gone. Identify the ones you can deal with, and get to work on them.
The clock has already started ticking on this day, and the moments will continue to relentlessly pass. Resolve now to make full use of them all.
There is value to be created, there are wounds to be healed, transgressions to be forgiven. There is beauty to be enjoyed, love to be expressed, kindness to be given.
Look toward the western horizon, where the sun will disappear after offering its brilliance all day. By the time that happens, you will have had the great opportunity to add new richness to life.
Think of how peaceful and satisfied you will be, at the end of this day, knowing you have given it your best. Think of how confident and enthusiastic you will be, knowing you can do even more tomorrow.
At the end of this day, you can be stronger than you are now. Live with that possibility in mind, looking for opportunities to fulfill it.
By the end of this day, some of the problems that now plague you can be gone. Identify the ones you can deal with, and get to work on them.
The clock has already started ticking on this day, and the moments will continue to relentlessly pass. Resolve now to make full use of them all.
There is value to be created, there are wounds to be healed, transgressions to be forgiven. There is beauty to be enjoyed, love to be expressed, kindness to be given.
Look toward the western horizon, where the sun will disappear after offering its brilliance all day. By the time that happens, you will have had the great opportunity to add new richness to life.
Think of how peaceful and satisfied you will be, at the end of this day, knowing you have given it your best. Think of how confident and enthusiastic you will be, knowing you can do even more tomorrow.
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