The Work-In: Daily Motivation 6-7-2021

Monday, June 7, 2021

Today's Gift 

Words and magic were, in the beginning, one and the same thing, and even today words retain much of their magical power. —Sigmund Freud

We shape our experiences with the words we use to describe them. Word images create expectations and we naturally move toward them. When a someone says, "I can't!" they are commanding their unconscious self to be helpless. When they have a picture in their mind of moving toward their goal, they may say, "It's hard, but I'm going to give it my best effort." If, every time they make a mistake, they mutter berating statements to their self like, "You idiot! You can't do anything right," they are teaching their self to be inadequate.

It's our responsibility in recovery to use respectful, honest, health-giving words. We can no longer use defeating, shaming, or derogatory words. Our language has a hypnotic effect on us and the people around us. So let's look at our resources today and name them. Let's meet our difficulties with our strength, our patience, and the backing of our Higher Power.

Today, I will call forth images and use words to show I respect myself and others.

From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©

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

If they try to rush me, I always say, “I’ve only got one other speed—and it’s slower.” ~Glenn Ford

We tend to feel ourselves under pressure to perform, to produce, to excel. But pressure makes us feel rushed, and we become careless with ourselves and with others. We miss seeing and enjoying the small, simple things in life. We get things and people out of focus.

Pressure can come from inside, too—from our shame and sense of unworthiness. Then we find it difficult to look the world in the eye because of our secretive lives. We may feel we have to keep moving in order to prevent ourselves from assessing the true nature of our addiction and the harm it did to ourselves and others.

But now we know we can slow down and take each day, each hour, and minute as it comes. By slowing down, we learn to see the world more clearly and enjoy the company of others. We do have time to get to know ourselves and reach out to others. The reward is a deeper, quieter, lovelier life.

Action for the Day: Time is not an enemy to be conquered, but part of the rhythm of life. Each day I will try to slow down and live.

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

Step Six
We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.
Are we now ready to let our Higher Power remove from us all the things
which we have admitted are objectionable? Can They now
take them all—every one? If we still cling to something we
will not let go, we ask our Higher Power to help us be willing.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76

Thought to Ponder
Get a grip on letting go.

AA-related 'Alconym'
L E T _ G O = Leave Everything To God, Okay

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

You are

by Ralph Marston

Live today like you are someone special, because you are. Live today like you are created for success and fulfillment, because you are. Live today as if a world of opportunity were stretched out in front of you, because it is.

As you go through this day, keep in mind that every thought, every feeling, every sight and sound is truly miraculous because you are alive and able to perceive it. Gaze in awe at the vastness of possibilities which are yours to choose and follow.

Live today as if what you become is more important than what you have, because it is. Live each moment of this day fully mindful of the miraculous reality of your existence.

Transcend the disappointments, because you can. View the problems as opportunities, because they are. Live with purpose, focus and joy because that is who you really are.

From The Daily Motivator website at http://greatday.com/