12 Step

The Life Boat
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The Life Boat

“Your pain… is the result of what you are telling yourself about yourself, about others, about situations or circumstances.” — Until Today
I often tell my friends “Be careful of what you’re speaking aloud, your brain is listening.” Repeating the problem over and over, enlarges the problem. 

My way out is to set a timer and give myself 15 minutes to: (1) Identify the problem. (2) Seek an answer that doesn’t require ‘them’ or ‘it’ to change. (3) Apply the solution or give it to God. If in 15 minutes I am still focused on the problem, I haven’t applied the solution or surrendered the problem, so it’s time for me to use my recovery tools to get reconnected to source and back into gratitude. 

Not so easy, but it’s a simple way for me to stay out of the Blame & Shame Game and get back into the Life Boat. ILML! 

— JamieQ

  

Let Him Steer
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Let Him Steer

“… it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride; but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed God was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know just when it was the He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since..” — 12 Step Prayer Book 
This is my favorite reading in this book (Anita’s too :-). It reminds me that I’m never alone, and that if I’m not feeling so great, I may want to check to see if God’s in the back seat again. If He is, I can simply invite him to switch with me and take the lead, and instantly, I feel the pressure of having to try and control the journey taken away from me. God knows bike secrets, so it’s better for me to let him steer. ILML! 

   
 

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“It will all make perfect sense — later.” – The Language of Letting Go 

The last couple of weeks have been full of surprises. Big changes at work have forced me to redouble my efforts at acceptance, patience, tolerance and faith. My Higher Power is always telling me “I know change is scary, but trust me, it’s all going to work out wonderfully”, while my lower power continues on in it’s effort to pull me down into fear. Thank God for the program,  great meetings, and fellowship. The spiritual and recovery solutions that have been graciously passed down to me by others keep me faith-filled and fear-free. ILML! 

— JamieQ

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Becoming Self-Disciplined

“Discipline magically leads to results in your life.” – Until Today
First my parents disciplined me. Then teachers. Then police and judges and bosses. I’ve been fighting discipline all my life – I hate being told what to do. But I discovered that no one tells me what to do when I’m doing the next right thing. When I’m being kind, considerate and unselfish. When I’m taking care of all my responsibilities in a mature way. This comes from becoming self-disciplined, and it all starts with doing my recovery rituals – consistently. Once I do that, everything else falls right into place and ILML! 

— JamesQ

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Staying out of Outcomes

“When I put the 7th Step into action I must remember that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn’t say, “Humbly asked him to (fill in the blank) remove our shortcomings.” Four years, I filled in the imaginary blank with “Help me!” “Give me the courage to,” and “Give me the strength,” etc. The only footwork I must do is “humbly ask,” which for me means asking with the knowledge that of myself I am nothing, the father within “doeth the works.”– Daily Reflections 7/20

This quote shows me how much I still do try to use self-will and control outcomes in my life. I often ask for my HP to “give me the courage” or “give me the strength” opposed to completely turning my person, place, thing, or situation over to him and knowing that whatever happens is exactly what is supposed to happen according to God’s will. 

My job is to turn it over and take the next right indicated action and that’s it. Today I’m going to stay out of outcomes, realize that I only need to do the work to stay spiritually connected, and accept everything that happens as being God’s will. ILML!

— JasonW

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Remember the Good Stuff

“I will gain more understanding when I realize… I have been a captive audience for the reruns of my life.” – Until Today

  1. If I insist on replaying the past, why not remember the good stuff? The truth is, there are way more happy moments in my past than sad ones. Simple things like a drink of ice cold water on a hot day, that great wave I rode with my son watching, or getting a kiss from my wife after waking up from a deep sleep. So many simple pleasures in life. Yeah. The next time I start down memory lane I’ll remind myself to remember the good stuff. ILML! 

— JamieQ

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A Grateful, Sober Man

“As long as I have the humility to be grateful for what I have, God continues to provide for me.”– Daily Reflections 7/18

I think it is really just very simple. As long as I do my spiritual work on a daily basis, and when I feel troubled, find what I am grateful for, I am doing God’s will. When I am upset about anything, I have somehow fallen into self will just need to find gratitude. Gratitude is such a gift and this program has giving me the simple tools I need in order to live as a grateful, sober man. Today I’m focusing on gratitude. ILML!

— JasonW

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Redefining God & Prayer

“In praying… form is not as important as intent… Our heart is opening… My prayer is one of thanks.” — In God’s Care

Words like God and prayer used to really rub me the wrong way. They reminded me of religion, specifically those parts of religion (and people)  I felt were phony, controlling and essential wrong. 

But over the years I’ve redefined both God and prayer in a way that resonates and enriches my life — as a reflection of the love and gratitude available to me if I open my heart. What a gift. ILML! 

— JamieQ

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A Happy Productive Life

“My Higher Power is… kind, gentle, understanding, and the source of my serenity…” – Hope For Today 

The word “God” is really tough for some of us – it certainly was a rough word for me in the beginning of this journey. But the word “faith” is somehow easier to swallow. Faith that the program can work for me if I work it. Faith that I can learn to have a happy, productive life, regardless of how others behave. But mostly, faith that no matter what, everything will be ok – better yet, everything it will be great! Today I’m faith filled and fear free, and I thank our program and my Higher Power for that! ILML! 

— JamieQ

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Not Playing God

“Humility enables me to depend more on God to help me overcome obstacles, to help me with my own imperfections, so that I may grow spiritually. I must solve more difficult problems to increase my proficiency and, as I encounter lifes stumbling blocks, I must learn to overcome them through God’s help. Daily communion with God demonstrates my humility and provides me with the realization that an entity more powerful than I is willing to help me if I cease trying to play God myself.”– Daily Reflections 7/12/15
This is a good reminder that when I am upset, uncomfortable, anxious, angry, etc. that I am in self-will and that I need to get back to humility and trusting God’s will. The “daily communion” for me would be my spiritual rituals such as daily readers with texting, prayer/meditation, meetings, and working with others. This takes me out of “playing God” in my life and gets me back in humility which gives me serenity. I do not want to be restless, irritable, and discontent today so I am doing the work and staying in the solution. ILML!