AA

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Awareness, Surrender & Faith

“I’ve often heard that courage is fear that has said its prayers… recognize those fears… say those prayers… have faith…” Courage to Change

Three friends in recovery share their daily gratitude lists with me via email, and I send them mine. One of them wrote about their gratitude for awareness of negative thinking. For me this usually is traceable to some kind of fear. Through awareness, surrender and faith I can let go of all negativity and fear, replacing it with positivity and love. That’s the wonderful plan for my day. ILML!

– JamesQ

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Feel all the Good

“… When we believe that our feelings are a true reflection of reality, rather than our own personal reaction to a situation, we hold on tightly to our negativity and don’t allow a scrap of gratitude to enter in. – Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

When I’ve found myself imprisoned by my feelings of suffering, and I believe that it’s a justifiable reflection of my situation, I am living a lie. I am in my dis-ease. Life does not dictate my feelings, rather I have the power to choose how I want to feel. And by choosing to feel good, and focusing on gratitude, I change my life experience for the better. So the next time you feel down, be strong. Choose to look at all the good. Now actually FEEL all the good. I promise that your life will get better. Just another reason why ILML!

– JamesQ

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God will Catch Me

“… living the Steps requires two primary acts… 1st, I must surrender whatever it is about myself or someone else that I am trying to control… And 2nd I need to trust that my HP is there for me… When I forget about the faith part, I take back my worries over and over again…” – Adapted from Hope For Today

This reading reminds me that if I let go, God will catch me. Today I surrender my expectations and control. I have faith that my HP’s plan for the outcome (not necessarily mine) of situations in my life will keep me feeling happy, joyous and free. I cease fighting anything and everything. Today I’ll be aware if I find myself frustrated and I’ll just surrender and join back up with the winning (aka loving & happy) side. I insist on loving my life, which is exactly why ILML!

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Ask for Help

“There are many things that I can do to improve my life and to further my recovery, but I cannot heal myself. Today I can ask for help in becoming free of all that blocks me from my true self.”

– Courage to Change

Most days I believe it is up to me to take care of all my responsibilities and “heal myself.” The truth of the matter is that those days in which I neglect a power greater than myself and/or asking for help from those around me, I am less content and less effective. Today I’m going to ask for help. Sometimes it’s just that simple. iLmL

– Richie

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Super Duper Happy

“The first thing apparent was that this world and its people were often quite wrong… (that was) as far as most of us ever got.” Big Book p. 65-67

The blame game is so lame. It fuels the addiction to drama that dominated my life before recovery. Whether I blame them, feel victimized & get angry or blame myself and slip into self-pity, the end result is an emotional hangover. No thank you. The solution is to be conscious if I am blaming and STOP IT! Instead, I plug into gratitude and acceptance. I alone am in charge of how happy I want to be. Today I’m going for super duper happy. Join me! ILML

– JamesQ

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Living Abundantly

“The difference between “the boys and the men” is the difference between striving for a self determined objective and for the perfect objective which is of a higher power.”
– Daily Reflections

To me this means that holding onto my self will, selfishness, and ego keeps me separated from a HP, keeps me immature, and stops me from growing into the man I’m supposed to be. From being “entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character”, I get to become a man and take another step towards living abundantly as we are meant to live. ILML!

– JasonW

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Flimsy Reed

“What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works.” – BB PG 28

This is my story. From disbelief to belief. I am grateful for my painful, dark past and the growth I’ve found through working a program in AA. iLmL

– RichieB

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A Clear Roadmap

“Today I have a lot to be thankful for. A.A. has taught me the way of life… to show gratitude… to be humble.”
– Big Book: Annie the Cop Fighter

I honestly don’t know where I would be or what my life would look like without this program. Even if I had managed to stay sober, I would never have this life. I would certainly still be very selfish and self-centered. This program has given me a clear roadmap showing me how to safely explore life in a way that brings me peace, happiness and love, while giving me the ability to extend these gifts to others. ILML

– JamesQ

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Growing Strong in Recovery

“… when fear, anger or the struggle to control motivates you to behave in a mean, nasty, inconsiderate or spiteful way… when you allow self-defeating beliefs to hold you in a place of pain… perhaps it is time to pray…” Until Today

I consider myself spiritual, rather than religious, but my understanding of a personal higher power is growing strong in recovery. To me, prayer is another word for connecting with my HP. Fear, anger, control and self-pity have little power against the power of love. Just plugging back in takes me out of the darkness and back into the sunlight of the spiri. What a great discovery! ILML

– JamesQ

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Do a Spot Check

“A spot-check inventory taken in the midst of disturbances can be of very great help in quieting stormy emotions… especially those where people or new events throw us off balance and tempt us to make mistakes.” 12&12, p 90-91

This is exactly what I did this morning. After having had an argument with someone I love (and feeling righteous about my position), I took a moment to do a spot check. Putting their part aside, I tried to find my part. Doing so opened the door for amends. I sent a quick text to apologize and things got better very quickly. What they say is true; it works when I work it. Grateful for the tools. ILML!

– JamesQ