AA

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My Path Back to Peace

“What price am I paying by holding on… this day is too precious… When I spend time wishing things were different, I know that serenity has lost it’s priority… I have to let go… if I want peace of mind.” – Courage to Change

Old behavior tells me to “hang onto” these feelings because I’m upset. But doing so only prolongs my pain, it never changes the situation, except to make it worse. Taking action by doing spiritual and recovery work leads me back to my HP, encouraging me to let go and focus back on gratitude. This is my path back to peace. ILML!

JamesQ

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So Much Happier

“I need another trusted person with whom to share… reveal myself intimately… they all listen to and… hold me accountable for my choices and actions… I am never alone.” Hope For Today

This is one of the most magical parts of staying in the middle of a 12 step program – the fellowship. Forging strong, safe relationships with others who’s trusted opinions guide me to be the best and most peaceful person I can be.

All of the posts in this section of my 12stepwork.com site with the name JamesQ at the bottom are also sent out via text to about 65 people who asked to receive them. They are also reposted on my private Facebook page. Those who receive them are close program and family members, and all of those safe relationships who’s trusted opinions I rely upon are within this small social group. I am so grateful for these individuals.

My recovery is about so much more than just sobriety, my spiritual work or the meetings for me. Together, with all of these wonderful people, I am so much happier than I could ever be alone. ILML!

JamesQ

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Humble and Responsible

“All AA progress can be reckoned in terms of just two words: humility and responsibility. Our whole spiritual development can be accurately measured by our degree of adherence to these magnificent standards. To honor these precepts I need only to pray, and care for my fellow man as if each one were my brother.”
– Daily Reflections 4/28

This quote keeps it very simple, which works for me very well. By taking direction, accepting that I don’t have all the answers (keeps me humble), and practicing the principles of the program on a daily basis, I demonstrate to myself that I am responsible. When I do this I am able to help others more effectively and love my life even when things are not going the way I want them to go. I love the simplicity, I have to be humble and responsible, that’s all. I can do that. ILML!

-Jason W

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Be Careful

“What we think, we become.” ― Buddha.

I deeply believe in this concept. It’s something many other spiritual leaders have spoken as well. I often say “be careful what you’re thinking because your mind is listening”. Not only does it listens, it believes. And then from that belief it projects my thoughts into my future, actually manifesting my life from my beliefs.

This means that if I am thinking things like “Life is really tough, I’m tired, I hate that guy, etc.” all those things will become my world. The trick for me is to become aware of those negative thoughts, and their power to create a negative life for myself. Then I simply change them: “Life is amazing! I have tons of energy! That guy is just suffering, I’m glad I’m not him and I hope he gets better!”. Sometimes I need to write it and say it out loud to blot out the negative thoughts. This practice has changed my life. As a result of it, today I’m full of gratitude and ILML!

– James Q

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Specific Actions

“… a continuing series of spiritual awakenings.” – Drop the Rock

When I’m in that wonderful place of God consciousness, I feel invincible from fear, disappointment and anger. I’m at peace. That spiritual energy is always available to me, but to tap into it I need to take specific actions.

I start on my knees out of bed, thanking the universe for the abundance of gifts laid at my feet. I read from inspirational books, journal my gratitude and send out these texts. Thank you for allowing me to include you in my spiritual journey. ILML!

– James Q.

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An Essential Part

“… A ceremonial affirmation, no matter how small, seems to carry an indelible and resonant quality into the heart which the intellect is incapable of carrying. Shaking the hand of a friend is such a ritual. It reaffirms something deep and unsayable in the relationship. A non-rational ritual acknowledges and reaffirms a non-rational, but important, part of the relationship. It is a small but vital thing.” – From A Common Prayer

It is my belief that a power greater than myself, as I DON’T understand it, knows exactly what I am going to say in my prayers before I even think the words. This belief however does not make me exempt from the act of praying. For me, the simple yet profound gesture of prayer is an essential part of connecting to a higher resource and cultivating a deeper and more meaningful relationship with it. iLmL

Richie B

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Eradicate Negativity

“… whenever one is free from negativity, one enjoys peace and harmony.” S.N. Goenka, Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

Goenka, a teacher of meditation, stated that this is the law of nature. I believe it. The sense of fullness I feel in life, my insistence on being happy and in gratitude, is conditional upon my ability to spot and eradicate negativity that adversely is affecting me. Like a week in my garden, If I can’t pull it from the ground (roots and all), I can simply choose to see what is beautiful about it. This practice and philosophy is fundamentally why ILML!

– James Q

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My Invisible Friend

“When I become willing to act on faith, God helps me create miracles for myself and assist others in creating their own” Hope For Today

It took me 10 years in recovery to finally abandon my intellect and embrace a God of my un-understanding, and thank God I did. Life is so much easier and more comfortable since I resigned from the debating committee. With faith in my invisible spiritual friend, I’ve opened myself up to believing in miracles, and because of that, I’m manifesting them every day. Surrendering and trusting source rocks my world! ILML

– James Q

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True Escape

“I had constructed my prison with bars of self-will and self-indulgence, from which I could not escape. True escape required a willingness to follow whatever right actions were needed to turn the lock. With that willingness and action, both the lock and the bars themselves open for me. Continued willingness and action keep me free – in a kind of extended daily probation – that need never end.”
-Daily Reflections

What this tells me is that without a daily reprieve, I quickly fall back to self-will and self-indulgence and I’m again not free. My addiction is always waiting for me, it never goes away and to drink is to die, so a daily plan of action is an absolute must. With willingness and action, one day at a time, I am a free man. ILML!

– Jason W

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Natural Desires

“We want to find exactly how, when, and where our natural desires have warped us. We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move forward toward their correction.”
– Daily Reflections

My “natural desires” caused myself and others a lot of pain and suffering. My best thinking is warped by alcoholism. The only solution for me has been this program. When I am accountable to my sponsor, do daily spiritual work, go to meetings, sponsor others, etc., I am put on a path to correct negative thinking. I can trust myself and others can trust me. I am able to remedy my “emotional deformities” and become the man I am supposed to be. ILML

– Jason W