“… let me sow love.” – 12 Step Prayer Book
I’ve discovered that in order to most effectively do this, I have to start by growing and nurturing the way I love myself. Once I came to a point where I really loved being me, and learned how to support that on a daily basis, I found that deeply loving others without being codependent was easy. Today I have many Sponsees and a Sponsor that I love with every ounce of my heart, and their love for me blesses me a thousand times over. ILML!
“To detach … means I love myself enough to stay out of others’ insanity.” – Hope For Today
This is a great page. It speaks to the place my head gets into when I confuse caring with attempting to fix, control, or change another. It reminds me that ‘Being helpful and kind’ is great, provided that, in my divine righteousness, I am not being kind and helpful in order to get them to do what I think is best. Today I’ll let others behave as they wish, I’ll help if asked, detach if it’s toxic, stay connected to God and try to be the best James I can be today. ILML!
– JamieQ
“… practicing these Steps, we had a spiritual awakening…” – 12&12 p. 109
I like the words “spiritual awakening.” At first I thought the concept was just a cliche we use in the rooms. Today it implies that I’ve recognized that I’m disconnected from my higher power – that sense of peace, love and comfort I crave – and feel the desire to plug back in.
As the quote states it takes some actual actions – or work – to reconnect. I do this by using the tools of the program, including my rituals, prayer, meditation, the steps, fellowship and meetings. Through consistently committing time and energy to this practice I am restored to emotional health, and best of all, once again, ILML!
“… follow your own inner guidance…” – Until Today
This morning at Starbucks, while doing my daily life-loving rituals, I came across this phrase and was struck by the idea that these days my higher power, aka God, is my inner guidance. It’s the voice that directs me in ways that improve my life and circumstances, and often those of people around me. So why not have some fun and change the spelling of guidance just a bit? Today I’ll let loose, listen to the music of my heart, and “follow my own inner God-Dance!”ILML!
“Our inventory enables us to settle with the past.” 12&12, p.89
We can easily turn this around and say “If we would like to be released from the resentments, shame, hurt, sorrow and frustrations of our past, take an inventory.” Will an inventory really do this? Absolutely! My experience is that when I have the courage and tenacity to take an inventory as outlined in our program, followed by steps 5-9, I ALWAYS feel better. I’m so grateful for having discovered the secrets to happiness on a daily basis in the steps, and… ILML!
– JamieQ
“Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate.” – Big Book of AA
When I’m having difficulties with someone else, chances are I’m part of the problem. Am I in fear or making things bigger than they are? Am I trying to get my way or do I feel victimized. If I can answer yes to any of these, there is a solution: Find my part. Admit it. Make amends. Get connected to God. Then be of service. When I stop blaming others long enough to work my own program, I can get back to the business of loving life a lot sooner. And for me that’s very important, because each day it’s me deep desire that ILML!
– JamieQ
“Be a lighthouse. Let your life be a shining symbol for others.” — Until Today
When I first read, in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, “Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.”, there was a palpable sense of relief. I finally had the answer to my lifelong question: “What’s the point?”
Getting – and staying – fit to be in a higher powered place, whereby I can attract others and help them find their way, takes consistent, daily dedication. But what I receive in return, namely your love and a deep love of who I am becoming, is well worth the effort. Each day I am able to fulfill my purpose, ILML!
— JamieQ
“Rebellion dogs our every steps.” — 12&12 p.73
Webster’s Thesaurus.com lists the antonyms of rebellion as follows: calm, harmony, peace. This tells me that I have a couple of choices. I can fight everything I disagree with, or seek peace at every step. My dis-ease says “Rebel! Rebel! How dare they! It’s not fair! They MUST change!”
By tapping into my HP I can take a deep breath, realize I have choices, detach from a toxic thought, situation or person, reframe it as a lesson and make healthy, loving decisions based on the principles of my program: patience, tolerance, kindliness and love (towards myself and others). I’m living that way these days and as a result, ILML!
— JamieQ
“We’re here to bring more love into the world.” — Attitudes of Gratitude in Love
What a beautiful statement. At the end of it all, what I really want is to be loved and to love others. This is what fulfills me more than anything else. The money is cool. The accomplishments are cool. The fitness goals are cool. But the love – that’s the best! I believe it’s because when I’m loving towards others and being loved by others, my thoughts, feelings, words and emotions are in perfect alignment with God’s will for me — to be happy, joyous and free! In those moments, above even all the rest, ILML!
— JamieQ
“… we tire ourselves out by obsessing over imagined details of a future event… trust God… We no longer have to worry about our future… all is well.” – In God’s Care
It’s easy to get in fear of the future. What will happen if…? How will I be able to…? When will I have to…? This is why finding and cultivating a relationship of trust with a higher power has been so instrumental in my serenity and peace of mind. Doing so didn’t happen easily for me. My mind rebelled at the silly concept of God. But after being beaten up by that same mind over and over, I finally surrendered and joined the winning side – where others trust and rely upon a HP of their understanding. And now, thank God :-)… ILML!
— JamieQ
12 Step Work 