alanon

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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

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#1 Source of Trouble

“In recovery, we learn… the more we are focused on controlling and changing others, the more unmanageable our life becomes.” – The Language of Letting Go

Ever wish someone would just be different? Say or do something the way you think is only reasonable to expect? This is the #1 biggest source of trouble for me. Those words or actions (which I disagree with) are the greatest traps for me to feel unhappy. The program teaches me to be aware, close my mouth, sidestep them, turn away, and then head back towards sources of gratitude ASAP. It’s the fastest way to get back to a place where ILML!

– JamesQ

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Stay Connected & Present

C2C “Because most worry focuses on the future, if we can learn to stay in the present, living one day or one moment at a time, we take positive steps toward warding off the effects of fear.”

Boom. Through my own observation I know that when fear pulls me out of the moment, I am disconnected and more often than not unhappy. Today I’m going to take steps to stay connected and present. iLmL

– RichieB

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The Love Letter

“Just for today, and for the next forty days, be the object of your OWN love. Send yourself a love letter and then take the time to read it to yourself… How much love can you stand?”
– Adapted from Until Today!

I am so grateful for my sponsor and his love and gentle guidance. Before we met I was satisfied to live by AA literature alone. I have since broadened my horizons and this book is one of the gems that makes me a more loving and serene man. The first time I tried writing a love letter to myself, I started crying. I realized that I could love anyone on the planet besides the most important person I needed to love: me. Today, I love myself more & more. And just to be clear, this practice does NOT keep me sober, but it does (in combination with the 12 steps) enrich my sobriety. It helps keep me emotionally sober and for that I am eternally grateful! iLmL

– RichieB

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It Really is that Simple

“An attitude of gratitude in love asks that we let go of our fixed notions of how it all should be in order to experience the beauty of just how it is” – Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

There is so much good stuff all around us every day. So much to be grateful for. But often our magic magnifying mind wants to focus on what we see as wrong and bad. And the more we think about it, the more it dominates our day. My solution is to become acutely aware when I’m doing this and take contrary action. When I switch my focus to the good stuff, almost instantly ILML! It really is that simple 🙂

– JamesQ