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Sharing the Program

“… healthy meetings begin with me… I do my best to focus on sharing the positive rather than the negative… and encourage others to do the same… If a meeting doesn’t go well, I speak up and try to put in my share to get back on track.” Hope For Today

My favorite format for sharing at meetings is to first share a challenge I’ve recently experienced, then talk about how I applied the program to it, and finally describe the outcome, even if its just a better attitude or acceptance. This method of sharing is program-centered, makes me feel good about contributing to the fellowship, and helps remind others that our program offers solutions to problems other than just alcohol and drugs. And I learned this from watching other healthy members of our program share. I love the program, and ILML! – James

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The 5th Dimension

“There is a solution… self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confessions of our shortcomings… pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet… we have been rocketed into a forth dimension of existence which we had never even dreamed.” – BB p25

It’s funny how simple truths are – they’re, simple. Statements like clean house, trust God and be of service. Or Keep coming back. Or it works IF you work it. Took me 20 years in the program to realize there is a simple recipe for everyone to love life in sobriety, I just had to find mine. Mine is to pray, meditate, have a “Golden Hour” each day to read recovery literature, journal my inventory and gratitude, send out a recovery text, reach out to my fellowship circle, and then get to a meeting. When I follow the recipe that works for me I always do a better job at practicing our principles in all my other affairs. By doing this consistently my life has been rocketed into the forth dimension and I’m currently headed for the fifth – whatever that may be. ILML!!!

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Pause & Breathe

From Until Today! “What you do when your back is against the wall speaks volumes about the nature of your character. Every human weakness is strengthened by experience.”

I am sometimes hasty to react. I forget to pause and breathe and that moment of quiet reflection is misplaced. BUT, when I am aligned with a greater purpose, my reaction to adversity is just the opposite. I am capable of believing in the bigger picture and trusting God’s plan. iLmL – Richie

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Faith Filled & Fear Free

“I am faith filled and fear free..”
– Until Today

This is the intro to every page for the month of August in Iyanla Vanzant’s book, and it’s become a mantra for me, particularly in times of difficulty. I’m a big believer in affirmations, and being empowered by a faith that keeps me in the light, while free of fears that keep me in darkness, is one of the greatest gifts I know – one I hope everyone can find. Today, if I get upset, uncomfortable, or downhearted, I’ll remember her words and say them out loud until I believe them again. This is just another life loving shortcut on this path of life in recovery! ILML!

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Filled to the Brim

“In recovery, we learn that it is important to identify what we want and need. The next step is letting go… Sometimes I even have to go to the point of saying “… I realize its important to me, but … I’m going to be absolutely happy without it and without any hope of getting it, because hoping to get it is making me nuts.”… We often can have what we really want and need, or something better. Letting go is part of the what we do to get it” – The Language of Letting Go

This reading reminds me clearly that I’m only in charge of the footwork, not the results. Waiting, hoping and praying for the result I think is best for me (and sometimes others) makes me unhappy. It’s actually an expectation which, if unmet, will cause a resentment. That’s why surrendering works so well. There’s a prayer called Letting Go in the 12 Step Prayer Book. In it, the person praying surrenders their broken dreams to God, but eventually snatches them back, crying “How can you be so slow?”. To which God replies “My child, what could I do? You never did let go.” In other words, pretending to turn it over with the secret desire of hoping to get what I want doesn’t work either!

But here’s the amazing news: When I choose to remember and believe that my HP has my back and knows what is best for me – that what I get and DON’T get is perfectly designed for me to have a life beyond my wildest dreams – then my faith allows me to fully surrender and make room for all the good stuff that’s trying to come into my life. This is my experience, and I have a life filled to the brim (overflowing actually) with good stuff to prove it! ILML

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Focus on the Good Stuff

“Awareness is like a flashlight that illuminates whatever it is shown upon. Shine it one what’s wrong in your life, and in will feel pretty bleak. Shine it on what’s right, and you’ll be basking in the glow of the sunlight of the spirit. It really is that simple. ” – Adapted & Inspired by Attitudes of Gratitude in Love, page 49

Although the original reading was directed toward our love lives, it certainly also applies to my life in general. It goes hand-in-hand with what Dr. Paul in our program said ” I must keep my magic magnifying mind on my acceptance and off my expectations, for my serenity is directly proportional to my level of acceptance. When I remember this, I can see I’ve never had it so good.” A great reminder for a guy who wants to do whatever I can to be happy, joyous and free. Keep my focus on the good stuff in life… ILML! – James

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An Easier, Softer Way

“I instinctively want to fix problems, and they don’t have to be mine. In fact, most of the time they’re not… doing for others what they need to do for themselves… enabled them to be irresponsible… robs others of the self-esteem that comes from struggling with and conquering the challenges…” Hope For Today

I can’t speak for women, but as a man, and a sponsor of many other men, I can tell you that this desire to “fix” runs very deep for many of us. It’s actually been one of the biggest problems in my relationship with others. Instead of listening and having empathy (or at least compassion), I offer solutions. Today I realize that, unless I’m asked for help, usually others just want me to listen and love. When I do this, instead of trying to offer my unsolicited opinion and advice, my relationships go a whole lot smoother. Grateful for all these wonderful tools. ILML! – James

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Lead Me Today

“Higher Power, I do not know where the path I am on will lead me today, but I do know that Your guidance is necessary. Let me seek to remain in unity with You and with the program. Teach me this day to be tolerant and patient with others in the program. Help me to understand that my well-being is dependent on the program’s well-being.” Grateful be on set and ILML. – Rami

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Room for Improvement

“One must not hold one’s self so devine as to be unwilling occasionally to make improvements in one’s creations…We addicted and codependent men too often feel ashamed of our mistakes. It pains us to admit there is room for improvement in what we have done.- Touchstones Meditations for Men

This is exactly how I’ve been feeling since losing focus on my program and that I must change my routine to be truely happy. I thank my HP for blessing me with the strength to continue and reach out to others. ILML today! -Nic

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The Boulder

“My Higher Power never makes mistakes”. – You Can’t Make Me Angry p.37

A boulder in my path can be an insurmountable obstacle that ruins my life – something I think about long after I’m forced to take a new path. Or it can be a great opportunity to enrich my life by broadening my horizons. Perhaps the new path takes me out of my comfort zone, but the rewards could be amazing, if my eyes are open to them. Today if life throws me a curve ball, I won’t duck – I’ll hit it out of the park! ILML – James