recovery

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What is Good for Me?

“Ask ourselves ‘Is this a good thing for me?'” The Language of Letting Go 
What is good for me? Laughing. Smiling. Hugging. Helping. Hobbies. Recreation. Being productive. Being responsible. Not taking myself (or others) too seriously. Staying optimistic. Being in the solution. Connecting to the higher power energy. Eating well. Exercising. Not isolating. Getting the sleep I need. Not gossiping. Participating in recovery. Detaching from toxic situations. Pausing when agitated. Having healthy boundaries, and the list goes on. Pre-program I knew none of these things. Today I’m so grateful for all that I’ve learned, because when I do what’s good for me, ILML! 

— JamieQ

  

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Loving Myself

“Feel-full-ness means that when you walk into any situation, you know that you have what it takes to make a valuable contribution to the experience.” – Until Today

Most of the time I feel filled up with the great light of love, faith and abundance. But occasionally I notice that I’m just not there. 

That’s when I remember the acronym HALT. Am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired? Any one of them can lead to another. Today I’m pretty tired. 

I’ve been working really hard, trying to do everything and make everyone happy. I weed-whacked, mowed, swept the walkways, cleaned the house and car and I’m just beat. 

So I’m heading home to relax in my bed and read in the air-conditioned comfort of my small home. I know, it’s only 2:38pm and I could go to the office and get so much done! But I’m not. 

It’s only by taking care and loving myself that I’m able to take care and love everyone else. I’m giving a gift to Jamie today, and because of it, ILML! 

— JamieQ

  

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Switch it Up

“There is no such thing as a faithless person; we either have faith in the power of love, or faith in the power of fear.” — Marianne Williamson
If I believe this person, situation or thing may be a problem, that it is bad, or that I am (or a loved one is) in trouble, then my belief is fear-based. My experience is that focusing on those fears can actually help manifest them. Likewise, when I can recognize I’m in this type of thought pattern, and switch it up by focusing on gratitude, love and the belief that everything will turn out great, I can manifest all the good stuff, with the end result being that ILML! The next time you’re in fear, try it. I bet it works for you too!

— JamieQ

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Finally, Truly Happy

“Never was there enough of what we thought we wanted.”- 12&12 p.71

I lived in a perpetual state of exactly this philosophy my entire life, before embracing the program. The 12-step ideology turns this idea completely upside down. It tells me that if I am absolutely in love with what I have today, am open to everything that comes my way tomorrow, and give my very best each and every moment, I can finally, truly be happy. This is how I live each day and it’s the reason why ILML! 

— JamieQ

  

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Energy Sucking Drama

“Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was. Giving ourselves over to feelings of discouragement is self-indulgent and saps our strength. The dailiness of our lives isn’t always dramatic and doesn’t usually offer great changes. But we are part of an unfolding process. Looking back over just a week or a month, we can recall troubled times that now seem insignificant. So we continue – knowing that our processes hopeful – even though we cannot perceive the details of our future.”– Touchstones 9/9

This is a good reminder and great knowledge to keep the energy sucking drama out of my life on a daily basis. I could think of things just days or weeks ago that had me very upset, fearful, discontent, I am troubled. They have seemingly worked themselves out since. My job is to stay close to the program and do my work on a daily basis. This allows me to trust and have faith in a higher power. With that, whatever happens is exactly what it supposed to happen in God’s world. So, I’m going to stay close to my HP and live happy, joyous, and free. ILML!

— JasonW

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In It to Win It

A focused, consistent, positively motivated and disciplined character is essential to making your life story have a happy ending… The only time  you cannot trust the process … is when your lip-service is greater than your disciplined effort.” — Until Today

I never understood that my purpose in life was to stay healthy, be loving and give the gift of discovering how to do this to others. It takes a lot of determined, focused daily work to accomplish this. Hours each day. And this commitment, this practice of diligence, sets the stage for me to give my all in everything I do — from doing my very best at work, to raising kids and keeping my relationship with my wife healthy and loving. I am a man of my word and give 110% to everything in front of me, starting with my spiritual work and 12 step program. As a result, one day at a time, I keep experiencing minutes, hours, and days beyond my wildest dreams. ILML! 

 

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Eliminating Toxins

“Am I taking time to enjoy the present moment? Am I becoming the person I want to be? What can I give thanks for?” — Courage to Change 

There are certainly times when when problems (or people) arrive in my life and I’m faced with difficulties. But when those situations become consistent, it’s time to recognize that I deserve to be happy. I can do this simply by detaching from negative thoughts, behaviors and people and replacing them with positive thoughts, behaviors and people. We all deserve to be happy, and by quickly detaching from anything and everyone that’s toxic to my serenity, ILML!

— JamieQ

  

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For Fun & For Free

“… show me today what I can do to help someone who is still hurting.” – 12 Step Prayer Book 
I came to these 12 step rooms to stop hurting. And in the program others helped me – thousand of others. And over time, by listening and following their direction, my pain was relieved. But it’s when I actively help others out of their pain – for fun & for free – that I’m truly rocketed into the 4th dimension, experience a life beyond my wildest dreams, and am inspired to yell out every day that ILML! 

— JamieQ

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My Heart’s Desires

“Faith is the magnetic power of the heart to attract what it desires.” — Until Today
As you know I love my life. I have faith (belief) that I can manifest everything my heart desires if only I keep my focus on gratitude, love & service. The only thing religious about this type of faith is that I practice it consistently, many times each day, from the moment I awaken to before I drift off to sleep. And when I’m knocked out of serenity, I simply reconnect by refocusing all of my attention on love & gratitude. In fact, I’m focusing on those things right now, and as a result… ILML! 

— JamieQ

  

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Eruption of Dysfunction

“… help me strive for awareness and acceptance… gentleness and compassion for myself — and others…” – The Language of Letting Go 
I went to Al-Anon last night with Philzy. On the way home he said “the most important thing I’ve learned in program is awareness.” I have to agree. When I’m aware that my thoughts, words or behaviors are unhealthy for me or others, I can then apply the tools of the program, preventing the onslaught of pain and suffering that, otherwise, I would surely inflict upon myself and others, while quite possibly blaming them for the eruption of dysfunction. Today I’ll keep myself aware of how I feel in order to remain peaceful, calm and in harmony with the world around me. ILML! 

— JamieQ