Reflections on the road to Recovery from alcoholism- The most important thing in my life

                 Reflections on the ...........................................Road to recovery


                                            The most important thing in my life


I hear it all the time. "Not taking a drink is the most important thing in my life".  Every time I hear it I pause to consider if this I what I really believe for myself.

 I'm conflicted......

Reflections on the road to Recovery from alcoholism- Connecting with others

Reflections

....on the Road to Recovery

     



                                       Connecting with others when I speak
           

The other day I did a lead on step 11 and afterward I didn't feel really great about it. I had read sections of the Big Book and shared a blog I had written about God's will..But something wasn't right. One thing I am sure of was a story I told of an experience I had with a spiritual event in my life...connected with the people. I could see it in their faces as I told the story.

I was confused about why I felt uncomfortable with my lead until yesterday-when someone out of the blue said, "AA asks that when we speak at a meeting we share our experience, strength and hope of recovery...not our knowledge".

That was it..I was trying to educate..not share my experience, strength and hope. Then just to confirm I attended a meeting a few days later when a lady gave a lead on step 11..filled with personal experience, struggles, joy and hope..everyone connected.

I got it now!

Reflections on the road to Recovery from alcoholism- A day at a time

             Reflections.................................................on the Road to recovery

                                                           A day at a time


Many years ago a few of my friends and I began a spiritual retreat where we go off for a weekend (in spring and fall) to focus on spirituality. The retreat has grown in size from about 10 to now 40 attendee's. It has evolved and transformed over the years and many now consider it an integral part of their program of recovery and growth. An interesting note is that a few attendee's are not in recovery from addiction- They attend with the stated intention of growing their spirituality...and they claim this retreat is a major avenue for that growth.

We have themes for each retreat... Past themes included:

Living the 12^th step
Focus on the positive
Finding Peace and Serenity
Two paths to follow-pick 1
Knowing Gods will
Under Construction
Embracing change

We  are very excited about our upcoming April 2014 retreat. The theme will be titled:

Reflections on the road to Recovery from alcoholism-There is a solution

 Reflections .............................................................on the Road to recovery

 
                                                 There is a solution

 In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous there is a chapter named "There is a solution". It is a chapter that gets read and discussed on a regular basis especially when newcomers are present.

The other day I attended a meeting and as the content of the chapter was being read I had a thought  that went like this, "There is a solution-and its not alcohol! 

Reflections on the Road to Recovery from alcoholism - Our will/God's will

     

Reflections..................................... on the road to recovery

                                   
                                           Our Will/God's Will

When I'm doing my own will (knowingly not doing God's will)............................
...or another statement of the same.... When I'm running the show of my life....

I just don't feel right... Somehow disconnected...  things just don't seem to go smoothly... I'm irritated easily... less confident... less peaceful... more full of myself... less likely to do service for others... people tend to shy away from me... I see difficult situations as major problems - and I start attacking them with only my best thinking to guide me... I don't want to be around others - or even myself. My addictive personality starts beckoning me to escape through some form of addictive behavior.

When I believe I'm doing God's will during the day or regarding a particular situation........

Things seem to go smoother.. I'm less irritable... more peaceful...less full of myself... more likely to help others... people call me more... I see difficult situations as challenges...areas where I can learn more about myself and God - I better trust that, with God's direction and my cooperation, these trying situations will work out for the best... overall I like myself more... my addictive tendencies are feel distant, for the time being, dormant....   


Have you experienced this?

If so, why do you think it's such a ongoing battle to submit to God's will?

What kinds of things are you  knowingly thinking or doing that you know are not God's will?

What are you knowingly thinking or doing that you know are not God's will?

What actions could you take today to better align with God's will for you?

Reflections on the Road to Recovery from alcoholism -Negative thinking

          

  Reflections................................on the Road to Recovery

                                         
                                       Negative thinking


"Alcoholics tend to default to negative thinking."

Negative thinking steals our happiness, joy and freedom sometimes without our even realizing it. If we stay in this state of negative thinking we can easily drift toward the idea of escaping through alcohol, drugs or any other addiction.


Try this test:  For the next 10 days, stop for a moment 5 times per day and think about what your thinking about.

Were your thoughts positive or negative?

Optimistic or pessimistic?

Peaceful or anxious?

Try replacing these negative thoughts with  peaceful prayers, slogans or music- One example people use regularly is the Serenity prayer.