Sept. 6, 2014 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

The Serenity Prayer

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

The less able I am to believe in our epoch and the more arid and depraved mankind seems in my eyes, the less I look to revolution as the remedy and the more I believe in the magic of love.
 -- Hermann Hesse

We have been more likely to look outward than inward for solutions to problems. Yet this program is changing us from within. As we come to terms with ourselves, as we learn to be in relationships with friends and family, the same picture that looked so dismal in past years may look full of possibilities and even rich in the present. The love we feel toward others and the love we receive change our perceptions.

We need not expect all relationships to be alike. One friend may be a wonderful recreational buddy, but perhaps we wouldn't talk about everything in our life with that person. Another friend is comfortable and we can be ourselves but we may not be challenged to grow or change. No friendship, no spouse, no one person can be enough in our life. But as a group they sustain and enrich us. We need the love and contact with them all.

I am thankful for love, which gives meaning and hope to life.

From the book:

Touchstones by Anonymous

Touchstones ©1986, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 6, 2014 - Step by Step

The Serenity Prayer

Step by Step

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

Today, I include myself in the group to whom I owe amends for the misconduct and damage I inflicted in my drinking days. There is wisdom that I cannot be thoroughly honest and humble in my amends to others if I do not first make amends to myself, amends in the form of accepting my behavior and its consequences to others and myself and, most importantly, amends in the form of forgiving myself. For in making amends, we also seek forgiveness, and we cannot expect forgiveness from others if we do not first forgive ourselves. And how can we forgive ourselves? We can start by acknowledging and accepting the pain and damage we inflicted and be prepared to deal with the consequences instead of dodging or rationalizing them. In some cases, we may never be able to atone for our sins, but our highest example of amend may be to be clean and sober in this day, one day at a time. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2014

Sept. 6, 2014 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

The Serenity Prayer

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

AA Thought for the Day
Another of the mottoes of AA is, "Live and Let Live." This, of course, means tolerance of people who think differently than we do, whether they are in AA or outside of AA. We cannot afford the luxury of being intolerant or critical of other people. We do not try to impose our wills on those who differ from us. We are not "holier than thou." We do not have all the answers. We are not better than other good people. We live the best way we can and we allow others to do likewise.

Am I willing to live and let live?

Meditation for the Day
"And this is life eternal, that we may know Thee, the only true God." Learning to know God as best you can draws the eternal life nearer to you. Freed from some of the limitations of humanity, you can grow in the things that are eternal. You can strive for what is real and of eternal value. The more you try to live in the consciousness of the unseen world, the gentler will be your passing into it when the time comes for you to go. This life on earth should be largely a preparation for the eternal life to come.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may live each day as though it were my last. I pray that I may live my life as though it were everlasting.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 6, 2014 - A Day at a Time

The Serenity Prayer

A Day at a Time
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

Reflection for the Day
"During acute depression," wrote AA co-founder Bill W., "avoid trying to set your whole life in order at once. If you take on assignments so heavy that you are sure to fail in them at the moment, then you are allowing yourself to be tricked by your unconscious. Thus, you will continue to make sure of your failure, and when it comes you will have another alibi for still more retreat into depression. In short, the 'all-or-nothing' attitude is a most destructive one. It is best to begin with whatever the irreducible minimums of activity are. Then work for an enlargement of these - day by day."

When I'm discouraged by setbacks, am I willing to start over?

Today I Pray
When I am immobilized by depression, may I set small, reasonable goals - as mini-mature perhaps as saying hello to a child, washing my own coffee cup, neatening my desk, offering a short prayer. May I scrap my own script for failure, which sets me up for deeper depression.

Today I Will Remember
Goals set too high set me back.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 6, 2014 - The Eye Opener

The Serenity Prayer

The Eye Opener
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

The amount of compensation you get for your labors depends on the value of the currency, not the denomination of the bills. A million dollars in Chinese coin would break your back carrying it, but might not buy you a suit of clothes.

The greatest compensation would therefore be that which would buy those things which you need and want.

For services rendered your fellow men, God gives you his IOU, and they are better than cash on the line in any currency.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 5, 2014 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

The Serenity Prayer

Friday, Sept. 5, 2014

Today's thoughts from Hazelden are:

Formula for failure: trying to please everyone.

*****

The elevator is broken; use the steps.

*****

You are the problem, but you are also the solution.

*****

Reason to be grateful #863: you learn to wake up instead of coming to.

*****

Improve your memory -- tell the truth.

*****

Numb is dumb; feel to heal.

From the book:

Keep Coming Back Gift Book by Meiji Stewart

Keep Coming Back © 1995 by Meiji Stewart

Sept. 5, 2014 - Step by Step

The Serenity Prayer

Step by Step

Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 

"Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers." - The Fifth Tradition

Today, as but a humble member of one of thousands of AA groups, I look to the Program's Fifth Tradition to determine if my contribution to my group is sufficient or if I can find more I can and should do. And what I do must be within the command of the Fifth Tradition - to reach out to the alcoholic who still suffers. This tradition does not limit itself to the drinking alcoholic, however, and includes those who still struggle in recovery. As part of my group, let me remember that not only is my group there for me, but I am there for the group, and my example to those who continue to hurt must be a reflection of the Program itself. Today, I try to understand that my sobriety comes with the responsibility to best mirror the Program that led me to sobriety. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2014

Sept. 5, 2014 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

The Serenity Prayer

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Friday, Sept. 5, 2014

AA Thought for the Day
One of the mottoes of AA is, "First Things First." This means that we should always keep in mind that alcohol is our number one problem. We must never let any other problem, whether of family, business, friends or anything else take precedence in our minds over our alcoholic problem. As we go along in AA, we learn to recognize the things that may upset us emotionally. When we find ourselves getting upset over something, we must realize that it's a luxury we alcoholics can't afford. Anything that makes us forget our number one problem is dangerous to us.

Am I keeping sobriety in first place in my mind?

Meditation for the Day
Spiritual progress is the law of your being. Try to see around you more and more of beauty and truth, knowledge and power. Today try to be stronger, braver, more loving as a result of what you did yesterday. This law of spiritual progress gives meaning and purpose to your life. Always expect better things ahead. You can accomplish much good through the strength of God's spirit in you. Never be too discouraged. The world is sure to get better, in spite of setbacks of war, hate and greed. Be part of the cure of the world's ills rather than part of the disease.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may keep progressing in the better life. I pray that I may be a part of the forces for good in the world.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 5, 2014 - A Day at a Time

The Serenity Prayer

A Day at a Time
Friday, Sept. 5, 2014

Reflection for the Day
We're often told that alcoholics and other addictive persons are perfectionists, impatient about any shortcomings - especially our own. We tend to set impossible goals for ourselves, struggling fiercely to reach our unattainable ideals. Then, of course - since no person could possibly meet the extremely high standards we demand of ourselves - we find ourselves falling short. Discouragement and depression set in; we angrily punish ourselves for being less than superhuman. The next time around, rather than setting more realistic goals, we set them even higher. And we fall farther, then punish ourselves more severely.

Isn't it about time I stopped setting unattainable goals for myself?

Today I Pray
May God temper my own image of myself as a super-person. May I settle for less than perfection from myself, as well as from others. For only God is perfect, and I am limited by being human.

Today I Will Remember
I am not God; I am only human.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 5, 2014 - The Eye Opener

The Serenity Prayer

The Eye Opener
Friday, Sept. 5, 2014

If you are a person who likes his drink and yet has to forego his pleasure in order to retain some semblance of order in your life, you will naturally be miserable.

For you there is but one remedy. Get busy on the Program, talk it, work it, preach it, think it, pray it, live it - then you will find that you like it.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 5, 2014 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

The Serenity Prayer

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

Don't be a victim

Some people refer to us as victims of our problems, but we should not accept such labeling. A better term for us is survivors.

Working in step with our Higher Power, we should view ourselves as capable of rising above all the challenges and conditions that confront us. If we call ourselves victims, we'll soon be inviting more people and situations to victimize us. As survivors, however, we will always learn to sail through the roughest storms.

Looking at the general world situation, it does seem realistic to say that lots of people are victims. But we must always take into account the vast power that resides in every human soul. People have tremendous power to change their conditions, and when word of this finally gets around, we'll see a worldwide spiritual awakening that will change everything for the better.

Whatever I'm facing today, I'll know that the spirit within me also gives me the qualities I need to survive.

From the book:

Walk in Dry Places by Mel B.

Walk in Dry Places by Mel B. © 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 4, 2014 - Step by Step

The Serenity Prayer

Step by Step

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

Today, I will try to remember gratitude and its importance in my recovery. I can be grateful that the AA lifeline was tossed to me when I needed it, grateful for the peers in the Program who stood with me and picked me up when I stumbled and fell, grateful that the 12 Steps have kept me clean and sober the last 24 Hours and, maybe most importantly, grateful that whatever problems I have even in sobriety are nowhere near as bad as they were in my drinking days. In feeling with sincerity a gratitude that my life in sobriety is far better than it was in my drinking, I can hope to develop the humility that is required to make progress in my sobriety - humility being my total surrender to my Higher Power and seeking His will for my life, not mine. Today, I measure my sense of gratitude with the goal to bolster it for the sake of progress. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2014

Sept. 4, 2014 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

The Serenity Prayer

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

AA Thought for the Day
"We must be careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is not helpful to anyone. We are not fanatics or intolerant of people who can drink normally. Prospects are relieved when they find we are not witch burners. Temperate drinking is okay, but we alcoholics can't get away with it. And no alcoholic likes to be told about alcohol by anyone who hates it. We shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility."

Do I have tolerance for those who can drink normally?

Meditation for the Day
Do not become encumbered by petty annoyances. Never respond to emotional upsets by emotional upset. Try to keep calm in all circumstances. Try not to fight back. Call on the grace of God to calm you when you feel like retaliating. Look to God for inner strength to drop those resentments that drag you down. If you are burdened by annoyances, you will lose your inward peace and the spirit of God will be shut out. Try to keep peaceful within.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may do the things that make for peace. I pray that I may have a mission of conciliation.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 4, 2014 - A Day at a Time

The Serenity Prayer

A Day at a Time
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

Reflection for the Day
Though I have prayed at various times in my life, I realized after several months in The Program that I'd never really prayed properly. I'd always tried to make deals with God, much like a foxhole atheist; I'd always pleaded, "Grant me my wishes," instead of, "Thy will - not mine - be done." The result was that I remained self-deceived and was thus incapable of receiving enough grace to restore me to sanity.

Do I see that in the past, when I prayed to God, I usually asked that two and two not make four?

Today I Pray
May I look back and review how I have prayed before, for specific solutions that I from my earthly vantage felt were best. May I question, in the longer view of time, whether those solutions would have been right, had God chosen to do things my way. In retrospect, may I see that my pleas were not always so wise. May I be content to trust God.

Today I Will Remember
God may not do it my way.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 4, 2014 - The Eye Opener

The Serenity Prayer

The Eye Opener
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

Too many of us ex-drunks expect too much when we get dried out. We, with characteristic impatience, see no reason why we can't, overnight, regain all our lost ground and get the fifteen thousand dollar job that other sober men get.

Drying out only gives us the opportunity to realize our ambitions. Ability always has been, and always will be, a factor to be reckoned with. Getting sober won't make a musician out of a boilermaker.

Hazelden Foundation