Sept. 2, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. — Voltaire

Appreciation is a big word for a big idea. To appreciate a thing means to really look at its value, its goodness, its beauty and to be glad about it. When we can do this, it changes our life. We become grateful.

It used to be that we felt jealous when someone else was attractive or smart. We felt envy when we saw people who were having fun or who seemed to be in love with each other.

Now that we are sober, we know that we can enjoy the beauty other people create. We can be happy that some people are smart and good at problem-solving. We can be glad that people are in love and raise good kids who will make the world a little better.

When we see these things around us, we know that life holds good things for us, too. There is enough for everyone.

Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, help me turn my envy and jealousy into appreciation. I want to find joy and hope in the good things that others do.

Today’s Action

Today I will list three qualities I appreciate in others. Do I want to find these things in myself? How can I do that? I will talk about it with my sponsor.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 2, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

Step by Step

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

Today, simplify the Program as it relates to my recovery to three basic concepts: choice, consequences, and responsibility. If I take the infamous first drink or use, after all the excuses or justifications I can think of and all the blame I can put on other people or circumstances, drinking or using is my choice. And with that choice comes consequences, and with the consequences comes personal responsibility. Ultimately, I am the only one who will be responsible to the consequences of my choice, and the consequences of my drinking became simply too high for me to want to face. And we must honestly remember the consequences of our choice to use or drink - separation from or loss of family and-or friends, loss of a job or the threat of it, standing before a judge after spending the night in the county jail's drunk tank after being nailed for another DUI or for physically hurting someone else like a passing motorist or whoever we picked a fight with. Today, I can pray that the high cost of the consequences of choosing to drink and now not wanting to be responsible to those consequences will keep me clean and sober another 24 Hours. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2020

Sept. 2, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

AA Thought for the Day
"Outline the program of action to new prospects, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past, and why you are now endeavoring to help them. It is important for them to realize that your attempt to pass this on to them plays a vital part in your own recovery. The more hopeless they feel, the better. They will be more likely to follow your suggestions. Tell them about the fellowship of AA and, if they show interest, lend them a copy of the book."

Can I get over the AA story to another alcoholic?

Meditation for the Day
You should try to stand aside and let God work through you. You should try not to block Him off by your own efforts, or prevent His spirit working through you. God desires your obedient service and your loyalty to the ideals of the new life you are seeking. If you are loyal to God, He will give you protection against mistakes. His spirit will plan for you and secure for you a sufficiency of all spiritual help. You will have true victory and real success, if you will put yourself in the background and let God work through you.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not interfere with the working of God's spirit in me and through me. I pray that I may give it full rein.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 2, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

Reflection for the Day
When I wake up, I'll think quietly about the twenty-four hours ahead. I'll ask God to direct my thinking, especially asking that it be free from self-pity and from dishonest or self-seeking motives. If I have to determine which of several courses to take, I'll ask God for inspiration, for an intuitive thought or a decision. Then I'll relax and take it easy, confident that all will be well.

Can I believe that when I give up my "rights" of expectations, I'll know freedom ...?

Today I Pray
I praise God for being able to praise God, to choose the times when I will seek Him, to find my own words when I talk to Him, to address Him in the way that seems most right to me. May I expect that He in turn must be free of my expectations, to affect my life as He sees fit.

Today I Will Remember
Who am I to try to tell God what to do?

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 2, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

The secret of cutting any tree down, regardless of size, is to hew it one chip at a time.

Men are not put in a position to do great things until they have established the reputation for doing many small things well.

If you have the great ambition to bring happiness to a whole world, a good starting point is within your own undershirt.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 2, 2020 - Let's kick it up a notch for this wonderful Wednesday with determination to make it good

Good morning to a wonderful Wednesday with gratitude for another chance to do something good and worthwhile ...have a truly productive but safe day -- and don't pay attention to anything and anyone out to screw it up

Sept. 1, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

If a child lives with approval, he learns to live with himself. — Dorothy Law Nolte

It has been said and proven over and over that a person’s self-image is largely formed by the image reflected back from other people. Those around us are mirrors. The more important they are to us, the more power they have to reflect our identity back to us. Thus, the world is largely in the process of being created daily before our own eyes.

We are the most important people in the world to our children. Their identity, as we reflect it back to them, is the first and the most important information they receive.

Despite the powerlessness we adult children may feel, let us also be aware of the enormous power we have in creating the self-image of our children. If we doubt this, all we need to do is recall the influence our parents had on us in forming our self-image. We have the same power over our children. As we were influenced then, so we influence now. A miracle is happening before our eyes if we but see it.

I will lose no opportunity to show my children how beautiful they are.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 1, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

Step by Step

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

Today, the "spiritual awakening" in Step 12, the culmination of fierce and thorough practice of the previous 11 Steps and its mandate to be effective carriers of the Program's message. There is no single definition of spiritual awakening for it is as unique to the individual as his or her recovery Program. But, in general, if I can say honestly that I no longer schedule my day around drinking and don't want to, if I can say I am healthier mentally and emotionally by weakening those character flaws that fueled my drinking, if I can say in honesty that I want to help the alcoholic who still drinks, if I can admit that my will is self-will run riot and that the will of a wiser and stronger Higher Power must be my guide - then, and only possibly then, can I say I have undergone the awakening of a "new" and better character than the one that prevailed in my drinking days. On the other hand, if I can say honestly I have not undergone a fundamental change in character, emotion and morality, I best backtrack to the very beginning, to Step One: "Admitted (I am) powerless ..." And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2020

Sept. 1, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

AA Thought for the Day
"Be careful not to brand new prospects as alcoholics. Let them draw their own conclusion. But talk to them about the hopelessness of alcoholism. Tell them exactly what happened to you and how you recovered. Stress the spiritual feature freely. If they are agnostics or atheists, make it emphatic that they do not have to agree with your conception of God. They can choose any conception they like, provided it makes sense to them. The main thing is that they be willing to believe in a Power greater than themselves and that they live by spiritual principles."

Do I hold back too much in speaking of the spiritual principles of the program?

Meditation for the Day
"I will never leave nor forsake thee." Down through the centuries, thousands have believed in God's constancy, untiringness and unfailing love. God has love. Then forever you are sure of His love. God has power. Then forever you are sure, in every difficulty and temptation, of His strength. God has patience. Then always there is One who can never tire. God has understanding. Then always you will understand and be understood. Unless you want Him to go, God will never leave you. He is always ready with power.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may feel that God's love will never fail. I pray that I may have confidence in His unfailing power.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 1, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

Reflection for the Day
Based on their collective experience, The Program's founders suggested a prayer to be said when taking the Third Step - and making a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. "God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

Have I abandoned myself to God as I understand Him?

Today I Pray
I praise my Higher Power for my freedom to find my own understanding of God. May my life be God's, whether I think of Him as a Father whose hand and spirit I can touch with an upward reach of my own, or as a universal Spirit that I can merge with as the hard outlines of my "self" begin to melt, or as a core of Divine and absolute goodness inside myself. May I know Him well, whether I find Him within me, without me or in all things everywhere.

Today I Will Remember
I thank God, as I understand Him, for my understanding of Him.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 1, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

The alcoholic is usually conscious of his shortcomings, but he resents any well-meant attempt to discuss the matter with him. He knows that he has no defense. Logic is against him; lying frequently backfires on him and is therefore unreliable. He has but one avenue of escape, and that is the bottle - the very thing the well-intentioned friend is trying to avoid.

Our only approach that makes sense to him is the visible evidence that we are doing it, and acquainting him with the fact that it can be done.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 1, 2020 - Good morning to a terrific Tuesday and new month of September with faith and confidence

Good morning with optimism and confidence that this terrific Tuesday and new month of September are going to be whatever we want them to be ...without the interference of anything and anyone thinking they have the control to say how they'll be

Aug. 31, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Monday, Aug. 31, 2020

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

We are responsible for ourselves financially

What a frightening, grown-up thought that is for many of us—taking responsibility for money and our financial affairs. For many of us, handing over responsibility for our financial affairs has been part of a codependent trade-off in our relationships.

Some of our emotional dependency on others, on this tight tie that binds us to others, not in love, but in need and desperation, is directly related to financial dependency. Our fears and reluctance to take responsibility for our financial affairs can be a barrier to the freedom we’re seeking in recovery.

Financial responsibility is an attitude. Money goes out to pay for necessities and luxuries. Money must come in, in order to go out. How much needs to come in to equal that which is going out?

Taxes…savings plans…appropriate spending habits that demonstrate an attitude of financial responsibility…

Part of being alive means learning to handle money. Even if we have a healthy contract with someone that allows us to depend on him or her for money, we still need to understand how money works. We still need to adopt an attitude of financial responsibility for ourselves. Even if we have a contract with someone else to provide for our financial needs, we need to understand the workings of the money earned and spent in our life.

Self-esteem will increase when we increase our sense of being financially responsible for ourselves. We can start where we are, with what we have today.

God, help me become willing to let go of my fears and reluctance to face the necessary parts of handling money responsibly in my life. Show me the lessons I need to learn about money.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 31, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

Step by Step
Monday, Aug. 31, 2020

Today, Step 11 to answer honestly if I have "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve (my) conscious contact with God as (I) understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for (me) and the power to carry that out." Simply acknowledging a Higher Power and looking to Him as a guide through recovery are not enough. We must also seek what He requires of us and the knowledge and power to do what He wants of us. Why is the 11th Step important in recovery? In seeking our Higher Power's will for us, we are getting away from one of our most dangerous and contributory spiritual afflictions - selfishness. We dare not risk what progress we have made or seek by holding onto those poisonous character and spiritual defects like selfishness, anger, hate and bitterness that will undermine both the quality of recovery and sobriety itself. Today, seek through prayer and meditation the will of our Higher Power, not ours. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2020

Aug. 31, 2020 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Monday, Aug. 31, 2020

AA Thought for the Day
"Call on new prospects while they are still jittery. They may be more receptive when depressed. See them alone if possible. Tell them enough about your drinking habits and experiences to encourage them to speak of themselves. If they wish to talk, let them do so. If they are not communicative, talk about the troubles liquor has caused you, being careful not to moralize or lecture. When they see you know all about the drinking game, commence to describe yourself as an alcoholic and tell them how you learned you were sick."

Am I ready to talk about myself to new prospects?

Meditation for the Day
Try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of others, when you are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping others depends on controlling yourself. You may be swept away by a temporary natural urge to criticize or blame, unless you keep a tight rein on your emotions. You should have a firm foundation of spiritual living which makes you truly humble, if you are going to really help other people. Go easy on them and be hard on yourself. That is the way you can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. And seek no personal recognition for what you are used by God to accomplish.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to avoid judgment and criticism. I pray that I may always try to build up others instead of tearing them down.

Hazelden Foundation