Aug. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

— From Isaiah 40:4

Recovery can be compared to climbing a hill. And as with all skills, the more we practice the better we become. There comes a time in the course of recovery when we view a hill that once would have caused us to quake in our boots or to quit altogether. But using the skills achieved by working an intelligent, consistent program, we can simply take it in stride.

When we came into The Program, we were asked if we were willing to go to any lengths to win our freedom from bondage. As we grew and developed a positive response, all sorts of things became possible that at one time were not. We are often told in The Program that “the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” We don’t have to do it all at once. All recovery is made inch by inch.

Now we can look at yonder hill and accept it as just another obstacle to be conquered — and not a very big obstacle at that.

I am amazed and encouraged by the gains I’ve already made. Today’s challenges do not intimidate me.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

” …(M)y life has had a purpose, not in great things accomplished but in daily living. Courage to face each day has replaced the fears and uncertainties of earlier years. Acceptance of things as they are has replaced the old impatient chomping at the bit to conquer the world. I have stopped tilting at windmills, and instead have tried to accomplish little daily tasks, unimportant in themselves, but tasks that are an integral part of living fully.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, “Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three,” Ch 10 (“He Sold Himself Short”), p 295.

Today, may I not be self-critical or deflated if something I hope to achieve isn’t realized because, if I have worked toward it without drinking, I have achieved one of those “little daily tasks” that might be “unimportant in themselves” but “are an integral part of living fully.” If I have gone through the last 24 Hours without drinking, that in itself is an accomplishment of gratitude and inspiration for the next 24 Hours. And if doing today without drinking seems like something not to be fully appreciated, a comparison to what I DIDN’T accomplish on a day of drinking should provide a measure of the magnitude of not drinking today. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023

Aug. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

AA Thought for the Day

“If we are still clinging to something that we will not let go, we must sincerely ask God to help us to be willing to let even that go, too. We cannot divide our lives into compartments and keep some for ourselves. We must give all the compartments to God. We must say: ‘My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my friends’.”

Am I still clinging to something that I will not let go?

Meditation for the Day

The laws of nature cannot be changed and must be obeyed if you are to stay healthy. No exceptions will be made in your case. Submit to the laws of nature or they will finally break you. And in the realm of the spirit, in all human relationships, submit to the moral laws and to the will of God. If you continue to break the laws of honesty, purity, unselfishness and love, you will be broken to some extent yourself. The moral and spiritual laws of God, like the laws of nature, are unbreakable without some disaster. If you are dishonest, impure, selfish and unloving, you will not be living according to the laws of the spirit and you will suffer the consequences.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may submit to the laws of nature and to the laws of God. I pray that I may live in harmony with all the laws of life.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time
Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

Reflection for the Day
We all want to be rid of our most obvious and destructive flaws. No one wants to be so greedy that s/he’s labeled a thief. No one wants to be angry enough to kill, lustful enough to rape, gluttonous enough to become ill. No one wants to be agonized by envy or paralyzed by procrastination. Of course, few of us suffer these defects at such rock-bottom levels. Not that that’s reason to congratulate ourselves; chances are, pure self-interest enabled us to escape such extremes. Not much spiritual effort is involved in avoiding excesses which will bring severe punishment.

When I face up to the less violent and less deadly aspects of the very same defects, where do I stand then?

Today I Pray
May I give myself no back-pats for not committing murder or rape, beating up a rival, robbing a sweets shop or stealing from a down-and-outer. In all humility, may I understand that these are only more violent manifestations of human flaws I harbor in myself. May God give me the perseverance to change these from inside, rather than just lessening the degree to which I act them out for the world to see.

Today I Will Remember
Change the inside first.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener
Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

With fiery zeal we devote much energy to going through the motions of living AA. We speak on every occasion we are invited, we rush ourselves dizzy carrying the message to all who call on us, but in the process we sometimes neglect the one man we are most interested in — ourselves. Our AA has become muscular.

To reach ourselves requires quiet meditation, daily use of prayer and a comprehensive study of the Program and of ourselves.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 26, 2023 – Rise ‘n shine for a spectacular Saturday and weekend

 

Good morning with hopes of a relaxing but productive Saturday and weekend for all …and without the crap of people and things that aren’t worth our attention

Aug. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

I’ve learned that the more vulnerable I allow myself to be, the more in control of myself I really am.

— Anonymous

Many of us feel that we can only show our strong, confident side. We believe the face we have to show to the world should always be one of politeness, perfection, calm, strength and control.

While it is certainly good and often appropriate to be in control, calm, and strong, there is another side to all of us – that part of us that feels needy becomes frightened, has doubts, and gets angry. That part of us that needs care, love, and reassurance that things will be okay. Expressing these needs makes us vulnerable and less than perfect, but this side needs our acceptance too.

Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable will help us build lasting relationships. Sharing our vulnerabilities helps us feel close to people and helps others feel close to us. It helps us grow in self-love and self-acceptance. It helps us become healing agents. It allows us to become whole and accessible to others.

Today, I will allow myself to be vulnerable with others when it’s safe and appropriate to do so.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

“And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation — some fact of my life — unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, “They Stopped in Time,” Ch 17 (“Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict”), p 449.

Today, accept as part of my recovery that I am absolutely powerless over alcohol and can never drink again, accept the consequences of my drinking and that I alone am responsible to them, and accept that recovery is more than physical and includes a massive rebuilding of my emotional and spiritual characters. If I am simply IN recovery but not WITH it and carry even a hidden resentment that I cannot drink safely or a sense of being wronged because I have to clean up the mess I made of my life, the Program’s promise of serenity with myself and the world around me will be elusive. Today, I seek the humility to ask for absolute — and unconditional — acceptance that my alcoholism is MY responsibility, and so it is with my recovery. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023

Aug. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

AA Thought for the Day
“Unless we discuss our defects with another person, we do not acquire enough humility, fearlessness and honesty to really get the program. We must be entirely honest with somebody, if we expect to live happily in this world. We must be hard on ourselves, but always considerate of others. We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character and every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we can look the world in the eyes.”

Have I discussed all my defects with another person?

Meditation for the Day
Never yield to weariness of the spirit. At times, the world’s cares and distractions will intrude and the spirit will become weak. At times like this, carry on and soon the spirit will become strong again. God’s spirit is always with you, to replenish and renew. None ever sincerely sought God’s help in vain. Physical weariness and exhaustion make a time of rest and communion with God more necessary. When you are overcome by temporary conditions which you cannot control, keep quiet and wait for the power of the spirit to flow back.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not speak or act in the midst of emotional upheaval. I pray that I may wait until the tempest is past.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

Reflection for the Day
Without freedom from addiction, we have nothing. Yet we can’t be free of our addictive obsessions until we become willing to deal with the character defects which brought us to our knees. If we refuse to work on our glaring defects, we’ll almost certainly return to our addiction. If we stay clean and sober with a minimum of self-improvement, perhaps we’ll settle into a comfortable but dangerous sort of limbo for a while. Best of all, if we continuously work The Steps, striving for fineness of spirit and action, we’ll assuredly find true and lasting freedom under God.

Am I walking with confidence that I’m at last on the right track?

Today I Pray
May God show me that freedom from addiction is an insecure state unless I can be freed also of my compulsions. May God keep me from a half-hearted approach to The Program, and make me know that I cannot be spiritually whole if I am still torn apart by my own dishonesty and selfishness.

Today I Will Remember
Half-hearted, I cannot be whole.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

If we think — truly think — our lives will become manageable, and if we thank God who made this thinking possible for us, then our lives are almost sure to remain manageable. We alcoholics can contain our entire philosophy in these two words — THINK and THANK.

Think before you take that first drink, then thank your God that you didn’t.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 25, 2023 – Rise ‘n shine for a fantastic and beautiful Friday

 

It’s Friday, and that by itself means today is going to be fantastic as long as we don’t allow the interference of people and things that offer nothing worth having

Aug. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

And don’t just ask for one mercy. Let them flood in.

— Rumi

Perhaps we’ve allowed feelings of disappointment or discouragement to take root in us. We may have decided to settle for less than our dreams, blaming the past or other people for our present dissatisfaction. We may cling to the belief that if we give up, we will somehow be taken care of. We must not give in to self-doubt or cynicism and misname it “acceptance.” If we dream of pursuing education, meaningful work, a loving relationship, creative expression, spiritual practice, or something else we deeply desire, we can cultivate hope as we take steps toward our goal.

Twelve Step recovery reminds us that while we don’t have the power to change others, we can affect our own lives by changing our attitudes and by taking actions. Faith in a Higher Power and the willingness to do our part are foundations for change. Open-mindedness, persistence, and patience can bring us closer to understanding and honoring ourselves, at any age, in any aspect of our lives.

Today, I see doors that are open; I walk through them with faith in my life’s abundance.

Hazelden Foundation

Aug. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023

“At last, acceptance proved to be the key to my drinking problem. …When I stopped living in the problem and began living in the answer, the problem went away. From that moment on, I have not had a single compulsion to drink.” -- Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, “They Stopped in Time,” Ch 17 (“Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict”), pp 448-49.

Today, after living so long in the problem of drinking, let me understand that now, as an alcoholic who does not drink, I am free to live in the answer — sobriety. By living in sobriety, I am free from fighting the temptation to drink again, free from the fear of being caught and of shame, anger, resentment, loneliness and hopelessness. The problem of drinking offers no freedom; the answer of sobriety does. Let me think and re-think until I understand the fine line between living in the problem of fighting the craving to drink and living in the answer of sobriety. And, in understanding, I can begin to loosen the problem’s grip on me and embrace the answer. And the answer is my recovery program and its guiding principles. Today, I no longer have to fight or live with the problem; I have an answer. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023

Aug. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023

AA Thought for the Day

“When we saw our faults, we listed them. We placed them before us in black and white. We admitted our wrongs honestly and we were willing to set these matters straight. We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We asked God to remove our fears and we commenced to outgrow fear. Many of us needed an overhauling in regard to sex. We came to believe that sex powers were God-given and therefore good, if used properly. Sex is never to be used lightly or selfishly, nor is it to be despised or loathed. If sex is troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others, and so take our minds off ourselves.”

Am I facing my sex problems in the proper way?

Meditation for the Day

Cling to the belief that all things are possible with God. If this belief is truly accepted, it is the ladder upon which a human soul can climb from the lowest pit of despair to the sublimest heights of peace of mind. It is possible for God to change your way of living. When you see the change in another person through the grace of God, you cannot doubt that all things are possible in the lives of people through the strength that comes from faith in Him who rules us all.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live expectantly. I pray that I may believe deeply that all things are possible with God.

Hazelden Foundation