Today's reading in Courage to Change is about gratitude. The author writes about acting on the suggestion of making gratitude lists, and still feeling weighted down by the effects of living with alcoholism. For the author, the important step was beginning to practice gratitude for the small accomplishments. With time, they appreciated the small changes they were making through their application of Al-Anon principles and became grateful for those changes. The author shares that eventually, when they went back to the original gratitude list, they were able to feel genuine gratitude for the things on that list.
Today's reminder: I need to nurture myself with gratitude. Today I can practice appreciating myself, my world, and my Higher Power.
___________
Through the years of living with an active alcoholic, I had forgotten to appreciate the small accomplishments and wonder around me. I learned to focus on the negative, on what wasn't working, and that crowded gratitude out of my head. Gratitude lists helped me rediscover an appreciation for my personal accomplishments and also the wonder that nature holds. Focusing on things I was grateful for turned my attention away from the negative and toward the positive. The old habit of focusing on the negative is still there, but I am noticing that, with time and practice, the gratitude is crowding the negativity out.
I hope you have a lovely day!
hotrod said
Sep 20, 2017
Great Topic Skorpi Thank you. Gratitude lists are my go to program tool. Taking time to make them and actually seeing something to be grateful for ,in the beginning of my journey was extremely difficult( i could not think of anything i was grateful for). I did continue listing simple things like my health, flowers, birds etc but did not feel "grateful". Then one day walking along the street I saw a wild flower and "felt grateful and happy within -- How marvelous was that experience!!!
Today I feel grateful often-simply seeing a child, a dog or a flower is enough . I am eternally grateful to alanon for his gift. Thanks for your service.
Enigmatic said
Sep 20, 2017
Thank you Skorpi for your service and sharing this great page, and both for your ESH...
In AlAnon I realized that I rarely took the time to look, find, and feel gratitude, even though sources for it were abundant around me. I was actually afraid to let myself feel, let down my guard, and let allow room for the pain of disappointment to sneak through.
When I followed this suggestion for the first time, I was amazed at the power and level of peace it brought to me. Step 1 and gratitude are a powerful 'go to' for me when I begin to feel engulfed by a challenge or thought. Very grateful for the wisdom of the program
Iamhere said
Sep 20, 2017
Good morning - thank you Skorpi for the daily, your service and ESH. Thank you Betty and Paul for your ESH. Practicing gratitude was a foreign concept to me and yet one of the best tools provided. I did not even realize how bleak my mind/heart saw things around me - I rarely if ever considered all that was good. I tended to focus on what was broken, not good, etc.
The practice of gratitude lists and general appreciation for the small things helped me shift my negative mindset to neutral at first and then to positive. It truly helped me to surround myself with like minded people who also embraced the 'glass half full' attitude vs. 'glass half empty'.
I am grateful for Al-Anon, MIP and each of you! We lost cable/internet last night and I've been on the phone with them longer than I care to be. I am amazed at what a creature of habit I am....I am using my phone as a wireless router and getting minimal 'stuff' done! Off to my meeting in a bit - have a lovely day!!
mamalioness said
Sep 20, 2017
hotrod wrote:
Great Topic Skorpi Thank you. Gratitude lists are my go to program tool. Taking time to make them and actually seeing something to be grateful for ,in the beginning of my journey was extremely difficult( i could not think of anything i was grateful for). I did continue listing simple things like my health, flowers, birds etc but did not feel "grateful". Then one day walking along the street I saw a wild flower and "felt grateful and happy within -- How marvelous was that experience!!!
Today I feel grateful often-simply seeing a child, a dog or a flower is enough . I am eternally grateful to alanon for his gift. Thanks for your service.
ohhh there are times, especially this year that has been so brutal on me with losses, disasters, deaths, etc., that I can't be grateful , then something will happen or a good thingwill happen out of a bad thing and I am thanking the universe...I think the more I am thankful, the more universe gives me to be thankful for because I am putting out that good, positive energy.....NICE topic Skorpi adn thank you for sharing it
Good morning MIP!
Today's reading in Courage to Change is about gratitude. The author writes about acting on the suggestion of making gratitude lists, and still feeling weighted down by the effects of living with alcoholism. For the author, the important step was beginning to practice gratitude for the small accomplishments. With time, they appreciated the small changes they were making through their application of Al-Anon principles and became grateful for those changes. The author shares that eventually, when they went back to the original gratitude list, they were able to feel genuine gratitude for the things on that list.
Today's reminder: I need to nurture myself with gratitude. Today I can practice appreciating myself, my world, and my Higher Power.
___________
Through the years of living with an active alcoholic, I had forgotten to appreciate the small accomplishments and wonder around me. I learned to focus on the negative, on what wasn't working, and that crowded gratitude out of my head. Gratitude lists helped me rediscover an appreciation for my personal accomplishments and also the wonder that nature holds. Focusing on things I was grateful for turned my attention away from the negative and toward the positive. The old habit of focusing on the negative is still there, but I am noticing that, with time and practice, the gratitude is crowding the negativity out.
I hope you have a lovely day!
Great Topic Skorpi Thank you. Gratitude lists are my go to program tool. Taking time to make them and actually seeing something to be grateful for ,in the beginning of my journey was extremely difficult( i could not think of anything i was grateful for). I did continue listing simple things like my health, flowers, birds etc but did not feel "grateful". Then one day walking along the street I saw a wild flower and "felt grateful and happy within -- How marvelous was that experience!!!
Today I feel grateful often-simply seeing a child, a dog or a flower is enough . I am eternally grateful to alanon for his gift.
Thanks for your service.
In AlAnon I realized that I rarely took the time to look, find, and feel gratitude, even though sources for it were abundant around me. I was actually afraid to let myself feel, let down my guard, and let allow room for the pain of disappointment to sneak through.
When I followed this suggestion for the first time, I was amazed at the power and level of peace it brought to me. Step 1 and gratitude are a powerful 'go to' for me when I begin to feel engulfed by a challenge or thought. Very grateful for the wisdom of the program
The practice of gratitude lists and general appreciation for the small things helped me shift my negative mindset to neutral at first and then to positive. It truly helped me to surround myself with like minded people who also embraced the 'glass half full' attitude vs. 'glass half empty'.
I am grateful for Al-Anon, MIP and each of you! We lost cable/internet last night and I've been on the phone with them longer than I care to be. I am amazed at what a creature of habit I am....I am using my phone as a wireless router and getting minimal 'stuff' done! Off to my meeting in a bit - have a lovely day!!
ohhh there are times, especially this year that has been so brutal on me with losses, disasters, deaths, etc., that I can't be grateful , then something will happen or a good thingwill happen out of a bad thing and I am thanking the universe...I think the more I am thankful, the more universe gives me to be thankful for because I am putting out that good, positive energy.....NICE topic Skorpi adn thank you for sharing it