This is a powerful page! The author realizes that life was unmanageable -- not because of facts but because of illusions. Eventually they listened to a suggestion that helped them see the light: The idea that we can control another person is an illusion. Life is better when we let go and let God. The idea that our emptiness can be filled by shopping, gossiping, or fixating on other people -- an illusion. Our spiritual emptiness can only be filled from within ourselves. The idea that we are deficient and have to look outside ourselves for wholeness -- an illusion.
Reminder: Today, if I hear myself thinking that I am not good enough or that I need something outside myself to make me whole, I'll know that I am listening to illusions. Today I can call an Al-Anon friend and come back to reality.
Quote from William James: "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
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In the past, I was ruled by illusions that I was not good enough, and that my value had to come from other people -- their opinions, the value they placed on me, etc. This belief made me behave in ways that were not good for me. I thought I was acting in my own best interest -- but often I wasn't. I can be grateful for my experience with alcoholism that it forced me to find this program that helped me change my thinking. Changed attitudes really do aid recovery.
Lyne said
Jul 26, 2019
Thank you FT! Great reading and a share I can directly relate to. Whether we call it illusion, delusion, denial, rationalization, stubbornness, or what have you, it's certainly not going to help healing. I couldn't even see how sick I had become because I was too focused on fixing my A.
And the only way I knew how to exist was to depend on others for feedback. What a mess and a very painful way to live. Program has helped me immensely with both of these areas. Let go and let God, live and let live, focus on myself, etc. Now this works! Lyne
El said
Jul 26, 2019
Thank you, Freetime!
Yes, the illusion that we can be filled with shopping, food, gossiping, fixation on others. It really is an illusion......a somewhat kinder word than delusion which I usually refer to it as. I liked the page about self-care the other day......filling ourselves up with self-care.....the good things. Nutrition, some type of exercise, water, sleep, activities that bring us joy....speak to us....fill us up!
Happy Friday, MIP! Going to be a warm, humid weekend.....but not to the extreme. Blessings and hugs to all!
Ellen
bud said
Jul 26, 2019
Thank you for your service Freetime.
Great topic and shares. Lately it's been posing as an illusion, imposter, or a black bottomless hole/ like a void... (I'm so cheery lol). I love how this program keeps nudging me towards self-care and doing the next right thing, sometimes one moment at a time. It feels good that I don't jump to "fix" things like I used to, that I slow down and take time to try and figure out how to be true to myself.
Iamhere said
Jul 26, 2019
Thank you Freetime for your service and the daily....I do believe that I was one who truly lived in la-la-la land prior to recovery. I really had the illusion that I was in control of so many things that I was powerless over. Letting go and letting God helped me save my sanity, my family, my marriage and so much more!
Today, I know better and try to do better. I can be of service without entrenching or loosing myself. I can allow others to be who they are, even if I don't agree or like it. With practice, it's no longer a struggle to let go and let God - instead, it feels like another step closer to the spiritual life I aspire for/to.
Happy Friday all - our temperatures are slowly returning to 'summer heat' - yet, I am so grateful we had a perfectly mild week in the middle of July - what a gift!! Enjoy the evening and the weekend!!
hotrod said
Jul 27, 2019
Great discussion I know I lived under Many" illusions" before working the Steps and receiving the courage to enter reality.
Thanks for your service .
lookingup said
Jul 27, 2019
seem ive come a really long ways since the beginning of recovery,im so grateful for what i do know today that has brought me so much peace and serenity,
thank you for your service to,,,,,,,,LU
This is a powerful page! The author realizes that life was unmanageable -- not because of facts but because of illusions. Eventually they listened to a suggestion that helped them see the light: The idea that we can control another person is an illusion. Life is better when we let go and let God. The idea that our emptiness can be filled by shopping, gossiping, or fixating on other people -- an illusion. Our spiritual emptiness can only be filled from within ourselves. The idea that we are deficient and have to look outside ourselves for wholeness -- an illusion.
Reminder: Today, if I hear myself thinking that I am not good enough or that I need something outside myself to make me whole, I'll know that I am listening to illusions. Today I can call an Al-Anon friend and come back to reality.
Quote from William James: "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
-----------------------
In the past, I was ruled by illusions that I was not good enough, and that my value had to come from other people -- their opinions, the value they placed on me, etc. This belief made me behave in ways that were not good for me. I thought I was acting in my own best interest -- but often I wasn't. I can be grateful for my experience with alcoholism that it forced me to find this program that helped me change my thinking. Changed attitudes really do aid recovery.
And the only way I knew how to exist was to depend on others for feedback. What a mess and a very painful way to live. Program has helped me immensely with both of these areas. Let go and let God, live and let live, focus on myself, etc. Now this works! Lyne
Thank you, Freetime!
Yes, the illusion that we can be filled with shopping, food, gossiping, fixation on others. It really is an illusion......a somewhat kinder word than delusion which I usually refer to it as. I liked the page about self-care the other day......filling ourselves up with self-care.....the good things. Nutrition, some type of exercise, water, sleep, activities that bring us joy....speak to us....fill us up!
Happy Friday, MIP! Going to be a warm, humid weekend.....but not to the extreme. Blessings and hugs to all!
Ellen
Great topic and shares. Lately it's been posing as an illusion, imposter, or a black bottomless hole/ like a void... (I'm so cheery lol). I love how this program keeps nudging me towards self-care and doing the next right thing, sometimes one moment at a time. It feels good that I don't jump to "fix" things like I used to, that I slow down and take time to try and figure out how to be true to myself.
Today, I know better and try to do better. I can be of service without entrenching or loosing myself. I can allow others to be who they are, even if I don't agree or like it. With practice, it's no longer a struggle to let go and let God - instead, it feels like another step closer to the spiritual life I aspire for/to.
Happy Friday all - our temperatures are slowly returning to 'summer heat' - yet, I am so grateful we had a perfectly mild week in the middle of July - what a gift!! Enjoy the evening and the weekend!!
Thanks for your service .
thank you for your service to,,,,,,,,LU