I wanted to share this - I heard a speaker, Tom B. share this little joke at a talk a few days ago.
He said his sponsor once informed him that a laurel is something that you wear on your head. So when you're resting (sitting) on your laurels, you essentially have your head up your... ahem. lol
I thought that was great, and it's probably a pretty succinct way to put it.
What does resting on your laurels mean in terms of recovery? I believe this is a term I hear more often in AA, but this so applies to Al-Anon, too, as I recognize the majority of us are striving for emotional sobriety.
For me it means complacency and perhaps a touch of denial.
"Things have been going great for an extended period of time. Why should I bother participating in recovery? I only need it when times are bad. I have this all figured out. No one is stressing me out. The alcoholic is finally working a program of recovery. I'm good - he's the one who really needs to work on himself, anyway. Maybe I'll go to a meeting next month. I'll only call my sponsor if I'm in a crisis - but why on earth should there be a crisis? Everything is fine right now and I don't see why it shouldn't stay that way. I'd rather binge-watch a series on Netflix instead of read some literature or pray or meditate. I have too much to do this week to get to a meeting. But overall, life is just fine so I don't need to keep on top of my program."
My sponsor said to me one time that alcoholism doesn't just disappear. While it may seem the disease has eased up on us in our lives, it hasn't left for good. It's in the back room doing push-ups.
That push-up analogy, to me, means when it comes back, look out because it's going to be out for blood.
I think I've shared it before, but I view recovery as my spiritual and emotional health fitness routine. I try to stay on top of it and be consistent so I'm not back to square one if life brings the inevitable stressful event my way.
Thanks for letting me share.
DavidG said
Nov 12, 2019
Gr8 topic Aloha... ... sometimes I see the need, personally to take a break from recovery too. I think it is a matter of balance.
this week I attended my nearest F@F meeting. It was well attended. There was a new member there with supporters.
I sensed strongly that everything was in hand- but that is was good that the meeting had member support. After my time
in Alanon I sometimes sense it is time to let some things pass by. And attend to others. After all it works. And, these days,
I find my efforts are more productive and effective. My tuppence- two cents worth... ...
Iamhere said
Nov 12, 2019
Lovely topic Aloha....I must admit I've never heard what was described to you. For recovery, it is from the Big Book:
"It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." AA Big Book page 85.
For my recovery, it suggests that I forget I only have one day, this day. When I am practicing this program as best I can, one day at a time, I am not at rest. In AA, we suggest that you are either moving forward or you are going backwards - there is no staying in one place. I have not heard this in Al-Anon, but do believe it applies to all of my recovery efforts. I know me well enough that if I'm not learning and challenged, it's easy to let my mind wonder into projection and/or fear. I do so much better when I can keep things simple, one day at a time.
Webster states that "to rest on your laurels" is to be satisfied with your success and do nothing to improve on it. Great topic - looking forward to reading other responses!
I wanted to share this - I heard a speaker, Tom B. share this little joke at a talk a few days ago.
He said his sponsor once informed him that a laurel is something that you wear on your head. So when you're resting (sitting) on your laurels, you essentially have your head up your... ahem. lol
I thought that was great, and it's probably a pretty succinct way to put it.
What does resting on your laurels mean in terms of recovery? I believe this is a term I hear more often in AA, but this so applies to Al-Anon, too, as I recognize the majority of us are striving for emotional sobriety.
For me it means complacency and perhaps a touch of denial.
"Things have been going great for an extended period of time. Why should I bother participating in recovery? I only need it when times are bad. I have this all figured out. No one is stressing me out. The alcoholic is finally working a program of recovery. I'm good - he's the one who really needs to work on himself, anyway. Maybe I'll go to a meeting next month. I'll only call my sponsor if I'm in a crisis - but why on earth should there be a crisis? Everything is fine right now and I don't see why it shouldn't stay that way. I'd rather binge-watch a series on Netflix instead of read some literature or pray or meditate. I have too much to do this week to get to a meeting. But overall, life is just fine so I don't need to keep on top of my program."
My sponsor said to me one time that alcoholism doesn't just disappear. While it may seem the disease has eased up on us in our lives, it hasn't left for good. It's in the back room doing push-ups.
That push-up analogy, to me, means when it comes back, look out because it's going to be out for blood.
I think I've shared it before, but I view recovery as my spiritual and emotional health fitness routine. I try to stay on top of it and be consistent so I'm not back to square one if life brings the inevitable stressful event my way.
Thanks for letting me share.
Gr8 topic Aloha...
... sometimes I see the need, personally to take a break from recovery too. I think it is a matter of balance.
this week I attended my nearest F@F meeting. It was well attended. There was a new member there with supporters.
I sensed strongly that everything was in hand- but that is was good that the meeting had member support. After my time
in Alanon I sometimes sense it is time to let some things pass by. And attend to others. After all it works. And, these days,
I find my efforts are more productive and effective. My tuppence- two cents worth...
...
"It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." AA Big Book page 85.
For my recovery, it suggests that I forget I only have one day, this day. When I am practicing this program as best I can, one day at a time, I am not at rest. In AA, we suggest that you are either moving forward or you are going backwards - there is no staying in one place. I have not heard this in Al-Anon, but do believe it applies to all of my recovery efforts. I know me well enough that if I'm not learning and challenged, it's easy to let my mind wonder into projection and/or fear. I do so much better when I can keep things simple, one day at a time.
Webster states that "to rest on your laurels" is to be satisfied with your success and do nothing to improve on it. Great topic - looking forward to reading other responses!