Good morning MIP and Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! The Courage to Change reading for today is about Step 4....the writer discovers that many of her virtues were often the source of her misery. The working of Step 4 gave the writer an opportunity to turn upside-down personality traits right-side up!
Reminder: My life is in a constant state of change. Awareness allows me to keep pace with that change. Today let me listen to my words and watch my actions. Only by knowing the person I am can I create the person I want to become.
Quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery: "Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered: it is something molded."
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I have learned in recovery that it is perfectly OK to be imperfect. I came to recovery wanting (confused with needing) to fix, manage and control all things in my life. This included people, places, things, and more - the dog, the weather, etc....
By working these steps and practicing what's suggested, I am able to accept life on life's terms, my own imperfections and flaws and the same in others. It was ironic to me, as the writer discovers, that many of my assets were also a part of my defects. Instead of learning how to accept others as they are/were, my will and my ego would try to take charge, and manage outcomes. When I practice this program each day, one day at a time, I am able to allow my traits, my strengths and my authentic self to unfold with the day/event and things go so much better!
I am who I am today because I do believe a power greater than I has restored me to sanity. I am grateful to have a spiritual life/program that gives me the courage to be me, imperfect and still loved! I am grateful for all of you today, and MIP. Find and keep your joy MIP family! (((Hugs)))
Lyne said
Nov 28, 2019
Thanks IAH for your service and your share. The first time I did Step 4 I wondered why I was looking at ME! It was my A Id been taking inventory on for years, of course for no other reason than I didnt know what else to do.
In the last 6 months I did the Steps again with my sponsor. What a difference! I didnt mind delving into myself and seeing what my defects are. I welcomed the opportunity to see where I was, where Ive gotten, and where I still want to be.
This program is designed to teach me how to be a better person in many ways. Grateful member, Lyne
DavidG said
Nov 28, 2019
We, and a couple of grandkids, are celebrating Thanksgiving to night with a Malaysian meal. I think there will be one American national there. But to give someone a sense of home is priceless.
I am sort of reviewing the last 36 years, at the moment. I know I was very very stuck in the middle of this, and now I am not. I made the shift described in today's reading... ...thinking more about Tradition 5 for early next year... and i expect to be able to reach out- in a healthy way... ...
PosiesandPuppies said
Nov 28, 2019
Thank you Iamhere for your service. I came on here early today to read... but had too much to do preparing the feast to really sit and respond.
Now, at the end of my day of Thanks, I can.
My first experience with Step 4 was quite like Lyne's... "Why in the world did I have to work on me?" At first it was a "family members" group associated with the rehab my spouse was in. Then it was my own home group. And yet... I still didn't see the need to change. Today I think and act differently.
And like Iamhere, I was shocked to find out my defects were mostly my assets that had been morphed into something undesirable from living within the sphere of an addicted person. I am working on accepting Life on Life's terms... not always easy, but essential if you want to really live in peace.
Grateful today for this forum and the people who inhabit it!
Good morning MIP and Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! The Courage to Change reading for today is about Step 4....the writer discovers that many of her virtues were often the source of her misery. The working of Step 4 gave the writer an opportunity to turn upside-down personality traits right-side up!
Reminder: My life is in a constant state of change. Awareness allows me to keep pace with that change. Today let me listen to my words and watch my actions. Only by knowing the person I am can I create the person I want to become.
Quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery: "Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered: it is something molded."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have learned in recovery that it is perfectly OK to be imperfect. I came to recovery wanting (confused with needing) to fix, manage and control all things in my life. This included people, places, things, and more - the dog, the weather, etc....
By working these steps and practicing what's suggested, I am able to accept life on life's terms, my own imperfections and flaws and the same in others. It was ironic to me, as the writer discovers, that many of my assets were also a part of my defects. Instead of learning how to accept others as they are/were, my will and my ego would try to take charge, and manage outcomes. When I practice this program each day, one day at a time, I am able to allow my traits, my strengths and my authentic self to unfold with the day/event and things go so much better!
I am who I am today because I do believe a power greater than I has restored me to sanity. I am grateful to have a spiritual life/program that gives me the courage to be me, imperfect and still loved! I am grateful for all of you today, and MIP. Find and keep your joy MIP family! (((Hugs)))
In the last 6 months I did the Steps again with my sponsor. What a difference! I didnt mind delving into myself and seeing what my defects are. I welcomed the opportunity to see where I was, where Ive gotten, and where I still want to be.
This program is designed to teach me how to be a better person in many ways. Grateful member, Lyne
We, and a couple of grandkids, are celebrating Thanksgiving to night with a Malaysian meal. I think there will be one American national there. But to give someone a sense of home is priceless.
I am sort of reviewing the last 36 years, at the moment. I know I was very very stuck in the middle of this, and now I am not. I made the shift described in today's reading... ...thinking more about Tradition 5 for early next year... and i expect to be able to reach out- in a healthy way...
...
Now, at the end of my day of Thanks, I can.
My first experience with Step 4 was quite like Lyne's... "Why in the world did I have to work on me?" At first it was a "family members" group associated with the rehab my spouse was in. Then it was my own home group. And yet... I still didn't see the need to change. Today I think and act differently.
And like Iamhere, I was shocked to find out my defects were mostly my assets that had been morphed into something undesirable from living within the sphere of an addicted person. I am working on accepting Life on Life's terms... not always easy, but essential if you want to really live in peace.
Grateful today for this forum and the people who inhabit it!