5/4/21 ODAT – Disappointment, Misfortune…as Gifts of Enlightenment
Enigmatic said
May 4, 2021
Today's author contrasts two ways of seeing disappointment and misfortune:
1) As we may be first tempted to, with resentment and a sense we are suffering or being unfairly punished, or
2) with a spiritual view that, as all things are as they should be in the moment according to our higher power's will, and we may have brought them on ourselves, they are gifts of enlightenment and a learning opportunity.
The latter allows for growth, new perspectives and solutions. The former: holding onto resentment, disappointment, and a self-pitying sense of injustice.
Reminder: We tend to rebel when unhappy, we are unhappy when we don't understand, and rebelling compounds our frustration and unhappiness. Let go, let god/higher power decide what happens in our life and the outcome.
"When a man of good-will is troubled or tempted or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he can better understand how great a need he has of faith in God." - Thomas a Kempis ----------------- When I first heard in Alanon that it was possible to be grateful for exposure to or relationship with an alcoholic, I knew I was not there yet; I had a deep reservoir of accrued helplessness, frustration, resentment and fear.
I was also desperate and willing to try anything, however, so I began wrapping my head around step 1 and my powerlessness over alcohol and all other people, places, things, and the implications of such a powerful worldview change.
That was the beginning of my long, spiritual journey that I am still travelling, today so much happier, lighter, and with drastically less negative energy. The challenges I faced in dealing with the alcoholic brought to light my own insanity and need for spiritual recovery, without which I may have not started.
Today I can truly say I am grateful for the learning opportunities and enlightenment Alanon has guided me toward, away from the constant pain, anger and insanity of my own efforts.
So grateful for the guidance and wisdom of Alanon
Debb said
May 4, 2021
Thank you Paul for today's reading, your service and ESH.
There is no doubt about it, that Al-Anon helps us to understand, because once I understood that alcoholic
chaos I was living with and what part I played in it, I was in a much better place to find my serenity and
was better able to detach with love and compassion. I too am truly grateful for the guidance and wisdom of
the program and membership/MIP family and most of all my connection to HP.
Lyne said
May 4, 2021
Thank you Paul for your service and for all above ESH. The reading reminds me of how important my attitude is, and the need for me to stay open-minded for all things are possible. If I werent married to an alcoholic, I never would have come to alanon, which has had the most profound and positive impact on my me and my life. I will always be a grateful member....
DavidG said
May 4, 2021
Thanks Paul, Debbs, and Lyne...
...I have thought a lot over the ideas of power and powerlessness. In a perfect world i would like to see members do steps 2 and 3 inside of a group. I think because is helps a lot to put our higher-power component into deep perspective. [Steps 4 thru 7 a good time to have a sponsor.]
I find that our higher power works best in the present moment. Being mindful, receptive. ...
Thanks for the share y'all. ...
-- Edited by DavidG on Tuesday 4th of May 2021 03:29:04 PM
Iamhere said
May 4, 2021
Happy Tuesday MIP. Thank you Paul for your service and the daily. Thanks to all for your shares and ESH. I still have days where I do not put this disease on my gratitude list, yet do include this program, those I've gotten to know in recovery and the relationship with a God of my understanding. I do know that I would probably still be an angry, lost soul had I not arrived at recovery and became willing to practice it as best I can.
I still have disappointments in my life yet understand that we all do, and my trials and pain are no less/more than others. I know that it is through the various challenges I face in this life, related or not to this disease that I learn and my faith continues to grow. I am most grateful for the many, many tools I've learned in this program that helps me cope with life on life's terms and no longer making an effort to fix, change, control or manipulate other people, places and things.
Hope everyone had a great day! Mine has been long but tons of fun - I just love spring...the weather is unpredictable and a day that starts off cool/rainy can evolve into lovely and bright. Kind of like how our program works when we work it!! (((Hugs)))
a4l said
May 4, 2021
Thank you Paul for your service and the share. Something about today's reading speaks to me of the inner child. In my experience, it was possible to be spiritually inclined towards the gifts of painful experience from a very young age. There was a great compassion for every loved one suffering and never anger or resentment. As a teenager there was a knowing that from pain came growth. But as an adult with repeated exposure and in the height of anger so great as to be quite insane, well all of that lovely philosophy on the soul evaporated into a sarcastic mist of bitterness. I do find it much easier to return to a loving state when detached, sometimes this also needs to be physical. I am much less the gauche innocent of my youth today but I never question the sanctity of knowing whatever comes my way holds an opportunity which will reveal itself. That's a nice knowing. It excites and inspires me.
Today's author contrasts two ways of seeing disappointment and misfortune:
1) As we may be first tempted to, with resentment and a sense we are suffering or being unfairly punished, or
2) with a spiritual view that, as all things are as they should be in the moment according to our higher power's will, and we may have brought them on ourselves, they are gifts of enlightenment and a learning opportunity.
The latter allows for growth, new perspectives and solutions. The former: holding onto resentment, disappointment, and a self-pitying sense of injustice.
Reminder: We tend to rebel when unhappy, we are unhappy when we don't understand, and rebelling compounds our frustration and unhappiness. Let go, let god/higher power decide what happens in our life and the outcome.
"When a man of good-will is troubled or tempted or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he can better understand how great a need he has of faith in God." - Thomas a Kempis
-----------------
When I first heard in Alanon that it was possible to be grateful for exposure to or relationship with an alcoholic, I knew I was not there yet; I had a deep reservoir of accrued helplessness, frustration, resentment and fear.
I was also desperate and willing to try anything, however, so I began wrapping my head around step 1 and my powerlessness over alcohol and all other people, places, things, and the implications of such a powerful worldview change.
That was the beginning of my long, spiritual journey that I am still travelling, today so much happier, lighter, and with drastically less negative energy. The challenges I faced in dealing with the alcoholic brought to light my own insanity and need for spiritual recovery, without which I may have not started.
Today I can truly say I am grateful for the learning opportunities and enlightenment Alanon has guided me toward, away from the constant pain, anger and insanity of my own efforts.
So grateful for the guidance and wisdom of Alanon
There is no doubt about it, that Al-Anon helps us to understand, because once I understood that alcoholic
chaos I was living with and what part I played in it, I was in a much better place to find my serenity and
was better able to detach with love and compassion. I too am truly grateful for the guidance and wisdom of
the program and membership/MIP family and most of all my connection to HP.
...I have thought a lot over the ideas of power and powerlessness. In a perfect world i would like to see members do steps 2 and 3 inside of a group. I think because is helps a lot to put our higher-power component into deep perspective. [Steps 4 thru 7 a good time to have a sponsor.]
I find that our higher power works best in the present moment. Being mindful, receptive.
...
Thanks for the share y'all.
...
-- Edited by DavidG on Tuesday 4th of May 2021 03:29:04 PM
I still have disappointments in my life yet understand that we all do, and my trials and pain are no less/more than others. I know that it is through the various challenges I face in this life, related or not to this disease that I learn and my faith continues to grow. I am most grateful for the many, many tools I've learned in this program that helps me cope with life on life's terms and no longer making an effort to fix, change, control or manipulate other people, places and things.
Hope everyone had a great day! Mine has been long but tons of fun - I just love spring...the weather is unpredictable and a day that starts off cool/rainy can evolve into lovely and bright. Kind of like how our program works when we work it!! (((Hugs)))