Todays reading is a look at how despite our best efforts, we may be repeating habits and behaviors instilled in us during childhood. The writer describes growing up in an alcoholic home and learning to deal with life in unhealthy ways. Specifically the writer did not know how to manage uncomfortable feelings, so stuffed them down deeply inside. The writer began to make life changes as the first 3 steps were applied, yet still wanted to find the root of any and all destructive behaviors. The writer decided to practice the slogan first things first along with the 4th step of taking personal inventory. Guilt, shame, resentments and fears along with associated behaviors were rooted out and released through working the steps.
I think its interesting to work on the behaviors we learn in childhood. On one hand, we are at the mercy of the environment in which we are born and grow, on the other at some point that upbringing needs to be reckoned with in some way. Being the youngest in a large family, I received a type of attention that I learned to seek out. I know theres a competitive nature related to the big family, and one way this was expressed was trying to get a (last) laugh. Sometimes it was genuinely about trying to make one another laugh, but other times the sarcasm associated with jabs would veer into meanness (at least I have caught myself in this act). Like the writer, doing a personal inventory and working on these old ingrained behaviors has helped me make changes in my life.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, the reminder from the thought for the day is helpful: how can I apply first things first to clarify a confounding task today?
I hope everyone enjoys a peaceful Sunday.
Mary
DM2021 said
Mar 13, 2022
Thank you so much Mary for your service, today's reading and ESH.
I can tell that Al-Anon has helped me root out many "habits and behaviors" from childhood that did not serve me
well. I get lots of push back from my family because of those beneficial changes I have been able to make over
the past several years. I hear from those family members that they do not know who I am anymore!! .
I do not allow that push back to stop me, nor do I engage family members to justify the new me!! If I engage, it
would not be productive, and I view those situations as ones that I really do not have to be right. I am so grateful
to Al-Anon because I can handle disappointment with so much understanding and strength, that I would not trade
this peace for anything, not even for the approval of my AH or family. I just allow everyone their own space and
Good morning everyone-
Todays reading is a look at how despite our best efforts, we may be repeating habits and behaviors instilled in us during childhood. The writer describes growing up in an alcoholic home and learning to deal with life in unhealthy ways. Specifically the writer did not know how to manage uncomfortable feelings, so stuffed them down deeply inside. The writer began to make life changes as the first 3 steps were applied, yet still wanted to find the root of any and all destructive behaviors. The writer decided to practice the slogan first things first along with the 4th step of taking personal inventory. Guilt, shame, resentments and fears along with associated behaviors were rooted out and released through working the steps.
I think its interesting to work on the behaviors we learn in childhood. On one hand, we are at the mercy of the environment in which we are born and grow, on the other at some point that upbringing needs to be reckoned with in some way. Being the youngest in a large family, I received a type of attention that I learned to seek out. I know theres a competitive nature related to the big family, and one way this was expressed was trying to get a (last) laugh. Sometimes it was genuinely about trying to make one another laugh, but other times the sarcasm associated with jabs would veer into meanness (at least I have caught myself in this act). Like the writer, doing a personal inventory and working on these old ingrained behaviors has helped me make changes in my life.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, the reminder from the thought for the day is helpful: how can I apply first things first to clarify a confounding task today?
I hope everyone enjoys a peaceful Sunday.
Mary
I can tell that Al-Anon has helped me root out many "habits and behaviors" from childhood that did not serve me
well. I get lots of push back from my family because of those beneficial changes I have been able to make over
the past several years. I hear from those family members that they do not know who I am anymore!!
I do not allow that push back to stop me, nor do I engage family members to justify the new me!! If I engage, it
would not be productive, and I view those situations as ones that I really do not have to be right. I am so grateful
to Al-Anon because I can handle disappointment with so much understanding and strength, that I would not trade
this peace for anything, not even for the approval of my AH or family. I just allow everyone their own space and
I maintain mine. {{HUGS}} to the MIP Family!!