Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene

fishinmama · Veteran Member

Let go let god...What does this mean???

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

Good reaching Ma...and you have the perspective right...now it is the actual
doing...the practice of what we perceive we are being led to by others. For me
the actual letting go seemed to me that I would go into a freefall and maybe
crash somewhere but that didn't happen I got use to falling away from the
problem and not scrambling to grab onto just anything to latch myself onto. I
let myself fall and started to believe that where ever I landed I would be okay
and the problem would be handled without me somehow but not with me.
Trusting in my Higher Power is a daily practice in faith and understanding. HP
is real for me. No HP doesn't and isn't working daily 24/7 on all of my problems.
Much of my recovery is about not creating those problems that I became
powerless over in the outcome and thought they had to be solved in my favor or
the favor of others so that I could look good myself. The solution to my
problems often now is to not create them and that most often results in getting
into the will of my HP rather than onto HP's customer service desk. God will not
do for me that which I refuse to do for myself. God won't work the program for
me I gotta do that one. Letting go for me is the 24/7 meditation that God "Is"
and I need to be in God's will...which for me is Love Always...God, myself and
others. When I do this my life becomes serene; I become happy; the world
and its family including myself become balanced and I find myself living in
such a way that I once thought I could manufacture, control and manipulate
and then found out I was wrong.

You are right on the now do it step. You won't get lost, you will be found and
you will be free. In support (((((hugs))))) smile

Hoot Nanny · ~*Service Worker*~

This sounds like a 3rd step question. I know for me after the 2nd step I was more willing to let go & let God because he was restoring me to sanity. In the 3rd step we turn our will & our lives over to the care of God. Let Go & Let God isn't an easy slogan but we gradually do it sometimes without even trying. For me, every day I try but don't always succeed. Sometimes I take it back & then end up starting all over. God is very patient: he will wait for you to come around.
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes I comment & don't know for sure if I am getting through. What Jerry F. said would probably be more helpful.
Keep coming back; it works sometimes if you just LET GO!
HOOT

kitty · ~*Service Worker*~

for me let go & let god, is about me learning to excersize faith and stop trying to control things that I have no control over, anyway. I used to obsess about my problems, which never solved them one iota. Im learning to surrendr to god my problems, issues with others, whatver it may be and excersize the faith that things will turn out "ok". I also had to surrender what i thought was right, or the right way to do something, just bc it isnt my way, it doesnt mean a different way is wrong, it simply is different.

I hung on so tightly, letting go seemed impossible while I was still making an attempt at controlling people & events. Once I got centrered on me and quit controlling others, the letting go seemed to happen as a natural consequence of working program.

I think that once we get willing to do anything & pray on that, is when we are ready and HP will show us the way. Ive learned to ask from HP and then walk away, not staring, waiting for my answer. I find god a bit like watching a pot boil, it doesnt work, I have to clear my mind, release expectations about the outcome & then open my mind to be receptive for the answer. Then it will come unexpectedly, in a flash of insight when I least expect it.

RLC · ~*Service Worker*~

(((Hello, Fishinmama)))

For me "Let Go And Let God" is something that works for me everytime. My HP gives me free will to handle my own problems and concerns. I make many day to day decisions without consulting my HP. Lots of times I realize that my decision could have been made by a power far greater than me, I just had not given him the opportunity. I know my HP is always there for me if I only ask. He is never too busy, always available, just there for the asking. Lots of times I have let a problem fester for days before I call on my HP for his help. I also came to realize that HP's time table for taking care of my needs and concerns is not always the same as mine. I sometimes turn my problem over to him in the morning and expect the answer by noon. LOL. That is not always the case, but when it does come I can always count on the fact that it is the best answer.

For me I define "Let Go Let God" as ask and you will receive, in HP's way and in HP's time.

HUGS,
RLC

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Fishinma

Wow you have reeceived very insightful and deep thoughts on this slogan. I would just like to add a simple use of this slogan that has helped me.

When I feel Anger surge within me I repeat this slogan over and over with the understanding that I am asking to Let go of my anger and let God give me wisdom.

If I am filled with Fear at a moment I will use this slogan and ask God to remove the fear and replace it with courage.

If I am filled with self pity, or resentment I use this slogan to let go of this stuff and be filled with serenity.

It never fails to ease my anxiety or rage.

Thanks for the question.

Christy · ~*Service Worker*~

The irony for me is that I needed to let go of something I never had...control over any of it..

RLC · ~*Service Worker*~

Very well put Christy, and yes, it did hit home with RLC. I am the program chairman at our 8:00 P.M. Monday meeting. I was going to have it on Acceptance. After these posts, guess what? There is a change...........It'll be on "LGLG".

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

My esh it started with the Serenity prayer. I had to learn what I could not change was not worth worrying about. Used to worry myself sick almost all the time.

Letting go for me means,each day, one day at a time, I do what I can and let go of the rest and know that Hp will bring the result, whatever it is. And know in my heart no matter what everything is ok.

One day I just looked up to my mountains and let out a huge breath and let go. Worked on it a long time. I rarely worry anymore. Take things as they come.

Great question! love,debilyn

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

Dear Fishin

To me, letting go and letting my Higher Power means to do all and everything I can for me and when there is no more I can do, to toss it off, walk away from it, or othrwise, give over the outcome of my efforts--

Like pursuing a job--I do my resume up---Dress well for my interview---Know what I am going to say to those "tough questions"---Do my best in the interview--Follow up with a thank you email or card and then TURN IT OVER---I have done all I can do, now its in the power of the universe to either bring it to me or bring me to another, better job

This is just an example but that is my grasp on the "let go--let god"

Luving50s · Newbie

Wow - spectacular thoughts! Evidence of ppl working successful programs, which is one of my favorite things about the Al-Anon fellowship (I have tons of Al-Anon favs). LGLG is another - stumbling onto this post is an example of the results of letting go and letting my hp (I call Him Father). I was journaling a couple days ago about a struggle I WAS experiencing and through tears I expressed that while my devasting problem hasn't changed (my adult child doesn't reach out to me); I don't view it as devastating any longer nor do I give that fact power over my thinking and my emotions. Within I'd say an hour of putting down my pencil I received a text frm my child and we set up an opportunity to connect with some of my grandchildren. AMAZING - so last night b4 going to bed a was going to journal my Paise OR Gratitude report. But wanted to ensure I was accurate and LGLG was an actual slogan and how it became Al-Anon approved (hence "stumbling" into this thread of wisdom. LGLG is pure and it is simple although I complicate, over think and rethink the concept b4 I just STOP! Stop struggling with whatever in that particular moment I chose to struggle with and change my attitude or emotion, turn down the level of devastation or stop thinking about it, redirect my efforts of something productive (clean the toilet)... Fishinma I leave you with this imagine - having been raised near a coast I was taught to float in the ocean as a child many many moons ago. But I will never forget how freeing that lesson was. I just laid my head back in the water relaxed and let the water hold me. I began flowing within the waves instead of sinking' floating over the breakers with the current and no longer tossed and tumbled by the thunderous waves. I have now finally stopped struggling with something beyond my control simular to that childhood lesson and intend to tilt my head back and look to My Father and let Him hold me while I relax and continue working my program listening and learning from others in the Al-Anon fellowship! Thank you all!

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Welcome Margaret thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important slogan . Do keep coming back to share the journey

Iamhere · ~*Service Worker*~

I too send welcomes to you Margaret - love your username!!! Thank you for your ESH and share - I can relate to much of what you wrote. Especially the practice of telling myself STOP - my mind still wonders away from the present when I feel stressed and disconnected from HP.

Please keep coming back - great to have you as part of the recovery journey...

WestMan · Senior Member

This one is a struggle for me too. I believe in the wisdom of this slogan. I also believe in the slogan "God helps those who help themselves" which seems the opposite. How do I balance the two? How do I stay engaged in my life but not ruin everything by trying to dominate it.
One simple sign I have found that helps me know letting go is the answer is if I'm holding on for some negative reason. Like a child gripping a toy only to prevent others from playing with it. Am I holding on out of anger, spite baseless fear? Then I need to check further and consider letting go.

Bo · ~*Service Worker*~

Excellent thread, and excellent insight and perspective. Thank you to all of you.

Aline · ~*Service Worker*~

Wonderful ESH from all! Luving, thank you for sharing the story about floating in the water, its so powerful and hopeful. I'm on Step 2 with my sponsor now. I think the first time I consciously Let go and let God in a situation was some days ago. I did all I could, checked my motives to be sure I was doing what I was doing to protect myself, my boundaries and let God take away my worry over the outcome. This is so new and strange to me, but also good. My sponsor says I will learn doing it in time and loose a lot of the heavy weight I put on myself. I believe her!!! And it feels great to believe in a better life. Its already better, and hope for more is exciting actually!

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.

Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene