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.
One of my faves is One Day at a Time-I too often am inclined to get way ahead of myself & project past experiences onto possible future outcomes. I believe it is a way of self protection that worked in the past, but is no longer serving me. When I go to a meeting and hear or pick up the literature & read that simple phrase I am immediately returned to the state of mind that I can find greater serentiy in: Being here now in this one day & doing the best I can with that block of time (with HP's guidance of course)
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Wishing all the best on your recovery journey, Luv
How Important Is It comes first and then Think. It stops me from speaking when I just need to remain quiet and it causes me pause to consider what I am going to say.
There are sooo many to choose from, this is always a fun topic to see what people will say. Every once in a while there is one that I haven't heard of or seen!!
Hugs :)
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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
One Day at a Time is a biggie for me also, as I love that it can be broken down into whatever we need at the time - one day, one hour, one minute, one second, etc
Some of my other faves:
What you think of me is none of my business
He will either drink, or he won't - what are YOU gonna do?
Easy Does It
I Did the Best I Could, With What i knew at the time
Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
All the Al-Anon slogans are good and serve different purposes at different times for me. But anyone who has read very many of my posts on MIP knows my favorite is "Don't React". It has saved my serenity and peace of mind more times than I can count. Before Al-Anon I felt I had to always get "MY" point across, had to get the last word in to make that point, I knew I was right. It was important to me. I considered it winning. I look back and realize no one wins when a discussion esculates into an argument......With practice, when I feel there is a discussion that is heading in the wrong direction, I might say "You might be right", or ask myself "How important is it". Using the three second rule to put my mind in gear before I put my mouth in motion.
Changes in us, sometimes small changes, can make a huge change in our relationships with not only the alcoholic in our lives, but in all our affairs. No more do I have to go to....or win every argument I'm invited to or get the last word in.
One night several years ago when my now favorite slogan had no come into play there was a discussion that had esculated between my wife and myself. Back and forth and back and forth. I felt I had had enough, so I detached (and not necessary with love). As I left the room my wife yelled at me "YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO GET THE LAST WORD IN, DON'T YOU?"......As I was leaving the room to go outside I yelled back..."NOT EVERYTIME!!"
I don't miss those days. The slogans are not just words to me anymore. They have meaning. Tools of the program that that have made my life better.....
Like Rod..."Don't React!!" is a biggie for me because too it came from my then sponsor Don'T (as in don't). Keep it simple was the first one of value for me because I came in to Al-Anon fully broken, in pieces, and riccochetting all over the place trying to keep myself together. Don T., also gave me "When in Doubt...Don'T" which was one of those "rocket science" sayings. I have never stopped using that one in my life from day one...that and Don't React are siamese twin slogans. Great Post. ((((hugs))))
Today I would have to say first things first. I often get distracted on the weekends from kids to planning dinner to attending to projects I have around the house. Sometimes my mind gets splintered and my focus begins to wane. So I turn to this slogan, first things first, followed by easy does it to stay in the moment inorder to handle one thing at a time, one day at a time.
