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.
Yep, that's why my double-winner sponsor always called it the exact same disease, I have an obsession with my thinking. The obsession is my whole problem, just like an alcoholic.
But I'm not alone. And in the rooms of al-anon, I always find help when I come with an open mind. My sponsor taught me to pray before I arrive, that I will hear what I need to hear and share what I need to share. I go to meetings to "tell on" myself, so I can get honest with myself. Then I listen some more.
One thing that helped with my obsessive thinking, one member shared at a meeting about The Golden Key (you can google it.) It was another way of turning it over to Higher power, another way to practice giving it to God and it works well for me.
Somtimes I physically change what I'm doing, to get "out of" myself, maybe get to a meeting that day, or phone someone in the fellowship to see how they're doing.
Another thing I use is my God Box, to physically write down the obsession and give it to God. Sounded so corny when my sponsor gifted me with this thing, I thought I would NEVER use that flowery box, thought I'd shove it under the bed and forget about it, lol! But since what I had been doing in the past was obviously not working, I decided to take that corny suggestion and today, I find that it works very well for me. I keep my God Box right out in the open with plenty of paper handy.
I also phone my sponsor, she gets me back on track. Sometimes she says, "stop. stop. stop. stop. stop." Then she asks me to identify what's going on around me right where I am, what are the colors right NOW in the ever-changing sky, etc. She brings me back to the present moment.... which to me, is getting with God.
It works when we work it, you are proof of that. and I'm so grateful I get to "read" you
-- Edited by glad lee on Friday 27th of January 2012 11:13:51 AM
-- Edited by glad lee on Friday 27th of January 2012 02:51:26 PM
__________________
The prayer isn't for Higher Power to change our lives, but rather to change us.
So I'm trying so hard to turn off the obssession wheel that spins in my mind .. I am tired of being tired but as from my shares, I'm getting so much .. It's so funny that when I show up at meetings I really don't have to do anything but listen .. Recovery just comes and yet I feel the work of working through the emotions .. What I'm realising though is I'm driving myself .. I'm also driving myself crazy by recognising that I become Emotionally attached to every problem I and others have lol .. half lol that is .. It's just one of those moments where I'm really seeing my own disease flair up .. My neg thinking is my disease only and I'd like to say I'm the only one it effects but this would be untrue .. Still I would be lost without all of you who come and have the wisdom that what you have to say might be just what I need to hear .. Thank you So much .. It blows me away there are so many of us who gather together with one common purpose .. to help eachother heal .. Much love around the rooms .. I needed to type it this morning before I head out into my real world ..
Your awareness and acceptance are awesome. During my first year in alanon, I very rarely shared at meetings. I did however I listen, as you indicated, with an open mind and recovery tools, ideas and the seeds of positive thinking were planted.
When I finally could hear the negative voices within my own head was when I understood how important alanon truly was.
I admitted that I had been contributing to my own unhappiness without even knowing it and that step was a huge breakthrough.
