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.
I have been thinking lately about how before Alanon I had SO many self help books. I was constantly looking for serenity in those books and it left me with only despair and exhaustion. For awhile I was even trying to do affirmations and the law of attraction. If I would say an affirmation then I relly didn't believe it deep inside and I only felt worse. I was following a lady who had a big website who did all sorts of Chakra healing stuff like tapping ect...I have heard it can work for some people but for me it did not. It was like I "thought" I could play God in a sense. I would read things from these authors that said that I can manifest whatever I want....now I know there is a little truth to how our thoughts can create our reality-to a point. The lady would say, if you really want to create that beautiful dress in your life then ask your angels and they will bring them to you in some way (like at a store you will find it)-that's just a cheesy example.
I am learning that I only want God's will for my life. I don't like the feeling of thinking I can control all these outcomes. It has only hurt me with that thinking in my life so much. I am just so relieved that I no longer have to keep trying to control the outcome of everything. For me, all the other stuff didn't work. What works for me is alanon.
Anyone else here relate to this?
Also a quick question about staying in the moment. I regularly start worrying in my mind that "oh no, what if something bad happens to someone I know" It is likeI feel like chicken little in "the sky is falling" book. Is this something that comes from living in a household with alcoholic dysfunction? I like the slogan "one day at a time" but if things start feeling good and okay, then I start thinking that something bad will happen and I can'e enjoy the day.
-- Edited by daisy31 on Friday 24th of February 2012 10:44:20 AM
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It is very difficult to have a pity party when I am celebrating all the gratitude I have in my life!
It will aither work out, . . . or, . . . It will work out."
I can truly relate I came to alanon after ALL ELSE Failed.
I picked up the simple tools of the Slogans, The Steps, Meetings, a Sponsor and the basic philosophy of living one day at a time trusting HP and my inner voice and It worked
I found it was all about my deep inner attitudes.
Using the tools of alanon the deep embeded anger, resentment, self pity and fear, the little child within was given the permission to grow and change and my inner attitudes began to match my outsides.
What a wonderful gift!!!
Thanks for the topic
-- Edited by hotrod on Friday 24th of February 2012 05:48:31 PM
Somewhere in Al-Anon literature, I think in Courage to Change, it says "worry is like a rocking chair. it may give me something to do for an hour, but it gets me nowhere." or something to that effect.
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Not all my days are priceless, but none of them are worthless, anymore.
The first thing you said I can relate to because I used to always pray for what I wanted or expect the world to always turn out in my favor. I have found significant peace through having a hundred things NOT go my way. I started giving it to my HP and no matter what way it turned out accepting it for what it is. This does not mean I am never sad or mad, I am.. but I know that it can't always go my way because I dont know the big picture. An analogy I heard once that I liked was that this world was like a beautiful tapestry, only we humans are looking up at the sky and can only see it from the back side with all the different colored threads crossing, some short, some longer, weaving.. it makes no sense and looks a mess.. but on the other side it makes a beautiful pattern and this pattern only God can view. I like that
The other thing you said I am interested to read responses for.. there was a time in my life where I would wake up in the middle of the night and just feel so hollow inside.. I would doubt there is a God and I would assume something horrible has happened. If there was a rainstorm the world was probably ending and if my Mom was calling someone had probably died. Thats how I lived.. constantly in FEAR.. now I think of the acronym F-false E- evidence A-appering R-real.... Most of the things I was sooooo scared and worried about.. did not happen.. the other things I never imagined happening did.. hey, He never gives me more than I can handle, I guess.
Great share. Thank you.
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Michelle!
No one can take away your peace of mind unless you let them.
Michelle, I love the visual of the tapestry! That is a gem I think I will remember always. Thank you! I shared it with my husband and he thought it was beautiful!
Fear was our topic at our meeting last night and a couple people shared meanings of what fear can mean
1. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real 2. FEAR= Faith Enters after Reconciliation 3. FEAR= Face Everything and Recover
I love those...they are all great! I think my favorite right now is Face everything and recover....because I am just starting to face everything...well actually face some things :) but the rest will come and I know that. I am making progress.
__________________
It is very difficult to have a pity party when I am celebrating all the gratitude I have in my life!
It will aither work out, . . . or, . . . It will work out."
