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.
For some time now, apart from the many useful Al-Anon slogans I have been using this one from AA as a kind of 'check in with myself' tool. When feeling low I need to ask myself whether I am, Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired and then address whatever need might be causing my feelings. Like everything in our spiritual program I feel like I am gradually unpeeling an Onion, there are many complex layers (and often like unpeeling an Onion, tears come!)
I was walking and meditating this week and a different use of HALT came into my head
H - am I 'Hurt', if so
A - am I 'Accepting' reality or trying to force solutions.
L - am I being a "Leader" - i.e. engaging with my illness and working the program or am I "Lost" - blindly following insanity
T- am I telling myself the 'Truth' about situations or am I listening to the nagging chatter in my head.
I rather like 'checklists' and I share this with you as i am finding it helpful in keeping my insane thinking in check
I slept on this response- Alanon has its own slogans, and conference approved literature. My opinion is that anyone can raise 'what works for them' as a part of their ESH. But we cannot represent this as Alanon recovery.
I myself belong to another fellowship- one which grew out of Alanon, Alateen and AA. But inside of Alanon I try to stick to the discipline of Alanon and stay true to it.
Thank you so much for sharing your checklist with me. I have often used the HALT list when dealing with an eating disorder but your version is really helpful with what I am going through right now with my scions addiction and my reaction to it. Thank you.
LOL .. I have to add an extra H in there so I constantly check to see if I'm HHALT'ing .. my extra H is "hormonal" .. at my age there is a lot of truth to that it is a quick reminder to step back and make sure that I'm doing what I need to do to take care of me. That is one thing I like a LOT about this site is that while we stick to CAL lit for the most part there are a lot of wonderful tools out there that aren't always CAL.
Hugs P :)
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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