using the tools???? I'm confused - Al-Anon Family Group

islandtime · Veteran Member

using the tools???? I'm confused

bud · ~*Service Worker*~

The 12 steps and traditions of Alanon are tools to help develop better life skills. For me, the most efficient and effective way to work the steps is with a sponsor. If you're going to face to face meetings, look around the room for someone that has what you want and ask them if they would be able to sponsor you. If they aren't able to, ask someone else.

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

The Serenity Prayer

Recovery through the Twelve Steps
Unity through the Twelve Traditions
Service through the Twelve Concepts of Service

Last but not least Slogans

One Day at a Time
Think
Let Go and Let God
Easy Does It
Listen and Learn
Together We Can Make It
First Things First
Live and Let Live
Principles Above Personalities
Keep It Simple
Love, Learn and Grow
Progress, Not Perfection
How Important Is It?
Just For Today
Mind My Own Business
Keep An Open Mind
But for the Grace of God
Let It Begin With Me

Tracy · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Great question,

I can remember asking the same thing.

My tools of recovery are listed below it is my job to pick the right tool for any situation. For example I couldnt go to a meeting at 2 am when my partner had not come home but I could pray, read, come om here, speak to my sponsor first thing.

praying to hp

Meetings

Sponsor

Phone calls to other members

reading literature

working the steps

conventions

this website and others

the slogans

meditation

hope this helps hugs tracy xxxxx

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

For me my tools are:

I learned to not allow people to drag me into an argument.

I may say oh you may be right

Hm I would not make that choice but it is up to you

Knowing when the disease is talking

detaching, love the person, hate the behavior.

I can choose how i feel

give it to hp

keep it simple, I keep my life simple as I can. I don't engage in drama

If I don't like how someone is, I make the decision to stay and accept them as is, and do my best to work on ME.If I cannot I have to go.

See the manipulation, don't engage.

Give me what I need. Love the me HP gave to me.

ONE day at a time .Do what needs to be done then do what you want.

These are just some of the tools I put together from Al Anon lit, these great people here, the Bible, Kahil Gibran, Gandi, Krishnamurti and more.

we call it our tool box. We can literally write this stuff down and put it in a box to take out when we need it.

also sooo important, come to MIP and humbly ask for help.

sincerely,debilyn

islandtime · Veteran Member

Thanks everybody...Great answers !!

Hoot Nanny · ~*Service Worker*~

keep all your favorite tools in your tool box; you never know when you might need them.

I prefer to stay in recovery. I hope you will too. Keep coming back, it works, & you are worth it!

Kathleen

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

"using the tools" means to me working the components of the program so they become habit...

Meetings face to face or on line as long as I can physically do it....

Step work, regular and over and over as we live....never ending....for life...

Slogan practice....regular and continual , for life

reading the literature , again, practicing what it teaches so as to become habit

ALL of the above, are done over and over , to re-wire our brains to think healthier, to resond rather than to react.....to face challenges head on, rather then drink or deny or react in coda frenzy........

we are literally changing our perceptions.....to change the emotions.....which will change how we respond.....which developes in to healthy behaviour....which becomes healthy habits.....which turns into better character...........it all stems , to me, and this is just MY take, it all comes from our perceptions /beliefs about any event coming into our life as a "data point" into our brains.

change my perception.....change my life.......

how do I change my perceptions???? WORK the program and its components.....then PRACTICE over and over what I have learned

A good musician practices on his instrument until he dies, to keep that "as perfect as human can be" harmony w/that instrument......

So I practice my program.....to keep it in my body,mind and my soul

JUST my take, please use what you can and leave the rest

-- Edited by neshema2 on Wednesday 18th of September 2013 03:46:22 PM

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.