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.
Todays hope for today discusses the slogan think and how as alanoners we can tend to think obsessively and compulsively. It also talks about thinking before acting out. It also gives some ideas of how to use the slogan, such as praying, reasoning things out with a Alanon friend or sponsor...and I thought of another good one ,it might be a good idea to think and work a step. I love the bottom reminder I have a program that helps me sort out my thinking and feeling. Gosh this is such a good reading, there was a really good educational thread on here about a week ago about obsessive and compulsive thinking. I learned a lot. This is something I still struggle with..sometimes worse than others. I have been wondering if my hormones aren't partially to blame. Sometimes I have really good serenity and others my brain is in overdrive. I grew up worrying about everything. i learned it well from my mother. If I wasnt worried, I likely was not awake. Ha ha. I have made a lot of progress thanks to the program. I use a lot of affirmations to attempt to quiet ny mind. I also liked how thr readimg talked about not being reactive. It's often a good idea if I do logically think for a few minutes before I get involved in someone else's business, take someone else's inventory or give advise. So pausing and discerning does this involve me or is this my business? Sometime I wait longer a day. I'm learning if I pause I don't need to take anyone else's hooks at drama as well. I understand drama is a addiction and I try to excuse myself as it's dangerous for me to get involved in drama. It's dangerous for my serenity. Also discerning if something does involve me or my serenity, such as my stepson coming upstairs after I'm in bed. Yes then I do need to say...this doesn't work for me. thank you for letting me share ;) Angel
__________________
I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
Dear Karma, thank you for sharing today's meditation in H FT. That is a powerful little reader and one that does address important issues that I still struggle with. I do know when I first came to program that I did very little"thinking"and an awful lot of "reacting".
I really did benefit tremendously from using Al-Anon tools that stopped me from relacting and learn to "act".
The tools that you mentioned are very important to my sanity and serenity. Today I can honestly say that I am detached enough to not react to situations but can, make that Al-Anon phone call, get to a meeting, look up in my daily reader on the subject, pray about it, place principles above personalities, and then take an action. Quite a difference from my react mode but the results in serenity and positive outcomes well worth it.
Practicing stepping back and thinking - "is this something I should handle?", really helps me. But this topic also pertains to something I've recently become more aware of in my life - when asked a question that I don't exactly know my answer to, I need to sometimes step away and give it some thought. My siblings' anger at mom for saying "I don't know" when pressed for answers brought it to mind; that's the way I respond when I don't take the time to think about something and the asker is demanding an answer RIGHT now. Finding and practicing the right way to say "I need a few minutes to think on this" and walking away - gives me a chance to discern what I really feel about a situation.
I suppose my reply also points out that I have to give others time to think as well!
-- Edited by likemyheart on Thursday 5th of February 2015 11:08:32 AM
__________________
I am strong in the broken places. ~ Unknown
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another! ~ Anatole France
