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.
The ODA T reading for today is really powerful and thought provoking. It speaks about one of the symptoms of living with the disease of alcoholism.--- which is an attack of anger. It defines this attack as an "uncontrollable impulse to judge and condemn someone". In this explosion. I am really asserting that everything I think and do is correct and everything the other person does wrong. If we were not sick when we do this--we would at least realize that the momentary relief that we get from his outburst is poor pay for the consequences that we must bear.
Today's reminder speaks about using Al-Anon tools and being good to ourselves. That when we allow anger to destroy our poise and peace of mind, we are ill and need care. That when we lose control we are handing over control to another .
The quote is; "I pray for quietness to help me cure my own emotional instability let me use serenity to cushion the impact of whatever happens outside of me"
I love this reading and find the Al-Anon slogans extremely helpful in handling this symptom. If I keep the focus on myself , not react, think, process and respond. The anger dissipates and I maintain my serenity and do not surrender my power. Win--- win
Very nice Betty:) Thank you for sharing. This reminded me right off the bat of how numbed out I was to my feelings. When I came into the program I was either extremely passive aggressive or allowing myself to build into a powerful rage at others and then I would blow and feel like crud afterwards. Your share made me think of something I heard once "poise is power". I also never knew I was carrying the disease without taking a drink, unbeknownst to me I had turned into my mother and father unconsciously. I'm carrying the disease without drinking. Compassion, acceptance, humility for myself and other. Understanding others conditioning, behaviors and addictions are deeply ingrained, but still taking care of myself and separating myself when I need to. It also made me think of step three, when I am in step three I am quiet,serene and unflappable. When I have lost my serenity, I need to go back to step one and two. I may not be right all the time(lol) my views and opinions are mine and not always shared and vice versa. We can agree to disagree. That last phrase the consequence of getting angry a outburst, gosh, I remember beating myself up so bad and my self esteem would slip a few notches too. Thinking how could I be so stupid? How could I slip again? I've since learned to be a bit more gentle with myself. Everyone slips occasionally. Still my perfectionism is one of my worst character defects. I loved where it said am I not ill when I allow anger to take away my peace and poise. Once again admitting I was ill, somedays I still am and in each moment that I can consciously choosing not to go back to the ego and insanity. The last thing I thought of was pausing, pausing and checking in with God and waiting for myself to quiet before responding, if I need to respond at all. Thank you for letting me share. and thank you for your service Betty..
__________________
I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
This is a good one. The thought of giving away my power when I've just got it back. No way. Whenever I react instead of respond I've handed my power to another person who doesn't know what to do with it. So no, my power means a lot to me. I'm going to try hard to keep hold of it. Thanks hotrod.x
