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 reading is a focus on the ways we might practice choosing serenity in our lives. The writer describes how many of us who have lived with alcoholism become as obsessed with the alcoholic and his/her behavior as the alcoholic is consumed with alcohol. One of the strategies the writer uses is a focus of the slogan how important is it. The writer would envision any given situation in a much bigger context. First the writers apartment and then the town beyond it would be imagined. Then the state, country, world and universe is imagined. The writer notices that the bigger the world becomes, the smaller the problem feels.
This specific tool has helped me so many times in many situations. When I start to notice that Im feeling anxious, or that I am in an (irrational) reaction mode, or even just having trouble seeing something clearly thinking about it in the context of something bigger puts it in a more realistic perspective. The last sentence of the writing describes this perfectly: This visualization enables me to realize how important (or not) it really is, so I can relax and enjoy the pleasant things in my life.
Another thought about where we put our focus comes from the quotation from Alateen-Hope for Children of Alcoholics (p 52): Saying How Important is It? can help us to be cool under stress. That way we can save energy for the things that really matter.
Good Morning Mary. Thank you for your service. When I found MIP, my world had become very small. With the tools-slogans, steps, sponsorship-I went deep. It's weird how my world became larger by going deep instead of wide. I hardly obsess over my spouse or current chaos (due to pandemic ) because I'm so focused on removing the internal garbage that buried my serenity and joy. Have a wonderful day.
It also said that, although there are times we may find ourselves, in those