Jan. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Is it necessary to have read Spinoza in order to make out a laundry list? — Jeanne Detourbey

Each day presents us with decisions. Most are relatively small-what to eat or wear or read, how to organize our tasks, with whom to spend time. But at times we face life-changing decisions: where to live or work, whether to undertake more education, whether to commit ourselves to a relationship.

We can view each choice as an opportunity to express our freedom, our unique character, and our ease with ourselves. We needn’t fear that we’ll make a “wrong” decision. Our mistakes are our teachers; they are essential to our process of growth and understanding. Whether our decisions come from common sense, intuition, the voice of inner guidance, or our Higher Power, our answers are already inside us. We can be confident in our innate ability to make the right choices.

Today, I make both large and small decisions with confidence.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

Today: “Courage to change the things I can,” the petition of the Serenity Prayer that WE – not our Higher Power – take on those things that we CAN change. Though our options might be limited, the one thing we CAN change is our attitude and how we integrate into this day, how we react and respond. Thus, today I will not take the easier, softer way and complain about ANYTHING the day serves up and, instead, I will start with the POSITIVE by willing myself to make this day good and that nothing — myself included — will poison it. If there is something I do not want to do, I will do it, if for no other reason than to be done with it and earn the luxury to say one more bad chore is resolved. For some, negativity and complaining are an excuse in disguise to get out of the obligation to sobriety. Today, I am positive, not negative, and this day WILL be good. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M., 2023

Jan. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

AA Thought for the Day
We used to depend on drinking for a lot of things. We depended on drinking to help us enjoy things. It gave us a “kick.” It broke down our shyness and helped us to have a “good time.” We depended on drinking to help us when we felt low physically. If we had a toothache or just a hangover, we felt better after a few drinks. We depended on drinking to help us when we felt low mentally. If we’d had a tough day at work or if we’d had a fight with our husband or wife, or if things just seemed against us, we felt better under the influence of alcohol. For us alcoholics, it got so that we depended on drinking for almost everything.

Have I got over that dependence on drinking?

Meditation for the Day
I believe that complete surrender of my life to God is the foundation of serenity. God has prepared for us many mansions. I do not look upon that promise as referring only to the after-life. I do not look upon this life as something to be struggled through, in order to get the rewards of the next life. I believe that the Kingdom of God is within us and we can enjoy “eternal life” here and now.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to do God’s will. I pray that such understanding, insight and vision shall be mine, as shall make my life eternal, here and now.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

Reflection for the Day
Even with a growing understanding of The Program and its Twelve Steps, we sometimes might find it difficult to believe that our new way of life leads to personal freedom. Suppose, for example, I feel imprisoned in an uncomfortable job or troublesome personal relationship. What am I doing about it? In the past, my reflex reaction was to try to manipulate the things and people around me into being more acceptable to me. Today, I realize that happiness can’t be won that way.

Am I learning that freedom from despair and frustration can come only from changing, in myself, the attitudes that are perpetuating the conditions that cause me grief?

Today I Pray
May I be given clear eyes to see – and then to stop myself – when I am manipulating the lives of those around me, my daily associates, friends, family. May I always be aware that change must begin within myself.

Today I Will Remember
Change from the inside out.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 25, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

AA has had its remarkable growth not because of its affluence, but because of its influence.

The eyes of the world are upon us for we stand out as the lone hope of a world driven to despair by alcohol.

Our every action is watched by those needing our program desperately. What will your influence be on them? Will you be a stepping stone or a stumbling block?

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 25, 2023 – Good morning and here’s hoping everyone has a fantastic Wednesday

 

Good morning and let’s focus on the good on this beautiful Wednesday and set aside our worries, stress and uncertainties at least for a while — and start by getting rid of people and things that aren’t worth our time

Jan. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Nobody can change my thoughts but me.

The first of the Twelve Steps asks us to admit we are powerless. Our first question might be, Why? Shouldn’t we try to change the conditions in our lives? Shouldn’t we try to influence others to change too? If we put ourselves in good hands in this fellowship, we will begin to appreciate Step One. We will begin to understand that we are indeed powerless over other people. We can plead, complain, shame, cajole, but we cannot force them to see as we see. We will also begin to understand that we are not powerless over ourselves. Not today.

It may seem simplistic to blame our problems on how we ourselves think. After all, others are participating in our lives too. But only we have the power to interpret the experiences we’re having. And we can decide to accept every experience as an opportunity for growth and adventure, as God’s will. The old-timers tell us that is what Step Three means.

I can’t change anyone else; all I can change is my mind. I will carefully watch my thoughts today.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” – Step 12

Today, Step 12, the “graduation” Step that bestows marching orders and ushers us into the world and puts AA into service by taking the message to other alcoholics. But to be “qualified” as a 12th-Stepper, we have to see that this Step is actually one in three. We are required in it, first, to have had a spiritual awakening; second, to ‘carry the message;’ and third, to practice in all our affairs the Principles laid out in all the Steps. And without achieving all three, our effectiveness as a carrier of the message is likely to be compromised. After all, how can we talk about a spiritual awakening if we have not had one, and how can we ask someone to practice AA’s Principles if we don’t do so ourselves? Today, I ask myself if I have experienced the spiritual awakening that is fundamental to recovery, if I actually practice AA’s Principles in all I do, and if I try to carry the message when asked. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M., 2023

Jan. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

AA Thought for the Day

Alcoholics who are living in a blind alley refuse to be really honest with themselves or with other people. They’re running away from life and won’t face things as they are. They won’t give up their resentments. They’re too sensitive and too easily hurt. They refuse to try to be unselfish. They still want everything for themselves. And no matter how many disastrous experiences they have had with drinking, they still do it over and over again. There’s only one way to get out of that blind alley way of living, and that’s to change your thinking.

Have I changed my thinking?

Meditation for the Day

I know that the vision and power which I receive from God are limitless, as far as spiritual things are concerned. But in temporal and material things, I must submit to limitations. I know that I cannot see the road ahead. I must go just one step at a time, because God does not grant me a longer view. I am in uncharted waters, limited by my temporal and spatial life, but unlimited in my spiritual life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that, in spite of my material limitations, I may follow God’s way. I pray that I may learn that trying to do His will is perfect freedom.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

Reflection for the Day
Among the many gifts that we are offered in The Program is the gift of freedom. Paradoxically, however, the gift of freedom is not without a price tag; freedom can only be achieved by paying the price called acceptance. Similarly, if we can surrender to God’s guidance, it will cost us our self-will, that “commodity” so precious to those of us who have always thought we could and should run the show.

Is my freedom today worth the price tag of acceptance?

Today I Pray
May God teach me acceptance – the ability to accept the things I cannot change. God also grant me courage to change those things I can. God help me to accept the illness of my addiction and give me the courage to change my addictive behavior.

Today I Will Remember

Accept the addiction.
Change the behavior.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 24, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

The AA Program is so simple and so honest that it confounds the physician with his Latin prescriptions and the scientist with his intricate formulas. They have been looking for the answer through a microscope or a telescope while the solution was at their fingertips. No wonder AA astounds them – they have been like the old woman who tore her house down looking for her glasses, only to find them on her forehead.

The simplicity of our program is its attraction, and we must keep it awfully simple or the results will be simply awful.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 24, 2023 – Good morning and let’s give this beautiful Tuesday our best effort

 

Good morning and in the midst of all we have to deal with, let’s take time to be grateful for the good we have and try to make someone else’s day a little better

Jan. 23, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Monday, Jan. 23, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Reflection for the Day

It was far easier for me to accept my powerlessness over my addiction than it was for me to accept the notion that some sort of Higher Power could accomplish that which I had been unable to accomplish myself. Simply by seeking help and accepting the fellowship of others similarly afflicted, the craving left me. And I realized that if I was doing what I was powerless alone to do, then surely I was doing so by some Power outside my own and obviously greater.

Have I surrendered my life into the hands of my Higher Power?

Today I Pray

May my Higher Power remove from me the arrogant pride that keeps our connection from growing ever stronger. May my unhealthy dependence on substances and my clinging dependence on those nearby be transformed into a reliance on my Higher Power. Only through my reliance on a Higher Power will I find personal transformation.

Today I Will Remember

I am Higher Power-dependent.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 23, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Monday, Jan. 23, 2023

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” – Step 11

Today, the 11th Step, multidimensional in that it is among the three most tasking in the Program. The cornerstone of Step 11 is improving our conscious contact with our Higher Power “through prayer and meditation” and seeking HIS will for our lives, not OURS. We are subtly reminded in the 11th of an ever-constant theme throughout recovery – prayer and meditation. Without one, either or both, our self-will might have an opening to run riot. And our self-will has failed miserably – many times – for most of us. And in putting forth the humility and courage to surrender our will to Him, the “power” to carry out His will for us becomes, surprisingly, stronger. Today, I will focus on prayer and meditation to understand that His will, not mine, is what I need in both my recovery and my life. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M., 2023

Jan. 23, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Monday, Jan. 23, 2023

AA Thought for the Day
Alcoholics are people whose drinking got them into a “blind alley.” They haven’t been able to learn anything from their drinking experiences. They are always making the same mistakes and suffering the same consequences over and over again. They refuse to admit they’re alcoholic. They still think they can handle the stuff. They won’t swallow their pride and admit that they’re different from ordinary drinkers. They won’t face the fact that they must spend the rest of their lives without liquor. They can’t visualize life without ever taking a drink.

Am I out of this blind alley?

Meditation for the Day
I believe that God has all power. It is His to give and His to withhold. But He will not withhold it from the person who dwells near Him because then it passes insensibly from God to that person. It is breathed in by the person who lives in God’s presence. I will learn to live in God’s presence and then I will have those things which I desire of Him: strength, power, and joy. God’s power is available to all who need it and are willing to accept it.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may get myself out of the way so that God’s power may flow in. I pray that I may surrender myself to that power.

Hazelden Foundation