Category Archives: Uncategorized

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 12th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverydays?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Honesty and integrity

Honesty and integrity are important in any walk of life. People need to believe that what they see is what they get, and that there is no disconnect between what is said and what is done. Relationships then become rewarding and meaningful. Living a life of integrity includes doing the following:

  • Keeping your word, delivering on promises
  • Keeping commitments in actions and appointments
  • Keeping yourself and surroundings neat and clean
  • Staying focused on a task up to completion
  • Keeping honest company – we are judged by our friends
  • Taking responsibility for actions and mistakes
  • Showing respect and concern for others.

Am I living a life of honesty and integrity?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

St Paul – Philippians.

I ask God for integrity in all my affairs today.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 11th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverydays?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Higher Power

How do I find the strength to quit? This is usually the first question that newcomers to the Twelve Steps ask. They see happy sober people, but they can’t understand the process. How did you get like that, what’s the secret? They then ask. As many of those in the fellowships know, there are four sources of strength:

  • The fellowships – their support and example
  • The sharing of experiences
  • The belief in help from a Higher Power
  • Working with other addicted people.

The strength from these combined sources is more powerful than addiction itself. It can be felt in the meeting rooms. It is the power that always makes us feel better at the end of a meeting than we did at the start. It is Higher Power indeed.

It is not enough to know the power of fellowship, sharing, belief and passing the message. If I do not act upon my knowledge, it is all pointless. It is not the intention of my Higher Power that I should be the only person to benefit. If I do not pass on the message, I may lose the power. Today I ask God that I never cease in my mission to carry the message to other struggling addicted people.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 9th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverydays?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Step Four

When we consider integrity, we think of being true to ourselves, but what does this really mean? We expect to act in accordance with our beliefs, values, and principles but sometimes our thinking gets in the way, so that we act ‘out of character’, perhaps because we want to influence somebody, perhaps out of fear or just sheer confusion. Sometimes, people who have just sobered up have been so damaged by their addiction that they don’t know themselves at all and need to explore their personality. That, of course, is where Step Four is useful. For many in recovery, the chances of being true to themselves are slim until they tackle this Step. Am I ready to do a searching and fearless personal inventory?

If I have integrity, it will be recognised by others. Many people pretend to be what they are not, but they can be easy to see because they are often not consistent, believable or calm. Integrity gives us a quiet confidence and authority that comes with peace of mind. With integrity, we will be at ease with our Higher Power, secure in the knowledge that we have been managing our affairs in the right manner. Today I will seek to act according to my beliefs and values in all my affairs.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 30th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094027278120

Follow on Tiktok VIDEOS https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverydays?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

* March 30 *

Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Contentment

People talk about contentment in recovery happening in stages – at first sobriety can be a confusing time when we don’t quite know what’s happening but at least we’re sober; then our mind and body grow fitter, but we are still a bit anxious; then after several months we relax, feel the power, and start to enjoy our new life. Healthcare professionals talk of five elements needed for true wellbeing:

  • Make connections
  • Take action
  • Take notice
  • Keep learning
  • Give.

It is easy to see that a Twelve Step programme would meet all these requirements. Do I fully understand the path to feeling better than well?

All five of the elements mentioned above require effort. They will not just happen unless we do something. A lot of us had been so trapped in our role of helpless victim that we are not good at taking action. But nothing changes if nothing changes, as they say in AA. We must ask for help. Today I give thanks to God for leading me to a contented recovery.

Today I Will………………………………………………………

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 27th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/reel/764434862057735

Follow on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverydays/

Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Gratitude

Many of us have experienced a life in addiction where nothing seemed to make sense, nothing could be predicted, and nothing trusted. The world did not suddenly fall into place when we sobered up but at least we became more sensible, predictable, and trustworthy. Soon we realised that we did have two things that we could absolutely depend upon – a Higher Power and the Twelve Step fellowships. In fact, they were both a part of the same thing because they provided us with the support we needed. Anyone reading the Twelve Steps will see how interconnected they are. In a world where only a minority of people live in a conventional family and large numbers rely on medication of some kind just to be able to function, we in recovery can count ourselves among the fortunate few. Am I sufficiently grateful for Twelve Step recovery in my life?

To addicted people, recovery is all about beating addiction, but we should be mindful of the large numbers of dedicated people working in general healthcare who cheerfully shoulder the huge daily responsibility of caring for the sick, regardless of the often-severe cost to themselves. Today I give thanks for all who unselfishly work and care for others in the healing professions.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 26th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/reel/1107894353783701

Follow on TikTok @recoverydays

March 26th

Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Fellowship

Groups of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to solve a common problem, are found in many settings other than Twelve Step fellowships. People naturally depend on each other and learn from each other. Dependence and learning are two-way activities – there is a giver for every dependent and a teacher for every learner. That is how a fellowship works and that is why the idea of service is important.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. St Paul, Corinthians.

Do I fully understand that fellowship means a giving and a taking in equal measures?

It is not by chance that the Twelve Steps begin with the word ‘we’. Most addicted people, including presumably those who wrote the Steps, were well aware of their egotism and self-obsession that can so easily prevent them from fully engaging in the programme. Yet, in another of those strange paradoxes, nobody else can work the programme for us – we must do it ourselves. Today I thank God for the gift of the Twelve Step fellowships.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 25th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

See VIDEO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/reel/399818869437300

Follow me on TokTok VIDEO tiktok.com@recoverydays

Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Hope in Recovery

There are said to be five stages of recovery

  • Loss and surrender
  • Awakening of hope
  • Taking stock of resources
  • Rebuilding
  • Personal growth.

This is what the Twelve Steps are about. When we take ownership of our illness and take responsibility for change, we start to see how change can happen by following these Steps. But at this moment, we also need hope. The most likely way of finding hope is through the example of others because God works through other people. Am I sure that I am a worthy example to anyone struggling and in need of hope?

Understanding the nature of my illness and gaining a true picture of what needs to be done about it, are the basis for a life of recovery. The inspiration to get to work on the programme comes from the knowledge that my Higher Power is at my side to help me, in the same way as others I see are being helped. Today I ask God for the vision to see what I need to do for my recovery and the strength to take action.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 24th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

See VIDEO on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/reel/1109287710107622

Or follow me on tiktok.com@recoverydays

* March 24 *

Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Better than well

What is recovery, in everyday terms? It is building a meaningful life, it is finding a personal identity, it is connecting with others, it is physical wellness, it is moral rectitude, it is spiritual awakening, it is faith, hope and love, it is helping others. Any form of recovery has these elements. People who lack them are often so locked in their own desperation that they just cannot understand. They see happy laughing people and they are envious, but they sadly cannot make a connection. “And those that were seen dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music.” (Nietzsche). Do I fully appreciate the miracle of my recovery?

The guidance and strength of my Higher Power has enabled me to rebuild my life into something much better than the original model. As I work the Twelve Steps, my Higher Power is guiding me and also working through me so that my example may help others.  I must never forget that recovery puts responsibility on me to conduct myself in a way that helps others who see me, whether I am aware of them or not. Today I ask God that I always remember that recovery brings responsibility as well as blessings.

Today I Will………………………………………………………

Daily Reading by Chris March 20th Recovery Days

Posted on by

See VIDEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/792108109453009

Daily Thoughts on Living in Recovery

Willingness to change

The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails. (Bill W). Personal change always has two parts – the willingness and the action. But in between comes a third part – commitment. Commitment turns theory into practice. When we are motivated to do something, it is not always because we have a strong sense of commitment. Motivation can have a short life, but commitment lasts until the job is done. A bad hangover can motivate you to give up booze – until cravings appear. Am I fully committed to change?

Just as surrender has to be total and not just a ceasefire, so commitment has to be total and not just a dalliance. In recovery, surrender can be seen as letting others help us and commitment can be seen as letting us help ourselves. Neither will work unless done wholeheartedly. I ask God today for the honesty to commit myself fully to the process of change because half measures will not help me.

Today I Will……………………………………………………

Daily Readings by Chris B from Recovery Days

Posted on by

Reading on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094027278120

* March 18 *

Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Response to challenge

Life is not easy. For a lot of people, it is just one challenge after another. Yet many seem to expect it to be smooth going and complain when it is not. Others try to avoid the challenges and seek the softer easier way, but life usually finds them out in the end. Some become addicted. We have all seen people who seem to stroll through life without difficulty as if possessed with magic powers. In fact, they are people who have a clear vision of the world and what they need to do about living in it with peace of mind. They have taken the necessary action. Simple in concept but hard to achieve without rigorous honesty, determination and high principles. Can I reject the softer, easier way?

People who truly live life well are always respected. They trigger in us a desire to be like them because we have a longing to live a good life and to do what is right. We may forget words, but we remember how people make us feel. That is why the power of example matters. Today I ask God that I may pursue with determination my desire to live my life in the very best way that I can.

Today I Will……………………………………………………