Tag Archives: Addiction treatment

Daily Reading from recovery Days December 31st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Mindfulness

Another year awaits us. How do we feel? Take a few
moments to reflect on the past year and focus on the
good that has come from it. Ignore the bad – be
grateful for the good. Where would we be today if we
were not in the programme? Recovery shows us a
different path, where we recognise the peace that
comes from doing our best and the contentment
that comes from a sense of belonging and
appreciating small things around us. Am I grateful
to be alive, clean and sober, just for today?

Take a moment of mindfulness, at the cusp of this
new year to be thankful for your life and reflect on
the beauty of your surroundings this present
moment, as the great American poet William
Stafford did:
Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
Sound from outside fills the air?
…What can anyone give you greater than now,
Starting here, right in this room,
When you turn around? William Stafford.
Today I thank my Higher Power for helping me to
appreciate all the beauty and wisdom in the world

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 30th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Feel your muscles from top to toes

Procrastination


Procrastination is often said to be the thief of time,
but it can also be the slayer of opportunity.
Underneath this attitude is often fear of negative
consequences. It is a form of denial that some of us
will recognise in addictive behaviour and like most
denial, it merely postpones the inevitable. We
damage relationships with others, and we often
damage our own mental and spiritual health when
we procrastinate. At first it may seem the softer,
easier option but it can lead to far worse situations.
Am I resolved to banish procrastination?

Not only am I prone to procrastination, I am also a
very impatient person. This kind of paradoxical
character is normally found in very small children,
and they usually grow out of it quite easily. Now
that I am in recovery I must grow up and put away
childish things. Opportunities appear and I must
grasp them. I am blessed that I have a second
chance at life, but few other opportunities are
offered on a repeat basis. From now on my motto is
carpe diem (seize the day). I live life to the fullest.
Today I ask for wisdom to make maximum use of
my second chance at life.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 26th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Feel your muscles from top to toes

Self-care


It’s interesting how quickly the Christmas spirit can
disappear once the great day is past. If we are not
careful, goodwill to all mankind can quickly revert to
selfishness and unpleasantness. Before I expect
others to behave well, I have to make sure that I
myself am doing my utmost to uphold the principles
that will make the world a better place. If I show
myself as someone who is kind, trustworthy and
seeking the best in others, then some of my attitude
may rub off on those I am in contact with. Am I
living my life according to principles?


Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843.
The story tells how Ebenezer Scrooge, a nasty old
miser, is visited by the ghost of his former partner,
and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future
who transform him into a wholly admirable person.
Thenceforth in his life he continues to embody the
spirit of Christmas.
He had no further intercourse with spirits and lived on
the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it
was always said of him, that he knew how to keep
Christmas well.
May I retain the spirit of Christmas as well as Mr
Scrooge.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 22nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax muscles from top to toes

Writing


Sharing secrets can feel like a form of confession but
doing so makes us feel that we have let go of a great
burden. If speaking is too difficult, perhaps we may
find writing may be a solution. Writing can help us
see things more clearly and has been used as a tool
in therapy for a long time. There is something about
the manner in which we put down our thoughts in
writing that helps our brain to process emotions we
have previously suppressed. Do I recognise that I
have deeply hidden feelings?

The great German poet Wolfgang von Goethe said
his work had been ‘One long confession’. There is
an element of confession in a lot of great writing.
Poetry especially is a medium for expressing
thoughts and feelings too difficult for everyday
conversation. Today I am grateful that I can enjoy
writing as a means of self-expression.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe slowly


Pride

Pride is one of the character defects that stops us
making progress because it tells us that we do not
need to make the effort. The other, more honest
block to progress is fear. These are both major
problems for a lot of people in recovery and we will
probably need help in addressing them. If we are
lucky enough to be in a Twelve Step fellowship,
then we can work on pride with our sponsor as we
do the Steps. Reaching out to others and
consciously seeking honesty, humility and
gratitude are fundamental to spiritual growth. Do I
understand the need to address my pride so that I
can look at myself honestly?

Pride is a part of my ego that stops me from looking
at myself honestly. If I cannot manage my pride, I will
not be able to admit to myself that, in the great
majority of my difficulties in life, it has been me
that was the problem. Humility is an important
factor. Without humility, success will always be in
doubt. Today I ask for humility in all my affairs
because it is my best tool for ego management.

Daily Readings from Recovery Days December 19th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Envy

Envy is a pointless emotion. Philosopher Emmanuel Kant said: Envy is the tendency to view the success of others with distress even when it does not detract from one’s own. A lot of what upsets us about the behaviour of others is to do with the closeness that their lives relate to ours. A person we know, who is of perhaps the same age and background, but who is a lot more successful than us in some way – say financially, is likely to drive us mad with envy, whereas someone we hear about but whom we’ve never met, will probably affect us much less. Why? Because someone we are not close to is not seen as a rival. We just don’t like the thought of someone we know doing better than us. A preferable attitude is to study the success of others and learn from it. Can I view the success of others positively?


Envy can turn into resentment if not addressed. I must first ask myself if my feelings of envy are based on fact or simply assumptions. It may well be that, if I take the trouble to understand how another person achieved their perceived success, I might question whether it was worth the effort. Again, if I analyse their situation and decide that their success is admirable and beneficial, I may decide to use that person as a role model so as to enhance my own wellbeing. That is a much more positive approach. Today I ask to free myself from envy.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 18th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Feel your muscles from top to toes


Ambition


Many addicted people are used to living with problems. They may not have handled them well in the past, but they are familiar territory. When we sober up and start making a success of things, we find this challenging. We crave success and material rewards because they soothe our fears and increase our self-esteem. Personal triumph is dangerous for our recovery because our ego may start telling us that we are strong enough to handle things on our own. Am I vigilant in checking my self-confidence by reminding myself that any success I have is because of guidance from my Higher Power?

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions). Most addicted people are creative, determined and good at solving problems. It is usually negative attitudes that have led them into trouble. An improved perspective is required for successful recovery. AA stands to ‘Altered Attitudes’. There is truth in that. Today I ask for honesty to identify where my attitudes need improvement.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 17th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly


Anonymity


Anonymity is not a device to stop the world from knowing our dread secrets. It has two main purposes; firstly, to protect and reassure newcomers that their words and actions will be treated completely confidentially. The social stigma surrounding addiction is considerable. Many addicted people feel shame, which stops them from opening up or even seeking help. Secondly, anonymity encourages us to treat our clean and sober status with humility. There is no place for personal glorification or other profit derived from publicising our recovery. Am I grateful for the concept of anonymity that the programme provides?

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. (Tradition Twelve of Alcoholics Anonymous). It is likely that many of us are not anonymous as regards our family, friends and daily contacts. Indeed, there may be positive benefits from that. However, it is important we always remember the Twelve Step fellowships should not be used simply as a means for personal publicity and profit. Our only purpose in breaking anonymity should be in pursuit of greater understanding. Today I give thanks for the wisdom of those who worked to build the Twelve Step fellowships.

Daily Readings from Recovery Days December 16th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe slowly

Positivity

Being judged and criticised is a familiar feeling for most addicted people. We used to reflect this in our dealings with other people but in the fellowships, we learn to look for the good. When we get a negative thought, we should decide to search for a positive one to replace it. This is a habit that can be learnt. By doing so, we not only help ourselves to relate to other people better, but we actually make ourselves happier. Have I decided that I have the choice to look at things in a positive way if I wish?

I can do things that will help me focus on positivity. The slogan ‘stick with the winners’ is an example of positive action. If I decide to be with positive people, I will learn from them, and their mood will affect my mood. Other slogans I can choose to follow are: ‘pass it on’, keep an open mind’, and ‘turn it over’. Positive action produces positive results and builds a positive person. I must always remember that recovery is about self-help. If I see myself as a passive recipient who needs to do little except receive the goodness of others, then my sobriety will always be in danger. Today I ask for the strength of mind to take positive action to progress my recovery on a daily basis.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 15th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably
Yet
The progression of substance abuse is often illustrated using the term ‘yet’. When someone says something like: ‘John ended up in jail for drink driving, but I won’t let that happen to me’, people in recovery from addiction say to themselves the little word ‘yet’, because they know that with active addiction, things always go from bad to worse. We may believe we are in control of our drinking and using because to think otherwise would mean we have to do something about it – it is much easier to delay that inevitable reality moment until the pain becomes unbearable. Am I willing to face reality and to take appropriate action?
Notorious Albanian leader Enver Hoxha is said to have once made a New Year speech to the nation: This year will be much tougher than last year. Happily, though, it is a lot better than next year is going to be! When we package things, we must be willing to face the whole truth. Many people who find themselves at their first AA meeting or in rehab, say to themselves: ‘There’s no way I’m as bad as some of these people’. But they fail to think forwards – that next year, things are going to be a whole lot worse, if they don’t take action. I accept myself for what I am, but that should not stop me trying to improve. Today I ask for the courage to be honest with myself.