Tag Archives: Addiction treatment

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 1st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Good life

We are the heroes in the story of our lives. But, like in a Greek tragedy, the hero is usually the one who is the problem. Greek tragedy is about rage and grief and right and wrong and consequences that inevitably happen. It’s all a bit reminiscent of active addiction. The Greeks didn’t go in for happy endings much. They left that sort of thing to the imagination. They were desperate to explore morality and responsibility because they believed the only acceptable life was one lived with integrity, honour and virtue. We could all benefit from a study of Greek tragedy but few of us will manage it. But we can still be heroes. Am I ready to live as a hero in the story of my life?

Purging the emotions in Greek tragedy was known as ‘catharsis’. It is followed by a feeling of relief. Steps Four and Five are cathartic because by identifying and sharing our character defects, we are able to let them go. But life doesn’t have to be all about dramatic catharsis. Zen for example, is a way of meditation that lets go of feelings through gentle meditation – a sort of catharsis without the drama. Some of us prefer it that way. Today I ask God for a life without too much negative drama, whatever the possible benefits.

Today I Will………………………………………………………………………………..

Daily Reading of Recovery Days April 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

New ideas

Addiction means giving up everything else for the sake of having just one thing. Recovery is about giving up just one thing for the sake of regaining everything else. It should be so easy to choose between addiction and recovery, but so many of us cannot let go, so as to make the right choice. It’s like the old monkey trap story – the monkey’s hand fits through the hole to pick up the rice but the hand with the rice can’t fit back out. For the monkey, like us, it’s a mind problem – not being able to let go of old ideas. Am I ready to let go of old attitudes and embrace new ideas?

The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.

Maynard Keynes.

We don’t want to give up our old ways because we can’t imagine that anything else would work for us. We can’t imagine life without our drug or behaviour of choice, and we certainly can’t imagine enjoying life without it. Today I ask God for the strength of mind and insight, to be able to let go of the old attitudes that are stopping me from embracing the new.

Today I Will

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 24th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Openness

If you try to explain Shakespeare’s Hamlet to a group of African tribesmen, as an anthropologist did some years ago, you will get a different interpretation of its twisted plot from that of an Oxbridge graduate. Perhaps Hamlet really was bewitched by his uncle and perhaps Laertes killed his sister Ophelia to sell her body, as the tribesmen insisted – who really knows what Shakespeare was thinking? The point is that we must keep an open mind and embrace new ideas because in truth, our own ideas and attitudes have not served us very well in the past. Am I prepared to keep an open mind and embrace new ideas rather than being dogmatic and judgemental?

Open-mindedness leads us to admit the possibility of error on our part and allows us to think that even long held beliefs might be incorrect. It gives us the courage to change our minds and accept our own fallibility. Intellectual and spiritual progress depends on the discussion and adaptation of ideas without rancour, blame or shame. The alternative is stagnation. Today I ask God for openness of mind so that I can enjoy new ideas.

Today I Will

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 17th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Breathe calmly

Helping others

Richmond W, author of the inspirational AA meditation book Twenty-four Hours A Day, also wrote poetry. His lines on helping others from his poem Not Enough run as follows:

To hear is not enough…

…I must give wherever need appears And learn to live unselfishly.   R.Walker

Richmond was as good as his words and is said to have helped hundreds of struggling addicted people during his years of sobriety. A man of true integrity and a shining example to us all. Am I ready to help others in need, without hesitation?

If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

Chinese proverb.

Altruism is pleasurable, it builds connections that benefit both giver and receiver. When we look beyond ourselves, we see that we are not alone, and we realise the limitations of staying within our selfish comfort zone. If I help others, I help myself. Today I ask for the courage and insight to be proactive in helping people in need.

Today I Will…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 14th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Fellowship and connection

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.

Shakespeare, King Henry V.

Whether we have actually shed blood or not, all of us addicted people have been in a fight and this common experience gives us a strong sense of fellowship and a sense of purpose too. Brotherhood and sisterhood are great words that bring us a sense of connection and togetherness at a crucial time in our lives. For most people, doing something as part of a group or team gives more satisfaction than doing it alone. Am I glad of the feeling of team spirit and involvement that I get from belonging to a Twelve Step group?

Attending a fellowship meeting and sitting alone at the back of the room, we can observe the other members and we can learn from their words of wisdom, but do we feel comfortable? If we feel welcome and if we interact with others, it is likely that we will enjoy the meeting more and leave with a warm feeling of having been a part of something, rather than having been just a spectator. Others, perhaps with more experience, have a responsibility to extend the hand of friendship but we have a responsibility to ourselves to make an effort to connect. Today I ask God for the courage to make the extra effort needed to come out of my isolation and meet new people.

Today I Will…………………………………………………………………………………

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 4th by Chris B

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* April 4 *

Remember Mindfulness – Close eyes briefly

Honest in all my affairs

Absolute honesty requires constant attention. Many addicted people are expert at ‘getting away with things.’ For example, blaming others for our situation is usually a form of dishonesty to ourselves because we cannot face the reality that we are responsible for the choices we make. Denial of the severity of our illness is another example. Unless we can get into the habit of being rigorously honest with ourselves in every way, then no amount of courage or positive action is going to help us stay sober because we will be starting from a position of unreality. Will I be honest today in all my affairs?

Honesty demands courage. So often in the past, we may have chosen the softer, easier way because we were not brave enough to stand up for the truth. In recovery, we have to change. Where do we find that courage – from our Higher Power, who acts through other people – the support and example of our brothers and sisters in recovery. I ask God today for strength in my weakness, courage in my fear and fellowship in my isolation.

Today I Will……………………………………………………..

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 3rd by Chris B

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* April 3*

Remember mindfulness – breathe calmly

Conscience

Everyone experiences cognitive dissonance in their lives, in some form or another – the moment when you consider or actually do something that jars with your principles. It could be as relatively minor as dropping a piece of litter in the street. People struggling with addiction often live a life of repeated cognitive dissonance because every time they drink or use, they are acting against their deepest instincts. To do so causes anxiety and is highly stressful – humans do not like being in this state and may try to ease the pain with a quick fix. The only way to end the dissonance and restore emotional balance is to listen to our conscience with complete honesty and then, to act with courage to redress the situation. Am I ready to listen to my conscience honestly?

I believe that help is available from outside myself. I experience this help in all kinds of ways, on a daily basis. People of faith seldom lack courage, but it is not empty bravado. It is the quiet and humble knowledge that our lives have a purpose and that we will be guided to fulfil that purpose if we ask. Today I ask for the honesty to listen to my conscience and the courage to take the action I need.

Today I Will………………………………………………………

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Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 27th by Chris B

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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 25th by Chris B

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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 Readings by Chris B from Recovery Days

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Daily Thoughts on Living in Recovery

* March 19 *

Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Responsibility for change

Newcomers to Twelve Step fellowships are often advised to stop focusing on why they are addicted and instead think on what they can do about it. Discovering a reason for your addiction might seem like a way of resolving a problem easily, but in truth there may be no reason, except that you’re an addicted person. Seeking a reason may well be a device to avoid the pain of having to make some life-changing decisions. Far better to focus on positive action and take responsibility for change. Am I prepared to face the reality of my addiction and take responsibility for change?

When we embark upon a searching and fearless personal inventory at Step Four, it may help us to reflect that a life of total dedication to the truth is a reasonable aspiration for anyone. It is likely to result in true peace of mind, but it will not be easy. It does require continuous self-appraisal as recommended in Step Ten. Yet the feeling of relief when we have completed Steps Four and Five will be enormous. Today I ask for the strength to be fearless and thorough in taking personal inventory.

Today I Will…………………………..……………………….