Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 21st by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly


Music

When words leave off, music begins.
Heinrich Heine.


Sometimes, in moments of great stress we can’t
handle words, they’re just too much for our tortured
brain. But music has the power to soothe us beyond
words. If you’re withdrawing from drug addiction or
just unable to sleep, music can be the balm that
soothes your troubled soul. Therapists have long
known the power of music to penetrate where words
are not meaningful or even welcome. In times of
meditation and reflection, we learn to find and enjoy
inner peace. Am I willing to use all the tools of
recovery that are available?

Much of recovery requires positive action as well as
understanding of what needs to be done. We
succeed because we believe that the changes we
make are right. You can train a horse to dance but
humans cannot simply be trained, they need to be
persuaded. Self-improvement is a complex business
involving heart, mind and spirit. Music has great
power to change. Today I give thanks for the music
that is in me.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 20th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

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.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 14th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment


Change

If I am to continue to change, as I hope I will do, I need an idea of what I would like to become. The Twelve Steps have helped me identify character defects and I now wish to create something better. What do I admire in others? The Twelve Steps emphasise honesty, courage, responsibility, unselfishness, integrity and willingness to change. Few people have all these qualities at full strength, but some display perhaps a few of these to great effect. We should study them as role models and learn from them because the example of others is a powerful force for change in ourselves. Am I working on spiritual growth through learning from the example of others?


‘Courage to change’ is a part of the wording of the Serenity Prayer. If I am going to move from good intention to action, I must start doing things to help my recovery. Do I have a sponsor and a home group? Apart from the support and guidance that they give me, what can I learn from their attitudes and example? A child learns from watching how its parents behave more than from what they say. I will help myself to change by understanding the process of how it happens. I ask for the humility to learn from others.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 13th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

View VIDEO on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=A100094027278120

Follow on TikTok Videos at Tiktok.com/@recoverydays

Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Service

Doing service, helping others and carrying the message, all have one thing in common – connection. It is hard to feel that life has no purpose when you do these things regularly. It can sometimes seem tiresome, but why should I worry? I may sometimes think that others are not pulling their weight but that should not be my concern. I do service for the simple reason that it is good for my recovery and that is all I need to focus on. I should be glad that I am no longer isolating and am part of a group of positive people. Am I doing service and am I doing so for the right reasons?


When I do service, I serve myself too, when I help others, I help me, when I carry the message to a struggling person, I reinforce the message to myself. This is not unique to recovery from addiction, it is basic community spirit that has helped mankind since the start of life. We are all living in history and AA, NA and all the Twelve Step fellowships have a noble and inspiring record of growth and goodness of which I am proud to be a part. I ask today that my contribution be an active one so that at the end of the day, I can look back and say to myself that I did my best for the fellowships, I played a small part in history.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 11th by Chris B

Posted on by
Reply

Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Inferiority

Feelings of inferiority are often exacerbated by emotional pain and shame and guilt about the past. Dealing with the past, especially our own behaviour while in active addiction, is an important aspect of recovery. But replacing feelings of inferiority with self-worth is not just about the past, it is about who we are today. We try sometimes to compensate for low self-worth by perfectionism. If we do something perfectly, then we can feel good about ourselves. The trouble is that perfection is hard to sustain. True self-worth comes not from doing things but from accepting ourselves for what we are – human beings who are simply doing our best. Can I accept myself today and do my best to live life according to spiritual principles?


If you gaze too long into the abyss, the abyss will gaze into you. (Nietzsche). There are things in my past of which I am not proud. I have faced them and tried to make amends. Having been through this process, it does not help me to dwell on the past, quite the opposite. If there are still issues, despite my doing the Steps, then I must take further action, because the past will not melt away by itself. This may mean therapy, particularly if there has been trauma. Rituals such as writing down past events and then destroying the record, can sometimes give closure. With God’s help, I can rid myself of this burden.