Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 15th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Listen to the silence

Unity


Unity is the bedrock of personal recovery. The
founders of Alcoholics Anonymous appreciated this
quite early on. If we cannot recover together in
unity, then our whole fellowship – its structure and
its members – will melt away, leaving us without
support of any kind. We may become too weak to
survive on our own. Your fellowship needs you! I
have a responsibility to support the organisation
that has given me so much. The idea that: I can’t
but we can is not unique to Twelve Step Fellowships
but is nevertheless true. Am I aware of the
importance of unity?


A Twelve Step fellowship is democracy in action
(though it has been described as ‘high-functioning
anarchy’). We act together, not as individuals. That
means there is no leader, no one person in charge
who makes rules or decisions on our behalf. Nobody
has the right to ban us or stifle dissent and everyone
may have their own views. Hierarchies and rules
lead to punishments, resentments and disunity.
Responsibility, unselfishness and love bind us
together. For that, I give thanks.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 14th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Breathe Deeply

Service


In the fellowships, what is meant by Service? We are
a large group of people from very different
backgrounds with a common purpose, and our goal
is happy sobriety through spiritual growth. Yet, for
many of us, the programme is unexplored territory.
We may have admitted our powerlessness and
unmanageability and asked for help and then taken
it no further. Each person is free to follow their own
path without criticism of any kind, but there is so
much more to recovery than just sobriety. Doing
service involves spreading the message and helping
others to progress. But, in the process, we help
ourselves to grow spiritually. Am I ready to do
service?


Secretary, treasurer, greeter and teamaker are some
of the more visible roles that are undertaken when
we do service. But the act of attending a meeting
where we talk to newcomers and support
colleagues is itself a form of service, as is our
example on a daily basis of following the Twelve
Steps to the best of our ability. I am ready to do my
part in giving service.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 13th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment


Step Ten


Am I regularly checking that I am heading in the
right direction? This Step highlights the fact that
recovery is for life and the Twelve Steps are not just
to be ‘done’ and then forgotten. The fact is that
addiction is never finished with us and therefore we
must never relax and call ourselves cured. Regular
maintenance and vigilance are required. We now
have purpose and structure back in our lives to help
us so that it becomes a habit.. Am I keeping my
recovery strong through regular maintenance?

I must keep a watch for the old enemies: dishonesty,
selfishness, resentments, and laziness. The best way
of making sure they don’t come back is to keep
following the programme because if I interact with
the right people, any emerging character defect will
be highlighted in contrast to those following the
programme correctly. I must immerse myself in the
three legacies – Recovery, Unity and Service. I am grateful to be part of a Twelve Step fellowship.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 12th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness

Turning it over

They reckon ill who leave me out –
When me they fly, I am the wings.
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Emerson believed that God was always with us, a
part of nature. Indeed, our Higher Power is
watching and supporting us, even when we are
unaware of it. Am I able to turn my problems over to
my Higher Power, even when I am in doubt as to
his presence in my life?


I am the doubter and the
doubt, and I the hymn the
Brahmin sings. (Ibid).
The poet is saying that ultimately the seeker of help
and the prayer itself, are part of the same thing – the
universal power for good in creation. We must trust
in the power to help us and not doubt it.
Today I give thanks to my Higher Power who I
know is always present, even when my mind is
elsewhere.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 11th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Humour


Humour has many forms. The acts of smiling and laughing are good for us because they help the brain release feel-good chemicals. Humour is also relaxing and calms anxiety. Perhaps a sense of humour is the most important tool we have to help us learn life’s lessons. A chicken said to a pig: Isn’t it awesome that we both have a part in the great British breakfast of bacon and eggs? Yes, replied the pig, but you just contribute, while I make a full commitment. With humour we can learn and remember truths that change our attitudes. Am I ready to use humour to help my recovery?

Recovery is there to be enjoyed positively and shared laughter ha power as great as anything serious. The ancient Greeks gave tragedy and comedy equal status. Humour helps us see things in differently. The direst situations can appear more manageable with the injection of humour. Addiction is a serious business but humour can be one of the tools I use to achieve recovery. I wish to be ‘better than well’ and that certainly includes laughter. The Twelve Step fellowships provide friendship, kindness and humour and for these I am grateful.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 10th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your body


Commitment


The Irish writer Brendan Behan was a committed Republican whose activities landed him in prison in the nineteen-forties. An alcoholic from an early age, Behan described himself as: ‘a drinker with a writing problem.’ He is remembered for his humour, once saying: I’ve joined Alcoholics Anonymous – I’m drinking under an assumed name. Sadly, he died aged forty-one, after collapsing in a Dublin pub. His life was gradually taken over by alcohol. He was unable to make a lasting commitment to sobriety. Addicted people can seem very lovable and amusing but, their lives often end in unhappiness and despair. Am I committed to sobriety?

Commitment means following a course of action even when it becomes hard, and you want to stop. This can be a challenge in early recovery because many of us have become used to giving up and running away from adversity and pain. Early sobriety and times when we crave our addiction of choice should be recognised. It is good to plan responses, such as people whose help may be asked and activities that will change our mindset. Today I ask for the courage to keep to my commitments.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 9th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly


Personal values


We all have an internal value system which we refer to for decisions, perhaps subconsciously. It can be helpful to identify the values (there may be quite a few) and then pick the five that we consider the most important. These might be, for example: Honesty, Helping others, Openness, Determination and Humility. We can then ask ourselves if these are still our priorities – not everyone has the same. We can also look back at some of our recent decisions and consider whether we applied these values correctly; how did we respond, for example, when we saw a stranger in need of help? If we see room for improvement, we should make that happen. Do I review my value system?


When was the last time that I was really happy? When did I last feel justifiably proud of myself? Was it related to the values that I have and remain true to? If I had to explain my personal values to another person, could I do so with assurance because I feel they are right? Understanding my values and getting into the habit of referring back to them when I have important decisions to make, can lessen anxiety and increase my self-esteem. Today I ask for the will to keep working on self-improvement.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 8th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations


Facing challenges


Danish physicist and Nobel laureate Niels Bohr was born on this day in 1885. An agnostic with a sense of humour, he is famous for his dictum about the horseshoe he kept over his front door: They say it works, even if you don’t believe in it. Difficulties should be welcomed as great opportunities, he said: Every great
and deep difficulty bears in itself its own
solution. Such words should resonate with those in early recovery. Do I see life’s challenges as opportunities for growth?


Our ability as humans to create problems seems to be matched by our ability to find solutions. Here are some methods:

  • Keep positive: easy does it
  • Plan – a day at a time
  • Accept help: let go and let God
  • Focus: what really matters?
  • Don’t over-think: keep it simple
  • When I embrace challenges, I grow in maturity. It is all part of reversing the lifestyle that started with my powerlessness and unmanageability. I give thanks today for the Twelve Steps.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 7th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Review Expectations

Unselfishness

Addiction makes us self-obsessed and it can be hard to break the habit. A life of focusing on our own needs turns us into super-selfish monsters. Unselfishness can be learnt. Here a a few things to try:

  • Listen with full attention
  • Give unconditional positive regard
  • Do not judge others
  • Try giving – of yourself
  • Consciously put your needs after those of others
  • Say a prayer for someone in trouble

Am i ready to work on my selfish attitude?

“Caring for others is the best way to fulfil our own concerns”. The Dalai Lama.

Today I will reflect on these words and try to care for others.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 6th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly


Higher Power

Higher Power is not easy to define, and we will never know the true meaning. Here’s one person’s thoughts:
Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake some day and take offense. Annie Dillard, Pulitzer Prize winner.
Can I treat my Higher Power with respect and not take it for granted?


The point is, that what we need for recovery is a Power that is greater than the evil of addiction. Names and labels are less important. A ‘Power greater than ourselves’ is the requirement. I am grateful that I have a Higher Power to rely on?