Category Archives: Living skills

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 24th by Chris B

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Reaching out

In moments of great emotional distress, when a kind
person says: I don’t know what to say, they should
probably not say anything and just be there to listen
anyway. A gesture, however small, is often better
than words. When you smile at someone, it is a
small act of kindness. It is quite likely that those
who are happiest are those who do the most for
others; it is certainly worth a try. Am I ready to offer
help to others today?

In my father’s house there are many rooms.
New Testament, St John.
I should imagine the world as my father’s house and
people I meet, as his guests whom I should treat
with care and respect. Of course, this requires
humility and non-judgmental service. Have I
considered treating others in the same way as I
would like to be treated, if I were in need? Like it or
not, I am a part of mankind, and I cannot stay
detached, I must be involved. Today I ask God that
I will not stay detached but instead that I will find
opportunities to help others.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 23rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Today matters


Nothing is worth more than this day.
Wolfgang Von Goethe.
Sometimes we allow a day to pass when we are so
preoccupied with trivial worries that we never
consider what a wonderful gift we have. We should
seize every day as if it is our last, but seize it gently.
A lot of the time we are held back from doing what
we really want to do through fear – of failure or fear
of the unknown. It’s time to reconsider – life really is
short. Will I enjoy every day that is given to me?


We live in a flash of light; evening comes and it’s
night forever. Spiritual teacher Anthony de Mello’s
writing also points out that all mystics, whatever
their religion or theological views, are united in
telling us: All is well, and all will be well. They say
this in spite of the apparent mess that the world is
in. It is up to me to have faith in creation and the
Higher Power that gives me today. Sometimes it
seems hard to be optimistic but if I hand things over
to my Higher Power, then it is showing lack of faith
to imagine that disaster might follow. Today I ask
God for the gift of faith.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 22nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Potential for growth

If you found yourself in a wonderful museum or art
gallery but you only had time to see inside one
room, then you would come away feeling
unfulfilled and disappointed. You wish you had
been able to explore more of what was in there.
Going through life without finding out everything
you are capable of, is a similar wasted opportunity.
Recovery from addiction gives us time to reassess
ourselves. How excited would you be to discover
that you can sing, paint or write a book? Am I
exploring the full extent of my talents?


I wasted so much of my life in the mad maze of
addiction. Do I really want to settle for the wellworn
bits of me that I already know? Why not treat
my recovery as the previously unnoticed doorway
through which I can reach the secret garden that is
the undiscovered me? My own self-realisation is
good for me and for the world. I only have this life
and every moment is precious. What holds me back
from starting this exercise of discovery? Today I ask
God to help me find all aspects of myself.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 21st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Empathy

A person with a big ego will struggle to find the
empathy needed to offer true kindness. Addicted
people are sick people, not bad people. They
deserve to be treated the same as anyone in need of
health care. When the day comes that they ask for
help, it is important that they receive a good
response. Most people in recovery never forget the
welcome and the kindness that they received at their
first meeting. The memory remains, because people
remember how they felt at times of great stress. Will
I show kindness and empathy when I offer help to
an addicted person?

The first stages of recovery are a time of great
vulnerability. Is is a common experience that unites
us in fellowship. The kindness and support that we
all receive is a precious thing that we must keep
alive by passing it on like an Olympic torch. In
doing so, we are passing on our power – Higher
Power. Today I ask God that I will always pass on
what I receive.
……………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 19th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations


Keep it simple

For many people, the words: I did this – it worked,
are more compelling than: Do this – it will work.
The Twelve Steps don’t instruct, they merely
suggest that we do the things that worked for others.
They do not claim that theirs is the only path to
sobriety. We tend to question direct orders, whereas
the example of another is difficult to deny. The
Twelve Steps are known as a simple programme for
complicated people. The slogan ‘Keep it Simple’ is
not just something to hang on the wall but
something we should carry around in our hearts
and minds wherever we go. Am I keeping things
simple?


It is usually my ego that leads me to question things.
Of course, some actions and some statements need
to be questioned. Perhaps I should check if I am
suitably qualified, before I raise my hand. Do I
know better what is good for me, than people with
years of sobriety? My track record seems to indicate
otherwise. There is sense in the old timers’ advice to
take the cotton wool out of my ears and put it in my
mouth. I ask God today to give me the common
sense to listen to advice instead of questioning.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Humility

If you want to learn humility, perhaps you could
start by looking at your past behaviour. Reviewing
character defects in the cold light of sobriety is a
humbling experience. How arrogant were you? Do
you see evidence of that deadly combination of huge
ego and low self-esteem that so many addicted
people have? Step Six is the Step of Humility. If I am
truly honest with myself, there will be much that
is humbling as I progress through Steps Four
to Nine. Humility can be painful, but it is an
indication of spiritual progress. Do I feel true
humility when I look at my past actions?


There is little to be gained from passively looking
backwards, unless we learn from our mistakes.
Remember Lot’s wife. True humility opens me
me to receiving help from my Higher Power
because it takes away my ego, the main barrier
that stops me asking for help. Today I pray for
humility to admit my mistakes honestly and can ask

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 18th by Chris B

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Remember mindfulness – relax your whole body

Pride


When Alexander the Great visited the Delphic
Oracle in 336 BC, he hoped to be told that he would
conquer the world. Instead, he received the
equivocal message that he would be ‘invincible’.
This turned out to be true because despite military
success, he was unable to conquer himself and died
aged only thirty-two. The suspected cause of
death was alcohol poisoning. The Oracle might
have added two other bits of jargon they
commonly used: ‘Know thyself’ and ‘Nothing
in excess.’ Alexander was one in a long line of very
gifted men and women whose lives were blighted
by their inability to overcome addiction.
Do I understand the need to make recovery
my priority above everything else?


I must build my life round my recovery When
things go well, our ego makes us minimise the
dangers of relapse. Victorious Roman generals
returning in triumph from war had to be
accompanied by a slave who whispered ‘memento
mori’ (remember you are mortal). The Twelve Steps
give us the same message. We ignore it at our
peril. Today I ask to remember that pride can
cause relapse.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 17th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Kindness

Kindness and compassion are important factors for
people with addiction problems. The word
‘kindness’ originates from the old English word
‘kin’ for ‘family’ and ‘connection’. Showing
kindness to another is sharing their trouble and
pain, as we would do in any relationship we care
about. Kindness is consideration and respect, not
only to others but to ourselves. Am I ready today to
show kindness to anyone that I see in need?

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
The Dalai Lama.
Kindness is what binds a healthy society together. It
should never be given selectively; it should be
shared amongst everyone. I cannot expect to receive
kindness from strangers if I am not prepared to
show kindness myself. When I work the Steps and
have some experience of sober living, it is then my
responsibility to extend the hand of friendship and
kindness to others. That is what is meant by Step
Twelve. Today I ask to be ready to extend the hand
of friendship and kindness to anyone in need.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 16th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Book lovers celebrate this day as Bloomsday, in honour of James Joyce’s wonderful book Ulysses which chronicles the ‘voyage’ of Leopold Bloom around Dublin, on this day in 1904. The book is structured like Homer’s Odyssey, written around three thousand years earlier. Homer’s hero, Ulysses encounters challenges and temptations such as the Lotus Eaters and the Sirens, which are sometimes seen as a metaphor for addiction. To avoid the Sirens’ seductive call (which leads to death) Ulysses has himself tied to the mast of his ship so that he cannot respond. His forward thinking allows him to be exposed to temptation but still be kept safe. Have I put measures in place to keep me safe from the Siren call of addiction?


Addicted people, especially in early recovery, are often encouraged to think like Ulysses, which means having a pre-arranged plan for dealing with cravings and events which trigger addictive behaviour. Such a plan might include carrying the phone number of a fellowship member and erasing contact details of dealers. Today I ask to be alert to the Siren call of addiction that may sound any time.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 15th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Better than well

One way of getting ‘better than well’ is simply to do your best in everything you try. Then,you will go to sleep each night with peace of mind. Whatever your view creation and your place in the world, it seems implausible that we are here just to sit around in a half-hearted way. You may or may not expect a day of divine judgement to come, but for the sake of your own self-respect it is surely better to try your best in all your daily tasks. By doing so, you give yourself the opportunity to get the most out of everything – your health, intellect, spiritual life, relationships and work. ‘The more you put in, the more you get out’ is one of those self-evident truths that should immediately spur us into action. Am I ready to do my best in all my affairs?


Other well-tried ways of becoming ‘better than well’ include connecting, exercising, learning, getting involved and giving. All can be found in a Twelve Step programme. Today I ask to do my best in all things.