Monthly Archives: February 2025

Daily reading from Recovery Days February 28th by Chris B

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Awareness


We are what we think. All that we are
arises with our thoughts. With our
thoughts, we make our world.
The Buddha.
If we are angry at something said by someone, that
is a choice we have made because we think we have
been hurt or insulted in some way. Another person
in that situation might not be angry at all because
their perception of the event is different. People do
not make us angry; we allow people to make us
decide to be angry. Why should we allow a stranger
to spoil our day? Maturity comes when we can view
a situation and our responses objectively. Can I
meet life’s challenges with mindful awareness?

You make me angry is something that children say
because they’re not aware how their responses are
triggered. As adults, we can do better. Blaming
someone else for our anger is immature and self-defeating.
As we grow spiritually, we must recognise
our feelings. Anger is a choice. Today I ask God for
maturity to be responsible for my feelings.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Acceptance, not avoidance


The ability to ‘feel one’s feelings’ is not given to
everyone. Some of us have to work hard to get near
to that state. Sometimes just tolerating your feelings
without being able to identify them, is as close as
you will get. Emotional sobriety in other words, is
not residing on a pink cloud but accepting the
presence of a fog of potentially unstable feelings that
may or may not be clearing. It’s also about staying
sober no matter what you might be feeling.
Maintaining emotional sobriety allows no
compromise. It means accepting, not avoiding and
facing, not fleeing. Where we are not yet up to the
task, we can rely on our Higher Power for strength,
as always. Am I ready to accept and not avoid?

Whenever we talk about feelings, we should
remember that mind, body and spirit are all
connected. Therefore, if we want to regulate our
feelings, we should first regulate our thoughts. Our
behaviour will change accordingly. Today I ask to
remember that feelings are a response to thoughts

Daily Reading of Recovery Days February 26th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close your eyes

Serenity

Some of us sought serenity for years. We tried all
kinds of ways to get peace and serenity. Substance
abuse was probably one. Our lives remained full of
pain and unhappiness. Drink and drugs sometimes
seemed the only solution. The vicious cycle of selfharm
went on for years. Then the drugs stopped
working and even that escape route was closed. All
that was left of our lives was the pain. It is said that
people only change when the pain of not changing is
worse than the pain of changing. So, under great
duress we changed. Now we wonder why it took so
long. Do I understand what true serenity means?


In recovery, we can face reality without fear. We who
have known a life of fear understand that it is not
reality that is to be feared, but unreality. By turning
our wills and lives over to a Higher Power we can
know freedom from fear and the serenity that comes
from inner peace and strength. Today I give thanks
to God for the freedom from fear that comes from working my recovery to the best of my ability.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 25th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe deeply


Empowerment

Whether you are in recovery or not, taking
responsibility for your future wellbeing is a moment
of empowerment. It can be exhausting when you try
to run your life according to what the world expects
– financial success, material possessions and a
flamboyant social image. Mindfulness and
meditation show us a different way. Instead of
results, trophies, and achievements we are offered
peace, understanding and appreciation of the world
in which we live. Instead of stress, fear and anxiety,
we find relaxation, friendship and awareness. Am I
ready to put my emotional wellbeing before material
success?

In active addiction we were trying to control people
and events, asserting our own points of view, and
making demands. Now, we are more often asking
for help or expressing thanks. That is no bad thing,
but perhaps we should spend more time listening.
Our Higher Power will not ignore us, but we run the
risk of missing messages that are sent because we
are too busy. Meditation is listening. We should
meditate daily and feel the difference. Today I pray
to listen to my Higher Power.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 24th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – listen to the silence

Emotional wellbeing

Is there a difference between emotional sobriety and
emotional wellbeing? I think it is the difference
between containing the torrent of our emotions
within robust channels, so they do not overflow and
cause disastrous flooding, and the tranquillity of a
peaceful lake, where birds alight on the water and
children come to play. Establishing emotional
sobriety is an important task that for most people, is
undertaken in early recovery, when our emotions are
often rampant. Emotional wellbeing comes later.
There is quite a big difference. Do I understand
that my ultimate goal is emotional wellbeing?

Learning to control my emotions requires help from
my Higher Power. I have faith that the help will be
given. I have only to ask, but I must be sure that all
obstacles have been removed – my pride, my ego
and my stubbornness. If I humbly ask for help, I
will soon know real peace and serenity. God grant
me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot
change, courage to change the things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 23rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Emotional sobriety

Emotional Sobriety is the management of negative and
potentially harmful emotions that pose a threat to a
recovering person’s state of contented abstinence.
Like it or not, most addicted people are sensitive and
have learned in the past to manage their emotions in
maladaptive fashion – usually resorting to addictive
behaviour to help them cope with the pain of anger,
grief, anxiety, rejection, and the like. The key to
practising emotional sobriety is to learn to accept
the pain of our emotions. We must step back and see
the reality of each situation and tell ourselves that
growth comes from experience, good or bad. Do I
understand that running away from painful emotions
is no longer a coping strategy?


Our pain and suffering can be a gift to others. Our
response to emotional pain and the manner in
which we deal with it, is something that helps not
just ourselves but others who may be in the same
situation. This connection between pain and
recovery is one of many paradoxes that we come
across. Today I ask God for the strength and
understanding to manage my emotions.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 22nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Sense of purpose


In recovery, I have found a sense of purpose. I can
plan the day ahead and do the things I set out to do.
What once seemed far beyond my powers of
discipline now has become daily routine. I have
discovered creativity and enjoyment in new
experiences. I decide to do things because I know
they will be enjoyable and life-enhancing rather
than simply to meet my basic needs for food and
shelter. I am discovering happiness that appears as a
result of the life that I lead, rather than as the
illusion of pleasure that comes from alcohol, drugs
and other addictive behaviour. Do I understand that
a sense of purpose, belonging and morality brings
happiness?


All animals, except man, know that the
principal business of life is to enjoy it.
Samuel Butler.
I am not on earth just to enjoy myself, but I have the
power for much of the time, to live my life in such a
way that happiness will come to me. . Today I ask
that I consciously strive to do my best in everything

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 21st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes

Feelings


Self-discipline and love are connected, in fact any
true relationship is disciplined, including that with
oneself. I must make sure that my love is managed
in the way that is most beneficial to the recipient.
Self-discipline should mean that we control our
feelings to the best of our ability. Feelings such as
anger or fear are great motivators for action, but we
should treat them with respect – they are ours to
understand and to nurture. When our feelings
become inflamed or frozen, these are warning signs
of something wrong and that action is needed. Do I
understand the need to control my feelings?

There is nothing wrong with being passionate about
any person or thing that enters your life. But be
aware of your feelings and the way that they are
connected to your thoughts and actions. Don’t let
your passions blow aimlessly hither and thither, like
leaves in the wind. May I learn to control and
nurture my feelings so that they can energise my life.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts


Personal discipline

Personal discipline is a way of training your brain in
new ways. Like the muscles in your arm, the more
you exercise self-discipline, the stronger you will
get. Setting SMART goals – Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Relevant and Timeous will give you a
structure to work to. Don’t try to do it all at once,
just consider the day ahead and decide the
priorities. Then, start working towards the goals you
want to achieve in a steady and considered manner.
Check out the results at the end of the day and see
where you could have done better. Am I ready to
bring personal discipline into my daily life?


Anything that I achieve today is due to the help of
my Higher Power. I think back to my addicted days
when nothing made sense and all my actions
seemed to end in failure. Trying to do things my
way took me to some very dark places. Today I have
only gratitude for another chance in life. I thank
God for this chance of a second life where I am glad
to be guided into doing things the right way.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days February 19th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations


Think, think, think

There is a difference between considered action and
unconsidered action, which is usually just reaction
to events. Learning to think logically enables us to
exercise some control over how we experience
things and what we do. It means being conscious
and aware enough to choose what we pay attention
to. We can choose how we derive meaning from
experiences and learn from them. In active
addiction, we didn’t have time for much except
meeting our immediate urgent needs. Now we have
time and a clearer mind. Taking considered courses
of action, even if they fail, will always help us to
grow because we can see later, exactly where we
went wrong. Am I ready to learn from my mistakes?

What was the last mistake that you made? Perhaps
it was very minor, like forgetting a birthday. But if we
take the experience as an opportunity, we can grow
as a result. Own up to the mistake, apologise and try
to see where you failed (I forgot to write it in the
diary) and plan to do better (put all birthdays in the
diary!). Today I ask God for a positive approach to
mistakes, so that I may learn from them and grow.