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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Alcoholics Anonymous, the Big Book

Today in 1938 the name Alcoholics Anonymous was approved. AA co-founder Bill W and colleagues had begun writing what would become the Big Book in 1938, but no title had yet been agreed. From a shortlist of two, the other possible title: ‘The Way Out’ ran into copyright difficulties, so ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ was chosen. It was published in 1939. The history of the Big Book and how it was produced makes fascinating reading. Named one of the most influential books of all time, it has sold over thirty million copies. Do I appreciate the work of the early members of AA in producing such a seminal work?

AA is a goldmine of experience, support and example which we can benefit from every day of our lives, but the gold we extract must be given away. There is so much paradox in my life already; ‘No Pain without Gain’, ‘Surrender to Win’, even the mysterious ‘Fake it to Make it.’ Giving away what I have been given makes perfect sense because I am the beneficiary from the giving of others. In my gratitude and humility is my strength and my desire to carry the message on to others less fortunate. I am thankful for the Twelve Step fellowships and the work that they do.

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Remember Mindfulness – feel your body from top to toes

Positive, affirmative action

Three frogs sat on a log in a pond. One decided to jump into the water. How many frogs were left on the log? Three, because none actually jumped. There is no point in deciding to take action unless you act. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Half-truths are a way of avoiding action. Saying you will ‘try’ is no good. Trying is lying, as they say in the fellowships. There is no substitute. We should do what we say we will do. That way, we gain selfesteem and respect. Will I be a positive person who always does what I say I will do?

I must strive to be the kind of person that does not act just to seek the approval of others. If I feel that what I do is morally right, then it should not matter if I am approved or ridiculed, because I have peace of mind. If I ask my Higher Power to guide me in all, and not worry about the views of the world but simply do what is right, I will have the courage of my convictions. I ask that in doing so, I will become an example to others and thus be giving of myself.

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

The child within

Childhood can be tough. Traumatic events leave emotional scars as well as physical ones. The absence of love causes lasting psychological pain. A damaged child learns to be wary of attachments because:

• Love is conditional (manipulation)
• Love makes you weak and vulnerable
• Love must be searched for and can be lost
• Love hurts but emotions need to be hidden. Many of us have had bad childhood experiences that still affect us. The way they have influenced our attitudes to life may be small – or large: Don’t do that, you’re not clever enough to try or don’t say what you really think – it’ll get you into trouble. Addiction is often rooted in some kind of  attachment problem. Do I recognise the suffering of my inner child and see there is more work to do?

Past suffering remains a measure of who we are, a characteristic of our inner child. To comfort this child, we must understand our suffering, because some good may come of it in the end. This can seem contradictory but is often a theme of religious teaching. Today, I will treat others with kindness.

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Openness to new ideas

Opium is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, in Vergil’s Aeneid, by Chaucer and by Shakespeare. Many poets and other artists have been addicted. The Club des Hashischins in nineteenth century Paris embraced almost every literary figure of the time: Victor Hugo, Zola, Dumas, Baudelaire and Gautier were all members. Drugs and creativity seem to go hand in hand. They must have been in the mind of the great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche when he wrote: We all need some chaos in our lives, to give birth to a dancing star. It was only relatively recently however, that people began using creativity in recovery from addiction. Painting and poetry can help self-discovery, expressing feelings and confidence. They can be a new interest too. Am I open to ideas of creativity?

An interest in art, philosophy or literature feeds into our imagination and helps find answers that we could not obtain from the scientific or pragmatic world. It also helps us to keep an open mind. Discovering new topics of interest is part of the joy and excitement of recovery, for which I am grateful.