Tag Archives: Daily inspiration

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 21st by Chris B

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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 18th by Chris B

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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

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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 Reading from Recovery Days December 15th by Chris B

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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 13th by Chris B

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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

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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.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 10th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Maranatha

Maranatha is an Aramaic word meaning ‘Come, Lord’ and is thus often used by Christians in the time of Advent – the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a way of expressing profound belief in God, primarily a Christian God but can equally be used when referring to any Higher Power. Advent for Christians is not just about waiting for Christmas Day and the birth of Christ, it is about making our spiritual selves ready for the event, so that we welcome God into our hearts. We should evaluate our attitudes and beliefs and work to remove selfishness and self-obsession. It is all part of the familiar task of ego-management that we need to perform routinely in our lives, if we are to achieve spiritual growth. How selfish am I and what will I do about it?

I was no longer the centre of my life and therefore I could see God in everything. (Venerable Bede). Humility and prayer are a good start to checking my spiritual wellbeing. In the past, I was forced to make myself the most important thing in my life, because my addiction made this necessary. How else would I get what I wanted? Now, if I have learned anything, it is that there are other things that are more important. My will and my ways have got me into trouble, and I have to find a better way – God’s way.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 8th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe slowly


Powerlessness and unmanageability


The wonderful film star Judy Garland died alone in a London hotel of a barbiturates overdose, aged just forty-seven – thirty years after she appeared as little Dorothy in the film The Wizard of Oz. The day she died, they say there was a tornado in Kansas. There’s probably a tornado every day in Kansas somewhere, just as there’s always someone in the world dying from a drugs overdose. Many lives are less well-publicised as hers but equally tragic. Anyone who plays with alcohol or drugs is taking a huge risk. Crucially, if they find themselves losing control, they must address the problem honestly. Those of us in recovery must be ready to reach out to help anyone who may be struggling, at any stage in the progress of their addiction. We do not judge others, but we can show ourselves by our example. Do I recognise I have a responsibility to share my recovery by reaching out to others?

Desperate people do desperate things, but I have a responsibility to help my fellow humans before they become that desperate, if I possibly can. There is progression in every illness and addiction is no different. Its roots may lie in others or partly in us and the way we feel about ourselves. Today I pray that, through showing my self-respect, I may be able to help those in distress before they become desperate.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 6th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Perception


Robert Burns, the Scottish Bard, wrote the tender poem about parting: Ae Fond Kiss, to Agnes (Nancy) Maclehose, a beautiful Edinburgh lady with whom he had an intense, though unconsummated relationship. They were forced to part on this day, following his marriage to Jean Armour in 1791. For the next 45 years Nancy wrote in her journal This day I can never forget, parted with Robert in 1791. Oh, may we meet in heaven. Burns seems to have coped with the parting rather more easily, having fathered a child with her serving maid. The story illustrates how two people can view one event in entirely different ways. Do I understand that the manner in which I perceive a situation is not necessarily the way that others perceive the same event?


I must not assume that things are always the way I see them. Making assumptions leads to judging others and to black and white thinking, where people either agree with me, or they are wrong. I must learn to keep an open mind and respect the point of view of other people. This sometimes requires humility but, as I work on my character defects, I come to see how important is to manage my ego properly. Today I will continue to work on ego management.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days December 4th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations


Zen


Zen is a form of being and a type of meditation. It has been described as experiencing the ultimate reality while remaining grounded in ordinary everyday existence. Zen teaches that wisdom is to be found in the ordinary – that is, in oneself, in other people and in nature. It appeals to many people, including those in recovery from addiction because it emphasises simplicity and peace of mind. All forms of meditation and mindfulness seem to appear more and more attractive as the stress and apparent chaos of everyday life increases remorselessly, year by year. Making time each day for peace and meditation is an excellent habit to adopt. Am I remembering the need for self-care that comes through daily meditation?

Meditation can be as simple as finding a quiet place to sit and become aware of my surroundings while I empty my mind of everyday concerns.
It was with awe
That I beheld
Fresh leaves, green leaves
Bright in the sun (Basho)
Today I give thanks for the peace of mind that comes through meditation of all kinds.