Tag Archives: Addiction treatment

Daily Reading from Recovery Days July 5th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Help to change

Honesty, openness and willingness to change are
three essentials of successful recovery. Openness is
important because it allows us to accept new ideas.
These can take many forms but one of the most
surprising for some people is the idea of a Higher
Power. Yet, anyone looking back at our past and the
change that has happened since, might conclude
that they see something pretty miraculous. How do
people who have been written off as hopelessly
addicted manage to turn their lives around? Since
we were unable to help ourselves at that time, some
other powerful force must have appeared.


A miracle is an extraordinary event that is not
explicable by natural or scientific laws. Life itself is
one – nobody has been able to explain scientifically
how it first happened. I am not being asked to believe
in a specific source of power in the universe. I am
simply asked to open my mind to the idea that
there is a power of some kind that is greater than
me and which helps me if asked. I can feel that
power in the experience, strength and support of
other people. May it always be there for us all, so
that what I see darkly, I will see face to face one day.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days July 4th by Chris B

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Enjoy the simple things in life


Happiness and good self-esteem are legitimate
goals in life and recovery gives us a second chance.
In that sense, we are truly fortunate. Life may be
difficult, but recovery should most certainly be
enjoyable, otherwise – what is the point? Our goal
should be to become ‘Better than Well’. If we keep
things simple and just try to do the right thing, we
will reach our goal in the end. Poet William Blake
wrote about the simple things of creation and the
need to know right from wrong:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the Palm of your Hand
And Eternity in an Hour.
William Blake.


There is a choice in life between the material and
the spiritual – between wealth, pride and status on
the one hand and honesty, love and service on the
other. Which will be the dominant principle in my
life? It is difficult to try to achieve both. Wealth and
status are not necessarily evil, but I need to choose
whatever brings peace of mind and happiness.

Daily Reading From Recovery Days July 3rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly


Step Seven


Step Seven is about humility and also about
reinforcing our commitment to change. I have
committed to moving forward in life without these old
behaviours is the basic message behind this
important Step. If you can realistically appreciate
your place in the world and your unique
personality, then you are accepting life on life’s
terms. You have no cause to be vain or arrogant but
equally no cause to be ashamed. Can I take my place
in the world without false pride or humility?


Step Seven is effectively saying that we are ready for new
business and new ideas. We have asked for help in
removing our shortcomings and now we need to fill
the void left by that clean-out. In other words,
opportunity beckons. Some of us may want to do
service, some renew marriage vows, some perhaps will
discover new strengths t h a t they were unaware
existed. It is a time for excitement and creativity. Today
I ask God that I may make the best use possible of the
talents that I have and the opportunities that appear.

Daily Reading From Recovery Days July 2nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe slowly


Working the Steps

We live in two worlds – the finite and describable
world of objects and people that we can see, touch
and hear, and the world of ideas that is basically
indescribable; we use the first to describe the
second. So, if we say something like: I am the master
of my fate, I am the captain of my soul, we are using
finite images – ‘master’ and ‘captain’ to describe an
attitude – that of taking personal responsibility for
our lives. The Twelve Steps are another example. We
are using the finite image of a flight of steps to
describe a programme of recovery because ‘steps’
illustrate progress. On this day in 2000 the 20
millionth copy of Alcoholics Anonymous was
presented to Al-Anon. Am I ready to progress
through the Steps?

If we keep ourselves mentally and emotionally in
good shape, we are more likely to have peace of
mind. If we do our best to live according to proper
moral and spiritual principles by putting value on
honesty, humility, unselfishness, and love then we
are likely to find contentment. The Twelve Steps are
a good guide to our spiritual and moral wellbeing.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days July 1st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Twelve Steps

The Twelve Steps are a programme of recovery from
addiction that involves admitting defeat, selfimprovement
with help from a power greater than
ourselves, making amends, and establishing healthy
habits. They are summarised as:

  • Giving up – Steps 1 to 3
  • Cleaning up – Steps 4 to 7
  • Making up – Steps 8 to 9
  • Keeping up – Steps 10 to 12.
    The hallmarks of this programme are
    abstinence, lifelong adherence to its principles
    and relapse prevention. People who thoroughly
    follow this path rarely fail. Sometimes we just
    need to remind ourselves of the basic components
    of this simple programme. Do I fully understand
    the basic ideas and the actions I need to take?
    AA is more than a set of principles; it is a
    society of alcoholics in action. We must carry
    the message, else we ourselves can wither and
    those who haven’t been given the truth may die.
    Bill W, AA’s Legacy of Service.
    Today I reflect on these words.
    …………………………………………………    …….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 30th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax

Better than well

This month we have explored humility, not
wanting, listening and keeping it simple. We have
looked at how mindfulness can help us bring
balance and calm into our days. The process of
spiritual growth is gradually happening within us.
You could say the same thing about learning to
enjoy life. Perhaps the two are linked. We will not
achieve this ‘better than well’ state without ensuring
that our attitudes, aims and choices are right. Do I
understand that the goal of ‘better than well’ is not
a passive state but something to be worked for?

Every day that I try my best to follow the programme of
recovery, I am learning new habits. Perhaps I can
already feel the difference. Each time that I help
another person, be true to my word and assert
myself appropriately, I increase my self-respect. If I
can tell myself each night that I did my best, then I
will feel peace of mind and will thank my Higher
Power for guiding me. I ask God today to continue
guiding me along the route of spiritual progress

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 29th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually


Steps Six and Seven

Judge each day by the seeds you plant, not by the
harvest that you reap. We long for quick results that
confirm our success and validate our self-image.
Sometimes it doesn’t work like that. Maturity is
about doing things that require the long view. It is
a sign of immaturity to look for instant gratification
– that’s how we used to be. Letting go of our
childish ways is a part of growing up in recovery.
When I became a man, I put away childish
things. St Paul, Corinthians.
St Paul makes letting go sound easy but some of us
struggle with impatience. We perceive all our
tomorrows as an unbearable eternity. Much better
to be patient. Can I take things a day at a time?

Steps Six and Seven are about letting go. I must now
be ready to let go of my character defects and the
shame and guilt that go with them. This is not as
easy as it sounds, unless I have help. Today I ask
God for guidance in letting go of my past.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts


Spiritual growth


Growth involves change. Twelve Step programmes
are basically a re-training of our hearts and minds to
new ideas. If we don’t grow, we are not living life to
our full potential. Growth demands that we come
out of our comfort zone. It may mean forsaking
some familiar but negative patterns of thought and
behaviour that we have become used to, but which
now are no longer fit for purpose: unsuitable
friends, inappropriate opinions and attitudes, and
maladaptive coping strategies.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is
what people fear most.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Instead of fear of the new, my real fear should be of
not making changes. Am I ready to make the
changes I need, in order to grow spiritually?

My spiritual journey will be rewarding if I seek the
guidance of my Higher Power. Only my pride or
dishonesty will stop me from making progress.
Today I ask that I continue to receive guidance on
my spiritual journey.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days June 25th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Balance


Too much self-improvement can be bad for you.
Mental, physical and spiritual fitness are good goals
to have, but trying to be Superwoman, Mastermind
and the Enlightened One all at once or separately,
can cause serious burnout. The SMART acronym
helps: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant
and Time-bound. Addicted people tend to be ‘all or
nothing’ types, but what we really need in our life is
balance. Am I ready to set myself the goal of
achieving balance in my life?


Self-improvement should start with acceptance. We
can all improve because none of us is perfect. Yet,
there is good in all of us and we should start by
recognising this fact before we make any plan for
improvement. Too many people in recovery approach
the Twelve Steps, especially Step Four, as a search for
character defects alone, but it is not meant to be only
that. We should celebrate our assets too.
We are surprised to find that we have good points in our inventory.
NA Text.
Today I give thanks that I have character strengths
as well as defects.

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.