Tag Archives: daily reflections

Daily Reading from Recovery Days November 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Climate change anxiety


The impact of climate change is obvious. It arouses strong feelings. The mental health of many is suffering and some people are turning to substance abuse. Doing nothing in the face of oncoming disaster is no longer acceptable. Addicted people will recognise that attitude. Both climate change and substance abuse are symptoms of a world where countries put self-interest before the greater good. We seem stuck in our selfish ways. The great economist and problem-solver Maynard Keynes said, roughly a hundred years ago: The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. Twelve Step fellowships are non-political. We embrace a life that prioritises sobriety, spiritual growth and peace of mind. We have a duty to help those struggling with addiction. Am I there when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help.?

Whatever is happening in the world, my first duty is to keep myself sober and balanced. I hand my fears and anxieties over to my Higher Power in the sure knowledge that I will receive guidance. AA began shortly before the start of World War II and many members found strength in the programme during the worst moments in combat, such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. Most of us have already had our own private Pearl Harbour, a member said. Today I give thanks that I can hand my problems over

Daily Reading from Recovery Days November 17th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body


Meaning of life


If you have a why to live, you can bear almost any how. (Nietzsche). The great philosopher seems to be saying that people will put up with a great deal, providing they believe their lives have meaning. Consider the medieval English peasant whose life was commonly a short, painful and brutish existence of hunger, work and poverty. What kept them going appears to have been a strong religious belief, that their reward would come in the next world; it gave meaning to a life of suffering. Today things are upside down – in most Western countries with welfare states in place, people no longer fear the ‘how’ so much, but they increasingly question the ‘why.’ Suicide and addiction rates are always rising. In recovery, we have a second opportunity to evaluate our existence and to re-establish priorities. Am I glad that my life in recovery has meaning and purpose, thanks to my Higher Power?

You hear people say at meetings: I was not happy in my addiction, I was desperate, alone and fearful. I wanted it to end, and I was glad when it did. But I never dreamt that one day I would feel glad to be addicted. Yet many speak like this, because addiction brings an unforeseen benefit – a grateful and humble love of life that only those who have been close to death appreciate. I give thanks today for the second chance that I have been given.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days November 16th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Humility


A healthy and happy husband came home one evening: Today, I’m ten years sober, he announced, glowing with pride, isn’t that marvellous? His wife looked up at him: So is the cat, she said. As addicted people, many of us find it difficult not to be the centre of attention. Like children, we tend to think that we are more important than anyone else, not realising that the major changes we have made are just routine, common-sense decisions to the grown-ups. Mature decision-making consists of putting our long-term needs first and refraining from activities that are clearly self-destructive. Mature people expect no congratulations for making such obviously common-sense decisions. Am I making grown-up decisions these days?

A large part of humility is ego-management – recognising when our inflated ego is getting us into trouble and rectifying the situation. For this reason, humility has been called the ‘Mother of all Virtues.’ Thus, when people see true humility, they know that they are seeing a person who truly knows themselves – a person who has mastered the difficult art of ego management. Today I ask that I show humility in all my affairs.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days November 12th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Live and let live

Appearances can be deceptive but that doesn’t stop us making judgments about people. Most of us don’t like uncertainty, it’s simpler to classify people on impulse. An NA member’s story goes like this: I didn’t like the newcomer from the time I first saw him. He had a bad attitude and didn’t listen. I avoided leaving the meeting at the same time, in case I had to talk to him, because our homes were not far from each other. When I left, I saw him walking up the road, a hundred yards ahead of me. I watched as he stopped to help a homeless man who was getting ready to sleep in a shop doorway. I felt ashamed of my own attitude and resolved to apply some rigorous honesty to my own behaviour in future. Do I see the faults in me rather than focusing on those in others?


Intolerance of others is not helpful. I do not have all the answers and I should not seek to impose my opinions or will on others. Being self-righteous like the Pharisees in the bible, is divisive and counterproductive. We do not deal with dogma, the Twelve Steps are merely suggestions, based on the experience of people who have used them successfully. We do not say that our way is the only way. Today I ask to remember that it is not appropriate for me to judge others or tell others how to behave.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days November 2nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment


Enjoyment


If newcomers could see no fun in our existence,
they wouldn’t want it. We absolutely insist on
enjoying life.
AA Big Book.
Addiction makes many of us depressed, sad and
anhedonic (unable to feel pleasure). When we see
others enjoying themselves, it is so alien that our
first reaction is often to think they are pretending.
Closer inspection shows a truly carefree attitude and
soon we are wanting it ourselves. Carefree means
just that: we rid ourselves of our cares as we
progress through the Twelve Steps. Do I work the
Twelve Steps in my daily life?

Have you ever driven a car with the handbrake on,
by mistake? When you realise and release the brake,
everything suddenly feels better and easier. There’s
no smell of burning rubber, no vague feeling that
something’s wrong. That’s what it feels like when
you get into recovery. There’s more time to enjoy the
little things because you’re not having to worry
about the lies you told yesterday, the people you
insulted, the money spent. Everything will be
manageable, if I don’t drink or use. Today I thank
my Higher Power for that feeling

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Risk


Addiction is a loaded gun and Russian roulette is a
dangerous pastime but addicted people play that
game most days. How many of us really knew the
strength of the powders and weeds we consumed?
Were we sure our bodies were free of alcohol before
we drove? Around one hundred thousand people are
convicted of drink-driving in the UK each year.
Have I finished playing Russian roulette with my
life and the lives of others?


In addiction, we’re all risk takers and sobriety can
seem like a joyless alternative at first. How wrong
that is. There are so many things that I never tried or
was too mentally numb to bother about when I was
using. I can now try new experiences and see which
ones I like:
All experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untraveled world whose margin fades
Forever and forever when I move.
Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Today I ask not to fear trying new things.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 24th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations
Victim
For addicted people, the victim role is often their
comfort zone. A victim is never a happy person and
the term itself is not one that you would choose to
be associated with, unless you’re some kind of
crazy, self-pitying masochist. That’s probably why
we like it so much. It’s not a happy role, but it’s a
familiar one. Victims blame others for their
predicament; they will blame circumstances,
individuals or just some kind of ‘force majeure’, in
fact they’ll blame anything at all, except themselves.
By doing so, they avoid criticism and are not
expected to change. But recovery is about change.
People who make a success of their recovery take to
heart the words of psychologist Carl Jung: I am
not what happened to me, I am what I choose
to become. Am I ready to stop being a victim?
Once I come out of the safe though unhappy,
comfort zone of being the victim, I can start living
life on life’s terms. It takes courage but I have the
wonderful support system of the Twelve Step
fellowships to guide me and for that I am grateful.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 23rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – listen to your breathing


Values


What are the values that I live by? I probably don’t
know the answer when I first become sober. As I
recover, I will find and perhaps improve them to live
as best I can. I may learn from other people but itis
important that I create my value system because
because I want it that way, not so as to meet the
expectations of others. Am I establishing the values
by which I will live my life in sobriety?


Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side. J.R. Lowell.
The type of relationships that I have, the activities I
like and the interests I follow, are all dependent on
my core values, because these will affect my
attitudes. Thus, if I value honesty, kindness,
understanding and compassion then I am likely to
have friends with similar values. If I set a high value
on physical health, then my interests are likely to
reflect that too. I am grateful that I can learn new
ways in the Twelve Step programme.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 22nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts


Religion


The Crusades, Terrorism, the Inquisition. So much
that is brutal and bad is done in the name of religion.
But it is done by men believing they are doing God’s
will. God must be horrified. Religions bring a lot of
good to the world too, but their complexity and
hierarchical structures often put people off. In
recovery, all we are looking for is help from a Power
greater than ourselves. We are certainly not trying to
promote religion of any kind. Do I accept that I need
help from a Power greater than myself?


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.
The poet seems to be saying we over-complicate our
lives in our search for meaning. Too much time is
spent trying to become well-informed and clever.
True wisdom is usually found in simplicity and
knowing when not to do things. The Twelve Step
fellowships tell us to ‘Keep it Simple’. When we
consciously try to do so, we can feel the benefit.
Today I will strive to keep things simple.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days October 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – open your mind


Unselfishness


Truly unselfish people are often overlooked, but
they expect no praise. Take that wonderful example
– Jane Eyre the eponymous heroine of Charlotte
Bronte’s great novel. Self-effacing but quietly
determined, she finds fulfilment in the end: I am no
bird; and no net ensnares me. I am a free human
being with an independent will. She proves the
saying that, if you are not afraid to show yourself as
you really are, then others will respond positively.
Her unselfish devotion to the damaged though
sincere Mr Rochester ends happily: Reader, I
married him! Do I believe that in giving, I will
receive?

We live in a world that is designed to provide us with
what we want, provided we pay for it. We often rush
to gratify our desires without a thought for the true
cost – the work of others, the damage to the
environment, the effect on our health. Delaying
gratification is difficult, partly because it involves
using imagination to visualise a future benefit. But
delaying gratification also means we are not giving
our selfish desires top priority and that is progress indeed. For that insight I am grateful,