Tag Archives: Recovery

Daily reading from Recovery Days April 6th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Giving it away to keep it


To paraphrase US President JF Kennedy: Ask not
what your recovery can do for you but what you
can do for your recovery. Happy recovery is not
possible if we are driven by our egos. We must give
recovery away in order to keep it. Another President
(Roosevelt) announced a ‘New Deal’ to end the Great
Depression in the 1930’s. Recovery is our New Deal,
and we must make it work. Fortunately, in the
Twelve Steps, we have the means, so that recovery of,
by and for addicted people, is entirely possible. It is
our blessing and our salvation. Enough paraphrasing.
Will I work to keep my recovery by giving it away?


Give and it will be given to you. With the blessing of
recovery comes responsibility to pass it on to the less
fortunate. We must never allow ourselves to be
simply takers because selfishness inevitably causes
alienation and leads back to isolation and selfprotective
attitudes. Before we know it, we are back
in the vicious cycle of meeting our own selfish needs
before everything else. Today I ask God for the gift
of altruism so I may help myself by helping others.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 3rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – breathe calmly


Conscience

Everyone experiences cognitive dissonance in their
lives, in some form– the moment when you
consider or do something that jars with your
principles. It could be as minor as dropping litter in
the street. People struggling with addiction often
live a life of repeated cognitive dissonance because
every time they drink or use, they are acting against
their deepest instincts. This causes anxiety and is
highly stressful – humans do not like this state and
may try to ease the pain with a quick fix. The only
way to end dissonance and restore emotional
balance is to listen to our conscience with honesty
and then, to redress the situation with courage. Am I
ready to listen to my conscience honestly?

I believe that help is available outside myself. I
experience this help in all kinds of ways, every day.
People of faith seldom lack courage, but it is not
empty bravado. It is the quiet and humble
knowledge that our lives have a purpose and that we
will be guided to that purpose if we ask. Today I ask
for the honesty to listen to my conscience

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 2nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Honesty


Addiction is a Faustian pact that we make by trading
short-term pleasure and relief for dire consequences
at a later date. Few of us, however, make the pact in
a measured way. Instead, we find ourselves at the
bottom of a slippery slope sometimes without
realising how it happened. Yet, we can’t avoid
responsibility. We must be honest and brave in
facing the mess we created, recognising our part.
Do I take responsibility for my part in my addiction?

In the depths of our despair, we reach out to our
Higher Power for help. Admitting defeat requires
courage but we have little choice because addiction
says to us, as Bill W put it: You had better do God’s
will or I will kill you. Nevertheless, despite the
evidence, there are some whose egos simply won’t
allow them to do so. We can only hope and pray that
they find the capacity for being honest before it is
too late. Today I pray for those who are unable to be
honest with themselves – may they eventually find
the strength and honesty that they need.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 1st by Chris B

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On this day in 1943, the Big Book of AA was published

Big Book

Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most influential
books of all time. In 2011, the 30 millionth copy was
presented to the American Medical Association,
which declared Alcoholism an illness in 1956. A
parallel book – Narcotics Anonymous, was
produced in the 1980’s, based on an earlier Little
White Book. This has sold several million copies.
There is an almost biblical flavour to the history of
these publications. Their production required the
involvement of many contributors, and the editing
process was not always easy. Still highly relevant
today, they stand as a monument to the dedication
and wisdom of the early fellowship members. Am I
grateful for the integrity and industry of the pioneers
of AA, NA and other fellowships?

Millions throughout the world who have achieved
sobriety through following 12 Step programmes are
living proof that they work. When much of the world
appears unstable and unreliable, it is reassuring to
have the rock of the Twelve Step fellowships in our
lives. Today I thank God for a second chance at life.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 31st by Chris B

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On this day in 1947, the original AA meeting was held in London

Message of recovery

In the course of this month, we have looked at
surrender, fellowship, gratitude, facing reality,
power of example, and a lot of other things besides.
It may seem complicated, but we should never lose
sight of the basic message which is quite simple: we
can change our lives – it needs honesty, openness,
courage, and willingness to change but we can do it,
with God’s help. Addiction is a complex, vicious,
and powerful disease but it responds to treatment
and can be successfully held in remission. Do I fully
understand the message of recovery?

Our lives have not gone the way we expected.
Addiction has forced us into making a ‘plan B’ for
our lives. But the good news is that plan B is so
much better than plan A. We have been blessed by
receiving this second chance and we must show our
gratitude by making amends to those we have hurt
and carrying the message to others in need.
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psalm 126.
Today I thank God for a second chance at life.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes

Gratitude


In active addiction nothing made sense, nothing
could be predicted, and nothing trusted. The world
did not suddenly fall into place when we sobered up
but at least we became more sensible, predictable,
and trustworthy. Soon we saw that we did have two
things that we could absolutely depend upon – a
Higher Power and the Twelve Step fellowships. In
fact, they were parts of the same thing because they
provided us with the support we needed. Anyone
reading the Twelve Steps will see how
interconnected they are. In a world where few
people live in a conventional family and many rely
on medication just to be able to function, we in
recovery can count ourselves fortunate. Am I truly
grateful for Twelve Step recovery in my life?


To addicted people, recovery is all about beating
addiction, but we should be mindful of the many
dedicated people working in general healthcare who
cheerfully shoulder the daily responsibility of caring
for the sick, regardless of the often-severe cost to
themselves. Today I give thanks for all who
unselfishly care for others in the healing professions.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 26th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably


Fellowship

Groups of men and women who share their
experience, strength, and hope with each other, in
order to solve a common problem, are found in many
settings other than Twelve Step fellowships. People
naturally depend on each other and learn from each
other. Dependence and learning are two-way
activities – there is a giver for every dependent and a
teacher for every learner. That is how a fellowship
works and is why the idea of service is important.
Each man should give what he has decided in
his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
St Paul, Corinthians.
Do I fully understand that fellowship means a giving
and a taking in equal measures?

It is not by chance that the Twelve Steps begin with
the word ‘we’. Most addicted people, including those
who wrote the Steps, are well aware of the
egotism that can so easily hinder full
engagement in the programme. Yet, the paradox is
that nobody can work the programme for us – we
must do it ourselves.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 22nd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes

Unknown God

When St Paul visited Athens in AD 51, he was
shocked to see a temple dedicated to an ‘Unknown
God’. This led him to berate the Athenians for their
ignorance in one of his most famous sermons. The
Athenians are said to have laughed. The Twelve Step
fellowships have an unknown God too – Higher
Power. They do not define its nature precisely; they
are glad simply to feel the power itself. Probably, the
Athenians felt the same. The AA preamble, read
before every meeting, states that: AA neither
endorses nor opposes any causes. There are no
dogmas or compulsions, we are free to believe what
we wish. Am I grateful for the non-directive
simplicity of the Twelve Step fellowships?

We have found that God does not make too hard
terms with those who seek him. To us,
the realm of spirit is broad, roomy,
all-inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding to
those who earnestly seek. It is open, we
believe, to all men. Bill W.
Today I give thanks I belong to a fellowship that
does not exclude or forbid the beliefs of any person
who seeks help.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 20th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – sit comfortably

Willingness to change

The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the
better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder
whatever responsibility this entails.
Bill W.
Personal change always has two parts – the
willingness and the action. But in between comes a
third part – commitment. Commitment turns theory
into practice. When we are motivated to do
something, it is not always because we have a sense
of commitment. Motivation can have a short life, but
commitment lasts until the job is done. A bad
hangover can motivate you to give up booze – until
cravings appear. Am I fully committed to change?

Just as surrender has to be total and not just a
ceasefire, so commitment has to be total and not just
a dalliance. In recovery, surrender can be seen as
letting others help us and commitment can be seen
as letting us help ourselves. Neither will work unless
done wholeheartedly. I ask God today for the honesty
to commit myself fully to the process of change
because half measures will not help me.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 19th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Responsibility for change

Newcomers to Twelve Step fellowships are often
advised to stop focusing on why they are addicted
and instead think on what they can do about it.
Discovering a reason for your addiction might seem
like a way of resolving a problem easily, but in truth
there may be no reason, except that you’re an
addicted person. Seeking a reason may well be a
device to avoid the pain of having to make some
life-changing decisions. Far better to focus on
positive action and take responsibility for change.
Am I prepared to face the reality of my addiction
and take responsibility for change?

When we embark upon a searching and fearless
personal inventory at Step Four, it may help us to
reflect that a life of total dedication to the truth is a
reasonable aspiration for anyone. It is likely to
result in true peace of mind, but it will not be easy.
It does require continuous self-appraisal as
recommended in Step Ten. Yet the feeling of relief
when we have completed Steps Four and Five will
be enormous. Today I ask for the strength to be fearless and thorough in taking personal inventory.