Change

[MajestyJo]

When I decided to make changes in my life, it becomes a process. There are several stages I go through.

1) I become aware there is something wrong and I just may have an issue I need to address.

2) I share with a sposor, close friend, clergyman, counsellor, and/or family member my perception of the problem and allow others to give me feed back and direction.

3) I come to a place within myself which I acknowledge and recognize what is and make the decision to change it and to find a solution instead of living in the problem. I have to accept what is. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I just have to find self-honesty.

4) I take action towards obtaining my goal, be it seeing a doctor, a counselor, a recovery institute, a self-help group, a Twelve-Step program, who can guide me on my recovery.

5) I change myr attitude and become willing to learn to listen and to do what is suggested to me or combine the info and come to my own conclusion as to what is good for me to obtain my goal.

Sometimes these last two stages are reversed and I have to ask for the willingness to be willing to change before I can take the steps towards making things better in my life.

The butterfly has been the symbol of change for me. When I come from a place of love from within myself, and through my Higher-Self, I can raise myself above any problem and live in a new solution. My sponsor called them challenges. Challenges we can overcome, problems we can stay stuck in. The process can't start until I find that willingness to surrender and turn things over to my Higher Power and be willing to let go and let my God.

http://www.blazingfire.net/ecards/pix/Creations/moonheart.jpg

[dwmoeller]

I have made many changes in my life in the last 6 months since I admitted I was an alcoholic. I too see it as a process. Change is not always easy. It is challenging to be sure.

[Pythonpappy]

Changing bad habits can be very difficult, as we all see throughout the recovery community. If people are looking for treatments for alcohol addiction (http://www.clearviewtreatment.com), they can do that in several ways: treatment, exercise, nutrition, AA, support groups. Can others think of more ways? It isn't restrained to just those, everyone is different!

Hey Jordan, ...

It is my experience that those who start with regular meeting attendance and then go on to get a good sponsor will, in effect, build their 'foundation' for 'recovery' on solid ground ...

If you've experienced enough pain to bring you to the rooms of AA, then you're ready to take certain steps ... The knowledge and wisdom found in this web site are incredible, but they're only one tool you'll have for your spiritual 'tool box' ... you need face-2-face meetings for sure ... it's the human contact and friendship that allows us to see the miracles of the program ... the bonus is, is that you'll make 'life-long' friends both here AND in the different 'fellowships'...

Changing our habits ? .... That's the major 'personal' goal here ... My sponsor said I had to get rid of the way I think (toss out my 'old' self) and learn everything all over again ... Become a new person altogether ... In the Dr's Opinion, Silkworth stated that unless this person(the alcoholic) has an 'entire psychic change' ... there is very little hope for his recovery ...

The quicker we dump our old self and rebuild the new, by working and practicing the steps of the AA program, the quicker will see the person immerge that we've been wanting to be ... As we practice these new things daily, they take over our old habits and become our new ones ...


Take Care and God Bless,:42:
Pappy