Take Responsibility

[dwmoeller]

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

If it is to be...

It is up to me.

(with help from God)

[saved1]

“An A.A. group, as such, cannot take on all the personal problems of its members, let alone those of non-alcoholics in the world around us. The A.A. group is not, for example, a mediator of domestic relations, nor does it furnish personal financial aid to anyone.

“Though a member may sometimes be helped in such matters by his friends in A.A., the primary responsibility for the solutions of all his problems of living and growing rests squarely upon the individual himself. :15: Should an A.A. group attempt this sort of help, its effectiveness and energies would be hopelessly dissipated.

“This is why -- freedom from alcohol – through the teaching and practice of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, is the sole purpose of the group. If we don’t stick to this cardinal principle, we shall almost certainly collapse. And if we collapse we cannot help anyone,”

Bill W. in a letter written in 1966, over 31 years after his last drink.

[saved1]

Lord, I am so confused. My life seems like a series of accidents. I’m getting nowhere. :23:

I am the shepherd. You are my lamb. It’s not your job to know the way, but to follows Me. Through all the twists and turns, I am leading you in paths of righteousness. You’ll see when you arrive.

But, Lord, I’m falling behind financially. Who’s going to pay all these bills?
You shall not want. Your daily cup is running over. Remember when I fed you in the presence of your enemies? And the time I anointed your head with oil, when you were very ill? Trust Me, one day at a time.

But I get so weary, Lord. So very tired.
I know, and I want you to lie down in green pastures. I can restore your soul, if you will give Me a chance. But you continue to worry and work as if I were not here, and as if everything depended on you alone.

Doesn’t it?
Not at all. I am leading you for My name’s sake, not because you are so wonderful. My name is “The Good Shepherd” and I intend to keep My good name by caring for you. It’s what I do.

But I’m getting older, God. Sometimes I wake up in the night, thinking about dying.
Even when you walk through that dark valley, I will be there with you. I’ve already been through death, and I know the way. When you come out on the other side, it will be to dwell with Me in My house forever.

But I have so many regrets. Things I said and did that fill me with shame.
Just settle down. My goodness and mercy have beefollowing you everywhere. I am healing those old wounds and cleaning up the messes you made. Leave the past and future. Pay attention to this day--its the only one you have.

[saved1]

“When you come right down to it,
the secret of having it all is loving it all.”
Dr. Joyce Brothers


In dealing with compulsive issues, we tend to lose ourselves to the darkness of low self-esteem and self-criticism. We are our own worst enemies and we don't know how to nurture ourselves. We don't like who we have become. We feel like failures to ourselves and to all of those around us.

In working through the program, we learn to surrender and to accept the things we cannot change. We gain wisdom and strength. As we learn to take care of ourselves, we begin to feel good. We become self-aware. We recognize our needs and work aggressively to make sure they are being fulfilled.

We realize that we can choose how to react to the things around us. We accept our true selves, we voice our opinions, and we make changes. We realize that people do accept us the way we are and we don't have to hide anymore. For the first time, we are able to re-discover our true identity.

One day at a time...
I learn something new about myself. I accept myself for who I am as I surrender myself to my Higher Power. I prioritize my needs and all of the responsibilities in my life. I find the courage to change the things I can, and I accept the things I cannot. I look in the mirror and, with each passing day in recovery, I like who I see.:cool:

~ Lori

[saved1]

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”
Carol Burnett


For years I wanted to make changes in my life but I could never figure out how to do it. I believed that others had the knowledge and experience I needed and I thought they would help me, but that never worked. It wasn’t until I began to follow the Twelve Step Program that I started to realize I had the power to take action and make those changes myself. I discovered that I was the only person who could change my life.

I joined a Step study group and began to work my way through the 12 Steps. That led to a deeper awareness of my thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions. These Steps helped me to accept that change was needed and that I would have to do all the work. Recovery demands that I continuously change. And change requires effort.

It may be that I am the only one who can change my life, but I have a great deal of support in doing that. With the help of my Higher Power, my sponsor, my sponsees and the entire 12 Step fellowship, I move forward in my program by my daily efforts to make needed changes. :1:

One day at a time...
Hand-in-hand with my recovery support team, I make the necessary changes in my life.
~ Cindi L.

[saved1]

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”
Kahlil Gibran

How many of us in recovery thought we were in pain before seeking help, only to find that recovery itself was even more painful? I know that is how my progress in Twelve Step recovery from has been. Fortunately, pain in recovery doesn’t break my spirit the way pain did before I started working the Twelve Steps. As I work my recovery, the walls that I had built for protection around my inner-spirit are being slowly broken down and moved away.

This changing and renewing of my inner-self is extremely painful at times. If I didn’t have the tools of the program, (such as sponsorship, working the Steps, and conscious contact with my Higher Power) there would be no understanding born out of my pain. Before recovery, the pain would start to fill my inner-shell with self-pity, self-disgust and despair. Now when the pain comes to me, I’ve slowly learned to embrace it and hold it close to my heart. This new pain means that I will be shown by my Higher Power the insight and understanding needed for me to continue this daily recovery process. Does this mean I am filled with joy as I see the pain coming? Absolutely not! This means that I now have a power greater than myself to shield me from the pain that would break me. After feeling the pain needed to give me understanding, I am given healing to continue my journey.:15:

One Day at a Time . . .
I will seek to feel and face the pain on this journey, knowing that understanding and healing will follow through my Higher Power's hand.

~ Ohitika

[MajestyJo]

Most of my pain before recovery was emotional and mental. There was a lot of mental, emotional and physical abuse.

The pain I feel now are a result of stuffing feelings, not expressing myself, and the bumps and bruises inside and out that make themselves known by body memories. No one did a bigger number on me that me. Yet family and two husbands did a pretty good job, the latter were both physically abusive.

It was painful to relive some of these things, but the secrets had to come out. You can't let go of something until you acknowledge and feel it.

Going back to where I came from was not an option. Even all the physical pain I have in today, is not enough to make me want to go back there. I believe the 5 types of arthritis are all a direct result of the abuse and trauma in my life. Quite often emotional pain makes itself known physically and visa versa. The mental abuse was the most difficult to heal. When I came into recovery, I had no self-esteem, worth, respect, and
care, because I didn't think I was worthy.

I have worked with a couple of spiritual advisors as well as go to counseling.

[jonesg]

I think I'll take the quote and start a new thread instead.

"Why are recovery rates so low today?"