FACTS
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
–Aldous HuxleyReality is not dependent upon our acceptance. Addiction does not have to be accepted to be real. Alcoholism was killing people long before it had a name!I need to remember this in the recovery program for my life. A big part of my life was spent denying that I had a problem. My manipulative art was exercised in discovering more acceptable excuses for my drunkenness, rather than looking at the problem. I danced toward death with God and denial on my lips. Belief in the God of Truth did not stop my dishonesty.The process of self-love and acceptance began in my cry for help. Surrender brought me sanity. God was working His purpose out in my life because I was getting out of my way; I was facing the facts. Spirituality is making the words fit the feelings, and the feelings make the action.
FACTS
“To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to
imagine your facts is another.”— John Burroughs
When I was drinking, I was always confusing fantasy with reality. Lies
got mingled with the facts and the facts became exaggerated. It was
almost impossible for me to distinguish between reality and fantasy,
imagination and fact. My life was a complicated lie.
Today I have a program of “rigorous” honesty; I must be rigorous and
stop the game before it starts. I need to practice the principles of
recovery in every area of my life. The spiritual road involves a
comprehensive journey and nothing need be left out.
God, who created the mountains, help me to take responsibility for the
grit between my toes.
@ Leo Booth 2008
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FACTS
“To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to imagine your facts is another.”
— John Burroughs
When I was drinking, I was always confusing fantasy with reality. Lies got mingled with the facts and the facts became exaggerated. It was almost impossible for me to distinguish between reality and fantasy, imagination and fact. My life was a complicated lie.
Today I have a program of “rigorous” honesty; I must be rigorous and stop the game before it starts. I need to practice the principles of recovery in every area of my life. The spiritual road involves a comprehensive journey and nothing need be left out.
God, who created the mountains, help me to take responsibility for the grit between my toes.
Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec
FACTS“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”–Aldous HuxleyReality is not dependent upon our acceptance. Addiction does not haveto be accepted to be real. Alcoholism was killing people long before ithad a name!I need to remember this in the recovery program for my life. A bigpart of my life was spent denying that I had a problem. Mymanipulative art was exercised in discovering more acceptableexcuses for my drunkenness, rather than looking at the problem. Idanced toward death with God and denial on my lips. Belief in the Godof Truth did not stop my dishonesty.The process of self-love and acceptance began in my cry for help.Surrender brought me sanity. God was working His purpose out in mylife because I was getting out of my way; I was facing the facts.Spirituality is making the words fit the feelings, and the feelings makethe action.
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A.A. Thought For The DayOne of the most encouraging facts of life is that your weakness can become your greatest asset. Kites and airplanes rise against the wind. In climbing up a high mountain, we need the stony crags and rough places to aid us in our climb. So your weakness can become an asset if you will face it, examine it, and trace it to its origin. Set it in the very center of your mind. No weakness, such as drinking, ever turned into an asset until it was first fairly faced. Am I making my weakness my greatest asset?Meditation For The DayWhenever we seek to worship God, we think of the great universe that God rules over, of creation, of mighty law and order throughout the universe. Then we feel the awe that precedes worship. I too must feel awe, feel the desire to worship God in wondering amazement. My mind is in a box of space and time and it is so made that I cannot conceive of what is beyond space or time, the limitless and the eternal. But I know that there must be something beyond space and time, and that something must be the limitless and eternal Power behind the universe. I also know that I can experience that Power in my life.Prayer For The DayI pray that I may accept the limitless and eternal Spirit. I pray that It may express Itself in my life.
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Alcoholism, or compulsive drinking, is incurable. We have seen too much evidence of the fact to believe differently—yet, occasionally, some of us get the idea that we are exceptions to the rule. Then the Rat Race begins all over again.
We are alcoholics. We must admit it and accept it as one of those things we cannot change.
Published by Hazelden
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The truth is more important than the facts.
~ Frank Lloyd Wright
Before recovery, we relied on false facts about addiction. We said things like, “I can quit anytime I want.” “If you had my family, you’d drink too.” The truth is, we were out of control. We couldn’t manage our lives. We were sick. We were scared. When others pointed out this truth to us, we denied it.
Honesty, the backbone of our program, is about truth. We even start our meetings with the truth about who we are. “Hi, my name is _________, and I’m an alcoholic,” or “Hi, my name is _____________, and I’m a drug addict.” The truth frees us from our addiction. The truth heals us and gives us comfort. It’s like a blanket on a cold winter night.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me be an honest person. I pray for the strength to face the truth and speak it.
Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list 3 ways I have used facts in a dishonest way.
Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation
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Reflection For The DayThe experiences of thousands upon thousands of people have proven that acceptance and faith are capable of producing freedom from dependence on chemicals. When we apply the same principles of acceptance and faith to our emotional problems, however, we discover that only relative results are possible. Obviously, for example, nobody can ever become completely free from fear, anger or pride. None of us will ever achieve perfect love, harmony or serenity. We’ll have to settle for very gradual progress, punctuated occasionally by very heavy setbacks. Have I begun to abandon my old attitude of “all or nothing?”Today I PrayMay God grant me the patience to apply those same principles of faith and acceptance which are keys to my recovery to the whole of my emotional being. May I learn to recognize the festering of my own human anger, my hurt, my frustration, my sadness. With the help of God, may I find appropriate ways to deal with these feelings without doing harm to myself or others.
Today I Will RememberFeelings are facts.
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14
August
A.A. Thought For The Day“The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We who have found this solution to our alcoholic problem, we who are properly armed with the facts about ourselves, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic. We who are making the approach to new prospects have had the same difficulty they have had. We obviously know what we are talking about. Our whole deportment shouts at new prospects that we are people with a real answer.” Am I a person with the real answer to the alcoholic problems of others?
Meditation For The DayFor straying from the right way there is no cure except to keep so close to the thought of God that nothing, no other interest, can seriously come between you and God. Sure of that, you can stay on God’s side. Knowing the way, nothing can prevent your staying in the way and nothing can cause you to seriously stray from it. God has promised peace if you stay close to Him, but not leisure. You still have to carry on in the world. He has promised heart-rest and comfort, but not pleasure in the ordinary sense. Peace and comfort bring real inward happiness.
Prayer For The DayI pray that I may keep my feet on the way. I pray that I may stay on God’s side.
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2
May
FACTS
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
–Aldous Huxley
Reality is not dependent upon our acceptance. Addiction does not have to be accepted to be real. Alcoholism was killing people long before it had a name!
I need to remember this in the recovery program for my life. A big part of my life was spent denying that I had a problem. My manipulative art was exercised in discovering more acceptable excuses for my drunkenness, rather than looking at the problem. I danced toward death with God and denial on my lips. Belief in the God of Truth did not stop my dishonesty.
The process of self-love and acceptance began in my cry for help. Surrender brought me sanity. God was working His purpose out in my life because I was getting out of my way; I was facing the facts. Spirituality is making the words fit the feelings, and the feelings make the action.
Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
27
February
FACTS
“To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, but to imagine your facts is another.”
— John Burroughs
When I was drinking, I was always confusing fantasy with reality. Lies got mingled with the facts and the facts became exaggerated. It was almost impossible for me to distinguish between reality and fantasy, imagination and fact. My life was a complicated lie.
Today I have a program of “rigorous” honesty; I must be rigorous and stop the game before it starts. I need to practice the principles of recovery in every area of my life. The spiritual road involves a comprehensive journey and nothing need be left out.
God, who created the mountains, help me to take responsibility for the grit between my toes.
Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
