DAILY REFLECTIONS #essentialsofrec #Self-Reliance #Fear

THE LIMITS OF SELF-RELIANCE

We asked ourselves why we had them [fears]. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us?

~ ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 68 ~

All of my character defects separate me from God’s will. When I ignore my association with Him I face the world and my alcoholism alone and must depend on self-reliance. I have never found security and happiness through self-will and the only result is a life of fear and discontent. God provides the path back to Him and to His gift of serenity and comfort. First, however, I must be willing to acknowledge my fears and understand their source and power over me. I frequently ask God to help me understand how I separate myself from Him.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc

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Daily Zen

THE FOUR RELIANCES

In Buddhism we establish whether a teacher is authentic by whether or not the guidance he or she is giving accords with the teachings of the Buddha. It cannot be stressed too often that it is truth of the teaching which is all-important, and never the personality of the teacher. This is why Buddha reminded us in the "Four reliances":

Rely on the message of the teacher, not on his personality;

Rely on the meaning, not just on the words;

Rely on the real meaning, not just the provisional one;

Rely on your wisdom mind, not on your ordinary, judgmental mind.



So it is important to remember that the true teacher, as we shall see, is the spokesman of the truth: its compassionate "wisdom display." All the buddhas, masters, and prophets, in fact are the emanation of this truth, appearing in countless skillful, compassionate guises in order to guide us through their teaching, back to our true nature. At first then, more important than finding the teacher is through making a connection with the truth of the teaching, for it is through making a connection with the truth of the teaching that you will discover your living connection with a master.

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Daily Reflections #essentialsofrecovery

THE LIMITS OF SELF-RELIANCE

“We asked ourselves why we had them [fears]. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us?” —

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.68

All of my character defects separate me from God’s will. When I ignore my association with Him I face the world and my alcoholism alone and must depend on self-reliance. I have never found security and happiness through self-will, and the only result is a life of fear and discontent. God provides the path back to Him and to His gift of security and comfort. First, however, I must be willing to acknowledge my fears and understand their source and power over me. I frequently ask God to help me understand how I separate myself from Him.

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

LOOKING FOR PROTECTORS

Self-Reliance

Many of us managed to survive while drinking by finding protectors we could lean on. Sometimes the protector wasn’t a very strong person—only someone who was willing to support us in some way. A protector could even be a person who gave us flattery or companionship when we wanted it.

Such alliances are usually unhealthy and have no lasting place in sobriety. We cannot depend on protectors who will eventually betray us or fail us through no fault of their own.

In sobriety, we must grow into a satisfactory form of self-reliance. This is not reliance on our own resources; rather, it is really a way of relying on our Higher Power, the group, our sponsors, and the higher understanding we’ve found in the program. If we’re still looking for people willing to protect us, we need more growth in sobriety.

I’ve been given tools for understanding myself and my life. I can use those tools effectively as I go through the day.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SELF-RELIANCE


“The way to greatness is the path of self-reliance, independence and steadfastness in times of trial and stress.”
– Herbert Hoover

Today I take responsibility for my life. Today I take responsibility for my disease. Today I take responsibility for my recovery. I know I am not perfect and I have many pains and problems yet to face, but I take hope in my daily conquests. Nothing is too great for me to overcome so long as I have confidence in myself. It is my “yes” or “no” that makes the difference. In the power of my choice rests my freedom.

God, I thank You for my daily trials that ensure my victories.

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

LOOKING FOR PROTECTORS

Self-Reliance

Many of us managed to survive while drinking by finding protectors we could lean on. Sometimes the protector wasn’t a very strong person—only someone who was willing to support us in some way. A protector could even be a person who gave us flattery or companionship when we wanted it.

Such alliances are usually unhealthy and have no lasting place in sobriety. We cannot depend on protectors who will eventually betray us or fail us through no fault of their own.

In sobriety, we must grow into a satisfactory form of self-reliance. This is not reliance on our own resources; rather, it is really a way of relying on our Higher Power, the group, our sponsors, and the higher understanding we’ve found in the program. If we’re still looking for people willing to protect us, we need more growth in sobriety.

I’ve been given tools for understanding myself and my life. I can use those tools effectively as I go through the day.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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A Day At A Time #essentialsofrecovery

Reflection For The Day

In times past, even as adults, many of us childishly insisted that people protect, defend and care for us.  We acted as if the world owed us a living.  And then, when the people we most loved became fed up, pushing us aside or perhaps abandoning us completely,m we were bewildered.  We couldn’t see that our over-dependence on people was unsuccessful because all human beings are fallible;  even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands are unreasonable.  Today, in contrast, we rely upon God, counting on Him rather than on ourselves or other people.  Am I trying to do as I think God would have me do, trusting the outcome of His will for me?

Today I Pray

May I know, from the dependencies of my past, that I am a dependent person.  I depended on alcohol, mood-altering chemicals, food or other addictive pursuits.  I was inclined to “hang” on other people, depending on them for more than they could give.  May I, at last, switch from these adolescent dependencies to a mature healthy dependency on my Higher Power.

Today I Pray

I have more than one dependency. 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec

SELF-RELIANCE


“The way to greatness is the path of self-reliance,

independence and steadfastness in times of trial and stress.”

— Herbert Hoover


Today I take responsibility for my life. Today I take responsibility for

my disease. Today I take responsibility for my recovery. I know I am

not perfect and I have many pains and problems yet to face, but I take

hope in my daily conquests. Nothing is too great for me to overcome so

long as I have confidence in myself. It is my “yes” or “no” that

makes the difference. In the power of my choice rests my freedom.

God, I thank You for my daily trials that ensure my victories.

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Self-Reliance

 17
December

LOOKING FOR PROTECTORS

Self-Reliance

Many of us managed to survive while drinking by finding protectors we could lean on. Sometimes the protector wasn’t a very strong person—only someone who was willing to support us in some way. A protector could even be a person who gave us flattery or companionship when we wanted it.

Such alliances are usually unhealthy and have no lasting place in sobriety. We cannot depend on protectors who will eventually betray us or fail us through no fault of their own.

In sobriety, we must grow into a satisfactory form of self-reliance. This is not reliance on our own resources; rather, it is really a way of relying on our Higher Power, the group, our sponsors, and the higher understanding we’ve found in the program. If we’re still looking for people willing to protect us, we need more growth in sobriety.

I’ve been given tools for understanding myself and my life. I can use those tools effectively as I go through the day.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec #BillW #Dependence

 23
September 

Neither Dependence nor Self-Sufficiency, p.265

When we insisted, like infants, that people protect and take care of us or that the world owed us a living, then the result was unfortunate. The people we most loved often pushed us aside or perhaps deserted us entirely. Our disillusionment was hard to bear.

We failed to see that, though adult in years, we were still behaving childishly, trying to turn everybody–friends, wives, husbands, even the world itself–into protective parents. We refused to learn that over-dependence upon people is unsuccessful because all people are fallible, and even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands for attention become unreasonable.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

We are now on a different basis: the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us do, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.

1. 12 & 12, p.115
2. Alcoholics Anonymous, p.68

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Self-reliance #Frleo

 1
August
SELF-RELIANCE


“The way to greatness is the path of self-reliance, independence and steadfastness in times of trial and stress.”
– Herbert Hoover

Today I take responsibility for my life. Today I take responsibility for my disease. Today I take responsibility for my recovery. I know I am not perfect and I have many pains and problems yet to face, but I take hope in my daily conquests. Nothing is too great for me to overcome so long as I have confidence in myself. It is my “yes” or “no” that makes the difference. In the power of my choice rests my freedom.

God, I thank You for my daily trials that ensure my victories.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec