When gut-wrenching anger, jealousy, shame, or other negative emotions overcome me, the last thing I want to do is embrace them. The opposite of embracing is resisting and this resistance only solidifies them. The memory of the painful events that caused them becomes a permanent part of my experience. The way I feel about any event creates a memory of it. That memory adds to a network of feelings that grow into a belief. This belief becomes true for me because I seek out evidence that this is true. Why not learn how to become Happy, Joyous, and Free, instead?
The great news is that I can change my thoughts about the memory, which alters my feelings and beliefs. Since coming into the Program of AA, I can now look back and see how I’ve grown stronger, wiser and braver because of every challenge. I have tried saying the shortened version of the 3rd Step, “God Help Me,” at every challenge, and discovered that I have been able to deal successfully with all of them.
Grief is not a bad thing because, whenever we suffer a significant loss, such as a loved one or even the bottle, grief is a natural part of the recovery process. We all know that we can’t win if we try to stop Mother Nature so why can’t we believe the same thing about the nature of our own lives?
If we didn’t drink or drug today, we can choose to deal with the losses that face us every day. Notice that I didn’t say like. I can turn it into a learning and growing experience. This will only add to the growth that began when I started really working this amazing program.
Our Higher Power has always been there, whether or not we acknowledged It. God is ready, able, and willing to be the source of all of our needs. We must only remember to ask Him for it. As soon as I realized that I was not strong enough to handle the world’s problems, let alone mine, and needed the help of my God, I immediately became stronger. I was well on my way to becoming Happy, Joyous, and Free! If you don’t drink or drug today, you can choose to do the very same! Just remember to ASK for it! That way, you will know where it ALL came from.