When I was in school, whether it was grade school or grad school, learning was pretty much the same. I would cram before a test or exam and, as soon as the test was over, “Poof” the new knowledge many times disappeared. This repeated itself with most of life’s experiences right up until I was near 40 years old. Enter heart learning!
Because I had no religious or spiritual experience during this time, I was amazed when I saw and heard of the transformations taking place in people that I knew that were learning of and practicing the spiritual principles of the AA Program. I saw others who had been just as morally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt as I had been. They seemed to be completely different people, now. I was not sure what caused it but I wanted it so much for myself. I had a deep seated aversion to religion and told them so. They quickly told me that this was not a religious program. That it was a spiritual one. Of course, I believed that there was no difference and thought that they were just playing with words. Yet, they actually seemed to be happy, joyous, and free.
I told them that I wanted what they had and was willing to do anything to get it. Even if I was not sure if I even believed it or not. These people, who became my sponsors, told me to “Utilize, don’t analyze.” They went on to tell me that by analyzing the program, I was trying to figure it all out so that I could control it. They they said “How well is control working for you now? Looks like it controlled you right into this program.” Point taken! “Now, what do I do? I still do now know what I really believe.” I was then told to “Fake it ’till you make it!” This was similar to biblical terms of “pray as if!” BUT, it was in terms that I could easily understand. Hadn’t I been faking life for as long as I remembered?
At this time, I was introduced to “heart learning” or “gut learning or instincts.” I soon learned that, if I faked it enough and copied the winners enough, I was not faking it any more. It was as if it were coming from me originally. This led to actually feeling what was right. Quickly, I learned that if it “felt” right, it WAS right.
So, how do I live so that I can truly enjoy life and do the right thing? The answer is so simple that it may be easy to overlook. I work my program to the best of my ability 24/7/365. “But this sounds like all the fun will be taken out of my life!” No, working to the best of my ability is simply doing the next right thing. How do we know that the next thing will be right? Simply, if working your program, if it FEELS right, it IS right! Whenever I come to a poser or a fork in my life’s path, I simply say the shortened version of the 3rd Step, “God help me” and move on. So simple and, when done as much as possible, it also becomes much easier.
So, how do I live so that I can truly enjoy life and do the right thing? The answer is so simple that it may be easy to overlook. I work my program to the best of my ability 24/7/365. “But this sounds like all the fun will be taken out of my life!” No, working to the best of my ability is simply doing the next right thing. How do we know that the next thing will be right? Simply, if working your program, if it FEELS right, it IS right! Whenever I come to a poser or a fork in my life’s path, I simply say the shortened version of the 3rd Step, “God help me” and move on. So simple and, when done as much as possible, it also becomes much easier.
When you work your Program 24/7/365 you will FEEL the difference between heart learning or gut learning and memorizing the Program. The difference is that you will be truly Happy, Joyous, and Free. Happy that you are now able to do the “right thing” most of the time. Joyous that you have discovered this simple Program that allows you to actually feel good about yourself, not that you are missing out on something that you are not even aware of what it is. And Free from any mind-altering substances. This kind of Happiness, Joy, and Freedom can be FELT and UTILIZED, even when things are going terribly wrong.
Remember, if you did not drink or drug today, you have choices. Do you choose to be miserable? Or do you choose to be Happy, Joyous, and Free? The choice is yours. Choose wisely! God bless you!
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