Just For Today Meditations For Month Of February

[Believe808]

and we learn how to handle life by

calling our sponsor,

working the steps and

going to meetings, seeing how others in the room

handle those curve balls that life throws at us.

[Luckyv2]

February 17, 2010
Carrying the message, not the addict
Page 49

"I will accept that I am powerless not only over my own addiction but also over everyone else's. I will carry the message, not the addict"

Perhaps one of the most difficult truths we must face in our recovery is that we are as powerless over another's addiction as we are over our own. We may think that because we've had a spiritual awakening in our own lives we should be able to persuade another addict to find recovery. But there are limits to what we can do to help another addict.

We cannot force them to stop using. We cannot give them the results of the steps or grow for them. We cannot take away their loneliness or their pain. There is nothing we can say to convince a scared addict to surrender the familiar misery of addiction for the frightening uncertainty of recovery. We cannot jump inside other peoples' skins, shift their goals, or decide for them what is best for them.

However, if we refuse to try to exert this power over another's addiction, we may help them. They may grow if we allow them to face reality, painful though it may be. They may become more productive, by their own definition, as long as we don't try and do it for them. They can become the authority on their own lives, provided we are only authorities on our own. If we can accept all this, we can become what we were meant to be - carriers of the message, not the addict.

Just for Today: They can be analyzed, counseled, reasoned with, prayed over, threatened, beaten, or locked up, but they will not stop until they want to stop

Basic Text, p. 62

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous©

[Believe808]

In early sobriety I thought because I was sober that I could help every person who came into the rooms, I took it to heart when they couldn't, sometimes I even got myself a good resentment over it. Today all I can do is carry the message and share my ES&H, I know they have their own journey just as I have mine.

Thanks Vic for these posts.

[Rusty Zipper]

yep,

carry the message, not the addict

[Rusty Zipper]

ohoh, and vic,

you of all people know i tried to help one very special person to me,

yes, trish,

did i fail, of course not, that was HP's will she died,

as she was never going to get recovery, bottom line.

is that statement a judgement?

no, a real good observation.

[Luckyv2]

February 18, 2010
The recovery partnership
Page 50

"I will honor my commitment to a partnership with my Higher Power"

Many of us feel that our fundamental commitment in recovery is to our Higher Power. Knowing that we lack the power to stay clean and find recovery on our own, we enter into a partnership with a Power greater than we are. We make a commitment to live in the care of our Higher Power and, in return, our Higher Power guides us.

This partnership is vital to staying clean. Making it through the early days of recovery often feels like the hardest thing we've ever done. But the strength of our commitment to recovery and the power of God's care is sufficient to carry us through, just for today.

Our part in this partnership is to do the very best we can each day, showing up for life and doing what's put in front of us, applying the principles of recovery to the best of our ability. We promise to do the best we can

not to fake it, not to pretend to be superhuman, but simply to do the footwork of recovery. In fulfilling our part of the recovery partnership, we experience the care our Higher Power has provided us.

Just for Today: As long as I take it easy and make a commitment with my Higher Power to do the best I can, I know I will be taken care of today

Basic Text, p. 120

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous©

[Believe808]

Quote:showing up for life and doing what's put in front of us, applying the principles of recovery to the best of our ability. We promise to do the best we can

If we just do our best, really do our best, that is all our Father asks. Reminds me of a speaker who when talking about raising his son said "I may not have been the best father in the world, but I was the best father I could be."


PS Vic where is your Avi?

[Rusty Zipper]

commitments were somthing we were never really good at,

be it by fear, sloth, ego or pride.

today, we can make the ultimate commitment

[Luckyv2]

February 19, 2010
Reservations
Page 51

"I will check for any reservations that may endanger my recovery and share them with another addict"

A reservation is something we set aside for future use. In our case, a reservation is the expectation that, if such-and-such happens, we will surely relapse. What event do we expect will be too painful to bear? Maybe we think that if a spouse or lover leaves us, we will have to get high. If we lose our job, surely, we think, we will use. Or maybe it's the death of a loved one that we expect to be unbearable. In any case, the reservations we harbor give us permission to use when they come true-as they often do.

We can prepare ourselves for success instead of relapse by examining our expectations and altering them where we can. Most of us carry within us a catalog of anticipated misery closely related to our fears. We can learn how to survive pain by watching other members live through similar pain. We can apply their lessons to our own expectations. Instead of telling ourselves we will have to get high if this happens, we can quietly reassure ourselves that we, too, can stay clean through whatever life brings us today.

Just for Today: Relapse is never an accident. Relapse is a sign that we have a reservation in our program

Basic Text, p. 76

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous©

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Don't know I did not do anything with my avatar oh well it just is that way I suppose.

[Believe808]

Quote:We can learn how to survive pain by watching other members live through similar pain. We can apply their lessons to our own expectations. Instead of telling ourselves we will have to get high if this happens, we can quietly reassure ourselves that we, too, can stay clean through whatever life brings us today.

No matter what, picking up a drink/drug is NOT an option, today we have the tools to deal with whatever is put in front of us. Being at meetings and hearing others share how they got through it gives us the hope that we too, not can, but will get through it.