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Today's Thought - February
February 1
Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Few of us ever think of ourselves as "great," and fewer still consider our lives "sublime." Yet there is no question that we will all depart life someday and leave some kind of footprints behind us. To our glory or regret, we all leave our marks. Though we may not be aware of it, people do watch us. What we say and don't say, do and don't do, all have an effect on others. Our positive, hopeful attitude translates into encouraging applause for a struggling brother or sister, or our cutting remark may be the final douse of water on someone else's weak flame. Our actions and words do matter. Let us look back at the footprints we have left so far. Do they lead toward recovery? It's not too late to strike out in a different direction. For these twenty-four hours, I will set an encouraging example to those around me. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy: Daily Meditations for Adult Children* |
February 2
Dealing with them is like dealing with a porcupine in heat. ~Anonymous Some days we wake up angry at the world. Everyone annoys us. We try to tell ourselves that we're spiritual people and need to have a better attitude. But still, sometimes those inner voices keep whispering that the world is out to get us. This is called life. Part of life is having bad days. What is important is how we choose to behave during these bad days. We can't take our negative attitudes too seriously. These voices feed self-righteousness and can drive us back to being self-centered addicts. We can end up believing we are entitled to happiness on demand. We know where these old attitudes and old behaviors will land us. Prayer for the Day When I feel negative and full of myself, Higher Power, help me to remember that this, too, will pass, especially if I don't take it too seriously. Today's Action Today I will write down a plan for what to do the next time I wake up feeling negative and mad at the world. Who will I call? What will I do to try and turn over my negative attitude? Today's reading is from the book God Grant Me: More Daily Meditations from the Authors of Keep It Simple* |
February 3
God delays but doesn't forget. ~Spanish saying It's frustrating to get sick, lose a job, or encounter financial setbacks. We suddenly feel curtailed, with the rhythm of our lives changed in a way we never anticipated. But our Higher Power slows us down for a reason. There can be gifts in adversity. They can provide us with time alone, time to think. Being alone gives us the chance to find ourselves in a new way. We may be surprised to find inner resources we didn't know we had. A period of waiting through adversity can also turn us to our Higher Power when the solace we need is beyond the capacity of people to give. It's challenging to do nothing when the world tells us that we must always take action. When action isn't possible, accepting the circumstances of our lives enables us to experience the value of being, rather than doing. When some part of my life is beyond my control, I can be patient and simply wait. Inaction is not necessarily inactivity. Today's reading is from the book Answers in the Heart |
February 4
The Now Yesterday is gone; forget it. Tomorrow never comes; don't worry. Today is here; get busy. ~Anonymous When we live in the now, for this day only, "One day at a time," we assure ourselves a comfortable reality. We cannot afford to regret the past. Solutions that worked for yesterday's problems might be obsolete today. Thinking into the future is projection, an act of purely wishful thinking that is a waste of precious time for growth. The time we spend "projecting" is time wasted. The future is never what we project it to be. Instead of spending time thinking about the future in the present, we can be spending time making the present better. The only thing that emerges from thinking about the negative parts of our past is guilt and shame. The only thing that emerges from thinking about our future is fear of the unknown. We can eliminate guilt, shame, and fear from our present lives by dealing only with the present. Today I will spend each moment in the here and now, making the present better. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It: A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations* |
Fberuary 5
It is the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. ~Rebecca West Our soul's pure desires, those that harm no one else, are really invitations from God for us to try new activities, to perhaps move along unfamiliar corridors, or tackle challenges that will carry us closer to our destiny. Fulfilling our desires can expand our knowledge of life, but even more, it can strengthen our trust in our Higher Power. Perhaps our primary goal is to trust more in our Higher Power's presence, loving guidance, and commitment to our growth. Our Higher Power is our most treasured friend and teacher, our most significant other. We'll never be led astray with the guidance offered us for fulfilling our purest desires. I will ask God for direction and attune myself to my innermost desires today. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery* |
February 6
Believe the best in yourself. Then it is easier to believe the best in others. ~Mardy Kopischke Most of us have struggled - perhaps for years - trying to see the best in ourselves. Our less-than-stellar behavior has muddied our attempts to focus on our positive qualities. We have always had them; however, it may require a careful inventory and our sponsor's feedback to bring our positive qualities into focus. Why is it so much easier to remember the actions over which we feel shame? Many of us can't see the good in ourselves until we can recognize what it looks like. It helps to start by identifying the good in other people; then we can learn to identify it in ourselves. This effort will ensure us many rewards. It's really not important how we go about identifying our best attributes. That we come to appreciate them is the goal. And the beauty of this is that by openly expressing our appreciation we strengthen the good in ourselves and in others. The contribution I can make today is really so easy. All I need to do is focus on a positive quality not only in someone else but also in myself. Today's reading is from the book A Woman's Spirit: More meditations for Women* |
February 7
All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. ~Julian of Norwich Some mornings we wake with anxiety, fretting over the future or the state of our lives. Not many things we do will change the direction of events in the future. Our fears for our safety and well-being may be based more on habit than reality, and our desires for control only feed frustration. To restore calm, we can turn to the care of our Higher Power. We do that in our deep meditation, taking a few minutes alone in a quiet, undisturbed, and safe place. We can breathe slowly and deeply, allowing the chair or the floor to hold our body as we allow our Higher Power to hold us. Repeating in our minds today's opening quote, we find calm settling over us. Today, I accept that all will be well. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones: More Daily Meditations for Men* |
February 8
AA Thought for the Day The new life can't be built in a day. We have to take the program slowly, a little at a time. Our subconscious minds have to be re-educated. We have to learn to think differently. We have to get used to sober thinking instead of alcoholic thinking. Anyone who tries it knows that the old alcoholic thinking is apt to come back on us when we least expect it. Building a new life is a slow process, but it can be done if we really follow the AA program. Am I building a new life on the foundation of sobriety? Meditation for the Day I will pray daily for faith, for it is God's gift. On faith alone depends the answer to my prayers. God gives it to me in response to my prayers, because it is a necessary weapon for me to possess for the overcoming of all adverse conditions and the accomplishment of all good in my life. Therefore, I will work at strengthening my faith. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may so think and live as to feed my faith in God. I pray that my faith may grow because with faith God's power becomes available to me. Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day: A Spiritual Resource with Practical Applications for Daily Life* |
February 9
Say what you like: say I'm ill, Say I broke my leg on the stairs, Say we've had a fire. ~T.S. Elliot Think of the trouble of excuses and lies. They force us to make ourselves sick, live with a whole broken leg, start some sort of slow burn. When we tell someone we're not at home, we have to hide in that place. When we invent a long line of lies, we have to memorize each one. It's easiest just to come clean, use plain and simple words, and speak true. When accusers spear us with their stares, we can disarm them by looking them right in the eye. Not only do lies deceive others, they keep us hidden from ourselves, and make our real reasons for the choices we've made seem unworthy, if we feel we can't express them. Better that we be truthful, even if a little pain results. Truth keeps communication lines open. Then, when someone really wants to know what's on our minds, we can simply open our hearts. Is anything too terrible to tell to a friend? Today's reading is from the book Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families* |
The truth may hurt a little while, but a
lie will keep you in bondage forever. |
February 10
Study sickness when you are well. ~Thomas Fuller Now is the time to learn about our sickness - addiction. It is a chronic illness. That means it never goes away. We have to live with it the best we can. Luckily, we can live with it - very well! Our program of recovery is so simple, and it feels so good, that we think we'll never give it up. But we can't take our recovery for granted. Our disease is cunning, baffling, powerful. The more we know about it, the less we'll let it fool us. Some days we may find we're headed toward a slip. We must learn to recognize the first trouble signs in ourselves so we can get help to stay sober. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, my addiction is cunning, baffling, powerful. Don't let me use alcohol or other drugs again. Thank you for my sobriety today. Action for the Day Today I’ll learn my warning signs: I’ll list ten old thoughts, feelings, and actions that were part of my illness. I’ll share this with my sponsor. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal* |
The Power of Thinking.
Did you know that thoughts can actually make you more anxious, happy, fearful, or content? And what you spend time thinking about has the power to affect your emotions, your actions, and ultimately, your character? Your thoughts are some of the most powerful things about you. Scripture has a lot to say about our thoughts because God knows the power of our minds. Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep our hearts in perfect peace if we keep our minds fixed on Him. Can you imagine that? Perfect peace. The more time we spend focusing our thoughts on God and His Word, the more our hearts will be kept in peace. That is a powerful thought, especially in a world that is constantly looking for peace and unity. The starting point for this peace is trusting God. We must come to Him trusting in who He is, and having faith in what He has done for us. We know that God is good and just. So if we have faith in Him, we know that we are accepted and loved by Him. And those who trust in God are given access to Him and His presence. Perfect peace is available to those who consistently trust in God, and fix their thoughts on Him. How many of your thoughts are spent on things relating to God? Do you keep your mind focused on Him when you’re feeling anxious or stressed? What are some simple ways you can continue to remind yourself to think about God throughout your day? Spend some time thinking about the power of your own thoughts and the access you’ve been given to God through Scripture. Commit to building the habit of centering your thoughts on God so that you can experience His perfect peace. |
February 11
If I truly showed my feelings, the other guys would eat me alive. It's too dog-eat-dog out there to be honest about the things that really count to you. You can't leave yourself wide open like that ~Michael E. McGill As we deepen our commitment to strong and mature manhood, we see a conflict between this program and much of what we learned as young men. When we drop our defenses and are honest, we take the chance of getting hurt. Many of us learned long ago that when we became vulnerable, others became abusive. It is difficult to abandon everything we learned about being nobody's fool and staying safe. In fact, we don't have to leave ourselves wide open. We can be selective about how open we will be and whom we will trust. But for our spiritual growth to continue, we must be an open book to ourselves, to our Higher Power, and to a few friends. We must face the fear of being open to others in this program. Developing true friends is part of the change that the program brings. I pray for the courage to be honest with myself and to stand up for who I truly am with my friends. *Meditations can be specific, but themes are universal: apply as needed on your personal journey. |
February 12
Making Amends As Freya North once said, "It’s not a person's mistakes which define them - it's the way they make amends." It's not just saying we are sorry about things that we may have done in the past, although that can be part of it. Some people may not want to hear from us ever again, and we need to honor that. When we do make verbal amends, we admit mistakes, but it isn't always about making right what was wrong. Sometimes making amends involves listening to others describe how what we did affected them. We can make indirect or direct amends. Once we offer them, we move on from our amends. Clearing up bad energy is important. I don't believe in making direct amends if there is a chance that doing so might injure myself or others. Making amends is about making better or improving, amending our behaviors and our actions. It's not about repentance for me. It's about taking responsibility and changing my behavior. And sometimes it's even an opportunity to show others how much I've changed - that my amends show themselves in me. Though we can't take back the past, recovery gives us opportunities to change the future. Today's reading is from the book She Recovers Every Day: Meditations for Women* |
February 13
Accepting powerlessness There is nothing negative in the First Step of the program, where we admit that we are powerless over our addiction and our lives. Powerlessness is not weakness; it simply recognizes that power is not a human attribute. We are powerless in and of ourselves. But when we look to our Higher Power, we can be set free - no longer bound by an addiction that does not love us. Have I tapped the source of all power? Higher Power, help me to joyfully accept my powerlessness over my addiction, knowing that this will set me free. I will accept my powerlessness today by... Today's reading is from the book Day by Day: Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts* |
February 14
Go to the truth beyond the mind. Love is the bridge. ~Stephen Levine Our best thinking often got us in trouble. We convinced ourselves that doing the absolutely wrong thing was right. We thought we knew what was real and true. We fought to defend our truths. We became self-righteous, arrogant, and full of ego. These attitudes kept us from the truth. Why? Because what was missing was love. We replaced love of people and love of spiritual principles with love of alcohol and drugs, and love of self. We rejected divine love and chose self-centeredness instead. Recovery asks us to risk telling the truth again. We start our meetings by stating the truth of why we are there: "Hi, my name is...and I’m an addict." We do inventories to discover truths about ourselves. The love we show each other and the love of our Higher Power help nurse us back to health. Love is the bridge that makes us willing to face the truth. We use the Steps to cross this bridge and find the truths that will set us free. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, you are both truth and love. Help me to see you in the challenges of my day. |
February 15
Spreading the Message of Love I had trust issues and didn't want to go into a room full of people that I didn't know. It took me a long time to be able to join a group and be honest and open. I wasn't ready to speak of my emotions or feelings. In the beginning, not speaking was the easy part. Today I am a member of a group with a lot of newcomers. I see myself in all of them. Some share. Some don't. Some of them sit there with no light in their eyes. What do I do? I approach them, welcome them, introduce myself, and say "I love you." That's something I would never have done before. Never. Imagine how different the world would be if a world full of people did that too. Today I will welcome a newcomer as I was welcomed in the community of recovery - with uninhibited love. ~John F., U.S. Air Force, 1985–1996 Today's reading is from the book Leave No One Behind: Daily meditations for Military Service Members and Veterans in Recovery* |
February 16
Reflection for the Day Recovery teaches us that we are bodily and mentally different from our fellows. We are reminded that the great obsession of every abnormal drinker or dependent user - and every one of us who is otherwise addictive - is to prove that somehow, someday, we will be able to control our drinking, using, eating, or gambling. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing, we are told, and many pursue it to the gates of insanity or death. Have I conceded to my innermost self that, for me, "One is too many and a thousand not enough"? Today I Pray May I have no illusions about someday becoming a moderate drinker or drug user after being an obsessive one. May I muffle any small voice of destructive pride that lies to me, telling me that I can now go back to my former use and control it. This is a program of no return, and I thank my Higher Power for it. Today I Will Remember My goal must be lifelong abstinence - a day at a time. Today's reading is from the book A Day at a Time: Daily Reflections for Recovering People* |
February 17
No one's behavior reflects on me but mine! Being embarrassed by a friend or lover's drunkenness was not uncommon. Most of us experienced that. What was also common was assuming others judged us every time the alcoholic drank. It's difficult to give up that belief even with the input we now receive from program members. Slowly, we are beginning to understand that it is our shame that has triggered our assumptions. Whenever we behave as respectful, well-meaning people, others can judge us only as such. If, by contrast, we choose to behave as self-centered, rude individuals, that is exactly how we will be viewed. How the alcoholic in our lives acts is not a true barometer of how others see us. I will focus on me today and how I project myself. If I want the love and praises of others, I’ll need to earn it by my actions. Today's reading is from the book A Life of My Own: Meditations on Hope and Acceptance* |
February 18
An improviser may have to practice for years before being able to play a totally spontaneous minute of music in which every detail is right for its own fleeting moment. ~Stephen Nachmanovich We have achieved mastery and success in some areas of our lives but are still beginners in others. We may have forgotten the time and persistence our accomplishments required and are expecting instant comprehension and command of something new to us. It is never too late for us to acquire new learning, as long as we have the humility and courage to be beginners again. This means being tolerant of our own awkwardness and ignorance, being patient as we go through what seems like failure and not giving up easily on ourselves or on the learning process. It means persevering, taking small steps over and over, paying attention to details, and leaving outcomes to our Higher Power. Whether we want to learn a language, maintain healthy sobriety, or have satisfying relationships with our peers, the same combination of openness, consistent action, and surrender will bring good results. Today, it's safe for me to be a beginner. Today's reading is from the book Glad Day |
February 19
Anger is one of the many profound effects life has on us. It's one of our emotions. And we're going to feel it when it comes our way - or else repress it. ~Codependent No More If I was working a good program, I wouldn't get angry…If I was a good Christian, I wouldn't feel angry…If I was really using my affirmations about how happy I am, I wouldn't be angry…Those are old messages that seduce us into not feeling again. Anger is part of life. We need not dwell in it or seek it out, but we can't afford to ignore it. In recovery, we learn we can shamelessly feel all our feelings, including anger, and still take responsibility for what we do when we feel angry. We don't have to let anger control us, but it surely will if we prevent ourselves from feeling it. Being grateful, being positive, being healthy, does not mean we never feel angry. Being grateful, positive, and healthy means we feel angry when we need to. Today, I will let myself be angry, if I need to. I can feel and release my emotions, including anger, constructively. I will be grateful for my anger and the things it is trying to show me. I can feel and accept all my emotions without shame, and I can take responsibility for my actions. Today's reading is from the book The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency* |
February 20
The price of wisdom is above rubies. ~From Job 28:18 Our program is founded on wisdom, and the wisdom of the program is the light of our lives. It shines into the dark corners of the spirit where the myths lurk that would degrade rather than create, entrap rather than set free. Wisdom lets us see what and whose game is being played. Is it my game or yours? Not to know the difference is to dangle like a puppet from a set of strings hooked to head and limbs. It may be a game of guilt, of taking responsibility for someone else's life, of accepting peace at any price - or any number of enslaving games. Without the wisdom of the program, how could we know? Without wisdom, how could we learn to give ourselves credit for how far we have come rather than berate ourselves for how slow we are moving? What a relief and a comfort to be able to rely on our wise Steps and Traditions for fail-safe guidance. Today, I am grateful for the program’s teachings. Today's reading is from the book Days of Healing, Days of Joy: Daily Meditations for Adult Children* |
February 21
Change means movement, movement means friction, friction means heat, and heat means controversy. ~Saul Alinsky We talk about wanting to change, to face up to our addiction, and our desire is real and genuine. But we must realize that change can continue to involve real pain for ourselves and others. We were so comfortable for so long with our addiction! It had become our pacifier and our crutch. We wondered why we should bother to move forward and away from our world of ritual and fantasy and acting out. But were we really at home there? What about our anger? Our remorse? Our feelings of hopelessness and despair? The shame that caused us to shun intimacy and touch? Were we truly comfortable? Has change been so harsh in comparison with the misery of our addiction? Even knowing there would be struggles and disagreements along the way, one day we cried, "Enough! I am powerless." We were ready, then, to face our struggles for a new, honest way of living. I know that change will be hard, but I'm glad to join in the process of movement and growth that is life. Today's reading is from the book Answers in the Heart |
February 22
Backing Off He has spent all his life letting down baskets into empty wells. ~Sydney Smith We can always resist an argument where there is obviously no chance of either side solving a problem. Taking time to evaluate the situation will save us possible embarrassment and apologies. We don't have to be winners in matters that are unimportant to spiritual progress. We have also learned that there is no disgrace in changing directions when one way won't work. Of course, nobody wins by retreating from a confrontation, but aggressiveness is sure to be useless. Sometimes backing off is winning if nothing is to be gained by confrontation. We can often avoid another blow to the wounded dignity we brought into our program. To avoid what is impossible to win doesn't make me a quitter. Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It: A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations* |
February 23
Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them. ~Norman Vincent Peale What does it mean to like other people? It means giving respect and attention to their opinions and perspectives on life. It means respecting their feelings, attitudes, and values without passing judgment or trying to control them. Clearly and simply, liking others means letting them be who they are and celebrating their individuality. Openly expressing fondness for a friend is affirming for both people. Our expressions are gifts that will multiply for us when we've been honest and unselfish, free from ulterior motives. We all want to be liked. And we've heard many times that to have a friend, one must be a friend. It's a formula that takes only a simple decision each time we share with another. My actions will determine whether I'm liked today. Today's reading is from the book In God's Care: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery* |
February 24
Our inner journey is a transformative process. It involves becoming who we already are in essence and letting go of the phony in favor of the authentic self. ~Mary Norton Gordon In years past, finding the right face to wear was our goal in any social situation. Quite likely we succeeded too. We were accomplished at reading the faces of others, discerning who we needed to be in order to please them. Our worth seemed dependent on pleasing them. Recovery doesn't mean we stop pleasing others. Learning to love others unconditionally, thus inspiring joy in them, is a benefit of recovery. But pleasing ourselves is of utmost importance too, and we can feel good about ourselves only if we are living honest lives. That means wearing the face that matches who we really are inside. Our lives become less confusing as we learn to reveal our true selves. When we stop trying to be the person we think others want us to be, we will find more time to simply love them for the person they are, and to love ourselves too. I will please others simply by loving them as they are today. I can be honest and loving just being me. Today's reading is from the book A Woman's Spirit: More meditations for Women* |
February 25
The fearless are merely fearless. People who act in spite of their fear are truly brave. ~James A. LaFond-Lewis Fear plays a role in our lives in different ways. Many of us have been so conditioned to deny fear that we don't even know we are afraid and are, in fact, reacting to it. We may look back on a major life choice and realize we chose one job over another because of fear. Some of us can see in the rearview mirror that our controlling ways rise out of fear, not desire for power. The fact is that until we allow ourselves to know our fears, we will react impulsively to them and cannot respond bravely to them. Our fears don't give us a license to control those around us. Our fears don't make our addictive escapes any less harmful. On this path, we seek to know our fears, to call them by name so we can be smart in dealing with them. Sometimes we may use our fear as wise guidance to avoid danger, and other times we may choose to bravely step into the circle of our fear and face it down because we do not want to be irrationally ruled by it. Today, I will open my eyes to see my fears and then choose wiser, braver responses to them. Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones: More Daily Meditations for Men* |
February 26
AA Thought for the Day I have learned to live one day at a time. I have finally realized the great fact that all I have is now. This sweeps away all vain regret and it makes my thoughts of the future free of fear. Now is mine. I can do what I want with it. I own it, for better or worse. What I do now, in this present moment, is what makes up my life. My whole life is only a succession of nows. I will take this moment, which has been given to me by the grace of God, and I will do something with it. What I do with each now will make me or break me. Am I living in the now? Meditation for the Day We should work at overcoming ourselves, our selfish desires and our self-centeredness. This can never be fully accomplished. We can never become entirely unselfish. But we can come to realize that we are not at the center of the universe and that everything does not revolve around us at the center. I am only one cell in a vast network of human cells. I can at least make the effort to conquer the self-life and seek daily to obtain more and more of this self-conquest. "He that overcomes himself is greater than he who conquers a city." Prayer for the Day I pray that I may strive to overcome my selfishness. I pray that I may achieve the right perspective of my position in the world. Today's reading is from the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day: A Spiritual Resource with Practical Applications for Daily Life* |
February 27
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear not absence of fear. ~Mark Twain It is not unusual to feel afraid. It is unusual, however, to hear anyone admit to feeling afraid. Sometimes we think there are some people who are so cool and calm that they never feel afraid. This may make us think we're not as good because we know how often we feel afraid. This is why it is important to think about what courage really is. It is not the absence of fear. Courage is not letting fear stop us from doing what we need to do. We might have to get up in front of a group to give a speech. We could give in to our fear and not give the speech, or we could admit our fear to those who love us, and then go ahead and do the best we can. To go ahead in the face of fear is courage. What am I afraid of? Today's reading is from the book Today's Gift: Daily Meditations for Families* |
February 28
It's easier to speak of love than to practice it. ~Anonymous Do we help our neighbor who is in need? We must help when we see the need, not just when it fits our schedule. In the program, this becomes our goal. We work at helping out. For example, when someone is needed to run the meeting, we offer. We see that the needs of the group are also our needs. We are the group. Over time, the idea of service spreads to the rest of our lives. Maybe we help a family down the street. We start to see that we have something to offer the world: ourselves. We start to see that the needs of the world are also our needs. We are an important part of the world. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, make me quick to act when I see a need. Please don't let my fear stop me. Action for the Day Today I’ll list what I have to offer the world. I will think of two ways I can use these gifts my Higher Power has given me. Today's reading is from the book Keep it Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal* |
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