Recovery Tools & Slogans
One Day At A Time
“Today, I’m going to stay in Friday and just do ‘Friday’ things.” — Anonymous
Before Recovery, I was constantly worried about what was going to happen, or I'd get stuck rehashing all my mistakes and disappointments from the past— My only solution was to drink.
Through working my recovery program, I am learning to stay in today. Pause... Take a breath, and be in the present. I don’t have to run anymore—even if it’s uncomfortable—because I know it will pass. I’m learning that if I stay in today, I notice more beauty, more peace, I feel more connected with my Higher Power. I actually enjoy my day!
Up My Attitude With Gratitude
"... Before Life gets 'Lifey,' ask yourself, 'What am I grateful for?' Write it down... Make gratitude your habit." --Janice M. Author, "Power in the Pause."
Gratitude is that magic wand that changes your outlook instantaneously. There is plenty of data on practicing gratitude by John Kabat-Zinn and others in positive psychology. But the only way to reap the benefits is to actually do it.
Think Think Think
Think before you drink. This should be a "No Brainer," but somehow we forget the pain our drinking and using causes. Think it through to the end of the movie. A drink or drug might sound like fun or relief in the moment, but we know how things really go for us. It's happened over and over again. Some say they "can't guarantee how things will turn out," and others say they "know exactly how things will turn out." The result is the same--incomprehensible demoralization.
Live & Let Live
Our recovery is our business and other's recovery is their business. We can learn what we want, or what we don't want by noticing how other's work their recovery program. Let's just leave it at that.
Utilize Don't Analyze
"Utilize don't analyze." --Pops
If we see that something is working for many thousands/millions of people, some right before our very eyes, why not try it out for ourselves? Perhaps, our ego is getting in the way? Perhaps we like to figure everything put so we can come up with the answers ourselves to prove we have some kind of control over our disease? Analyze if we must, but in the meantime, just do it. The proof is in the pudding.
Acceptance Is The Answer
Page 417 of the Big Book, Dr. Paul wrote, "Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today..." Most of us when we are new in recovery, acceptance that we are powerless over people, places, things and situations, is a foreign concept. Luckily we get to practice acceptance by remembering the Serenity Prayer, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." When put like this, it's easier to get to acceptance of the things we can't control and move forward in our recovery.
Easy Does It
Bill Wilson wrote in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, "We have three little mottos that are apropos... First Things First, Live and Let Live, and Easy Does It."
This reminds us we don't have to take everything all at once. We can relax and take it one thing, one day, one situation at a time.
Rule 62
Don't take everything so seriously. Though the disease of addiction is pretty serious, it does a lot for our recovery to lighten up. Get in a good laugh. Go for a walk and say hi to all the dogs. Do a cartwheel. Laugh at yourself... And whatever you do--Don't take things personally!
This Too Shall Pass
Have you ever been in so much pain you thought you would get stuck there forever? I have. I learned this is simply not true. The only true thing is that things are constantly changing. Our emotions will too, if we let them. Sometimes this takes outside help, and it always takes a lot of practice letting go and allowing.