Staying Sober-a #1 priority?

[nutz]

over all, YES
realistily, It shifts from day to day, moment to moment.
In other words...I can still be a major ***** sobered,
ON A MONADY MONRING.lol

[lafever chris]

Those that are agnostics usually have trouble with the spiritual side of recovery, since many still play god themselves, giving credit too themselves, they may stay sober yet are so miserable and thus make everyone around them miserable, most people that know them wish they would go back to the drinking because honestly thats what they really want to hear anyway.



chris


P.S. I didn`t get into recovery to be miserable, i came to get sober and found god, and the spiritual side that i was lacking that comes with knowing that only a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity, even if i believe in a tree for a higher power, and i have myself, the momosa tree, because its leaves open in the morning and close at night like clockwork and for me the tree had a better schedual than i did, because the tree could get up on time and go to bed at time yet i couldn`t, so yes the tree was a power greater than myself, and ironically the tree was created by the hand of god so for me it`s a piece of him. Today i pray to nature and some how its like a direct line to god. So really whatever floats your bout as long as you understand that we are all on gods green earth. The hard truth is that sanity is not a recuirement, and many i pray for, and it`s sad to say but some make me happy when i see them and some as they walk out the door. Some just never get the spiritual side of the program and it`s sad since it`s a spiritual program. I have a disease that effects me physically, mentally, and last but not least spiritually. So god bless to anyone still testing their recovery, your in my prayers, wich is covered in step 11.

[Andy F]

Originally Posted by lafever chris

Those that are agnostics usually have trouble with the spiritual side of recovery, since many still play god themselves, giving credit too themselves, they may stay sober yet are so miserable and thus make everyone around them miserable, most people that know them wish they would go back to the drinking because honestly thats what they really want to hear anyway.



chris

.

Hi Chris

I don't know if your talking from personal experience of being an agnostic? When I believed in God I probably had similar views. No matter.

For myself, being an agnostic doesn't mean I think I am God or that I have control or credit where I don't. It simply means that I am not living my life as if a supernatural power is impacting upon it. It also means that I see no reason to expect that I will exist in anyway once I am physically dead. I live my life, like others, in the moment. Much of how I live is the same as my spiritually focused friends except I perceive similar things as psychological and not divinely inspired. When I believed in God and began to have doubts I felt terribly scared that I was bucking all the stuff I had taught myself for many sober years. I feared my ego must be at play and perhaps I would get drunk as a result. This has not been my experience. I believe I am less miserable now and infact sometimes feel genuinly at peace with myself. I have found the answers, for me, that contradict the negative accusations you make towards agnostics. And that's my experience.

[nutz]

I agree with Andy
What works for me at 1 year dosen't work for me now.
As we change our perceptions change.

[doorknob]

Having "God" is the only true way to be sober. Anyone who does it differently, which includes all who choose secular recovery programs, use AA as agnostics or atheists, or just quit are either "dry drunks" or are not really alcoholics. Hmmmmmmmmm....

Doorknob

[NoMoBeer]

Ed:
Why do you continue to do that? You post a question, someone answers, then you want to pick a fight. Maybe it's a pride or ego thing, but come on, man.

If I post a question on a forum, I truly want to hear what others have to say. You just want to debate.

"We have ceased fighting anything or anyone."

"Live and Let Live."

[FriendofBill]

No Mo.......

I think he does it to get a rise outta people.
Bullies like that kinda stuff.

Some are sicker than others, sadly

[lafever chris]

Just so everyone knows, i speak from experince, there were times i was very miserable in the program because honestly i wasn`t in recovery, just hangin around i guess, so when i was going through those times i can`t say i was ever recovering, just abstinant. I would shut out someones experience strength and hope if they were talking all that god stuff, instantly i would block out whatever they were saying or make a mad dash to the coffee pot or pull out a cigarette, roll my eyes and look for someone to co-sign my behavior by talking to the person next to me, wich is very rude when someone is sharing, or worse yet make a noise, then iv`e distracted everyone else, not realizing i was creating chaos in the group. I had to find the spiritual side which ironically is what the whole program is about. I would look for fights to disquallify myself from ever getting help for my ultimate problem, myself, because to look in the mirror can be a very painfull experience, which means i`d have to work on myself instead of everyone around me. Thats my experience, if i`m ok with me then i`m ok with you! I can let you be were your at, even if that means letting you go back out for more, i did, why would you be any different then myself, i was one hard cookie. Being at peace with myself from tapping into the spirtual side of recovery has allowed me to take an honest look at myself, a look thats non-biased, meaning i had to be accountable for my actions and quit blaming life or what others had done or are doing. The great thing about this is that now iv`e realized that where i blamed, i now see life on lifes terms, theres no blame only cercomstances wich effected me spiritually until i was spiritually dead inside. By taking a non-biased inventory i can pray for those who effected me, instead of getting angry or resentfull and then reliving the whole experience over and over, insanity, doing the same things expecting different results, i simply gave in to a simple program. It only took me 17 years, how long will it take you?


chris


P.S. in case no ones told you, i love you, and god bless

[Millwallj]

Originally Posted by Andy F

Hi Ed

What worked for me at one year sober did not necessarily work for me at two.

That is what I believe reviewing 22 years of sobriety.

One of my own personal beliefs about staying sober in the longer term, is having the willingness to change my views when I have been confronted with the painful truth that what I believed last week is not the final solution.

Develop, evolve, change, adapt and sometimes pretty damned quick. Always, however, keeping in mind, during the frailties of life, that everything is dependant upon physical sobriety. If you want to **** around with your life, make stopping drinking your no2 priority.

Todays news is tomorrows fish and chip paper. What you think you know now, you won't even be able to remember in a year from now...if you stay sober. What you think is the most exciting revelation and ultimate answer today, is only the stepping stone to what you are going to learn..if you make stopping drinking your no 1 priority and stay sober.

The truth is Ed, you know what is keeping you sober today, but don't know anything about what is going to keep you sober tomorrow.

great post Andy F. Its like just because I know somethign is the truth does not mean it is the truth, and what every my truth is today, may not be tomorrow.

as for putting it as a number one priority, well duhhhhh Ed, it sure aint rocket sceince: WE ARE ALCHOLICS and too much alcahol can kill.

he he he. makes me laugh the way we are astounded or inquisitive when it comes to the obvious.

whats the best thing an alky can do to save his life.

dont drink.

any man alive would tell you this.

we have to question it.

[BlueMoon]

Who here has sobriety as their #1 priority in their life?

ME! I don't HAVE a life without it - same as I don't have a life without oxygen. It is that vital to me.

is it possible that you can have a deeper experience and relationship with the "HP" that is ALREADY keeping you sober for 9 years?

YES! Of course!

Did your "HP" infact remove the obsession to drink from you?

YES, without a doubt!

If so, what's your current relationship with the "HP" that keeps you sober like?

The only way I can think to explain/describe it is:
When I was newly clean/sober, I was really struggling with the concept of a Higher Power. One nite at a meeting, the poster of the 12 Steps caught my eye. "God of MY understanding" lept out at me. *MY* understanding! That became kinda my bedtime meditation - WHAT my HP is like.

My HP loves me unconditionally, never gets mad or disappointed with me. Always has a friendly word of encouragement and praise. Is always there to help me with the 'big scary' things.
And when I'm scared and lonely in the dark at night, my HP holds me and reassures me, it WILL be ok.


love + light
Blue