What are Al-Anon's BIGGEST lessons? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Spiritual Seeker · 07-23-2007, 12:48 PM

Today I won't argue with reality. It just is and I don't know that it should be any other way. Al-Anon is a way if life, there is no finish line. Al-Anon helped me to understand that addiction is a sickness which can't be oversome unless the addict is willing to help himself. Now I can laugh at myself and how I viewed the world before Al-Anon. I know that serenity is NOT the absence of conflict, but my ability to COPE with it.The Al-Anon program places great emphasis on positive qualities, but I could only do it when the negatives had been sorted out. The healing began and my life changed when I became aware of a Power greater than my ego. I know that I have NO RIGHTto expect that my solutions will solve other's problems. I recognize that my burdens need not crush me. My heart had to be broken in order for my HP to enter. My BIGGEST LESSON: I know that when I try to control, my life becomes unmanageable!! UNLESS I stand firm upon the 1st step, the other 11 fall apart under me. I have true friends in Al-Anon, so I do not walk this path alone.
Every min. that I am sad, costs me 60 seconds of happiness. Just for today: I will look my best, I'll not say one critical comment,.
Today I choose to be happy. What do you choose today? What is your biggest lesson from Al-Anon or that you hope to learn in recovery?

parentrecovers · 07-23-2007, 12:51 PM

today i'll mind my own business and take care of myself. the best i can do is to lead by good example.

Spiritual Seeker · 07-23-2007, 02:46 PM

Parentrecovers, "Minding our own business" that is a good lesson.

parentrecovers · 07-23-2007, 02:50 PM

it seems so simple - mind my own business. NOT!!!

Spiritual Seeker · 07-23-2007, 05:17 PM

I have peace of mind today. Just for today I am accepting what is. When I argue w/ reality, that is when I get into trouble.

denny57 · 07-23-2007, 05:30 PM

That there is a grander plan for me than I could ever imagine or try to manipulate. To have compassion for those who suffer, yet take care of myself.

Rella927 · 07-23-2007, 06:22 PM

To totally embrace the concept of Letting Go Totally from A-Z

I'am only at about K so I'am not doing to badly!

aztchr · 07-23-2007, 07:45 PM

To detach and let go of guilt for taking care of myself first

Spiritual Seeker · 07-23-2007, 07:48 PM

These seem to be the keys to those of us who love addicts. It is hard to figure out just how to go about it. "Progress not perfection" comes to mind. We work it until it works.

Mr. Christian · 07-23-2007, 08:19 PM

I think the biggest thing was learning to let go. That I had no control of what happened and that in the grad scheme of things, it was not all that big a deal.

When you learn to just shrug your shoulders and say , “what ever”, life gets much easier.

**DesertEyes** · 07-23-2007, 08:25 PM

My biggest lesson is that I had spend my life trying to change the world to meet my expectations. Steps 1 - 6 taught me that. What I have to do now is change my expectations to meet the world. Steps 7 - 12 show me how.

Mike

Spiritual Seeker · 07-23-2007, 10:31 PM

Mike, thank you for the simplified explaination of the steps. It made me take a look at them again and you are right. They're not as complicated as some make them out to be or as they appear at 1st glance. They allow me to feel, deal and heal.

cagefree · 07-24-2007, 04:21 AM

I learned that the best guards of interruptions to my serenity are setting boundaries, focusing on myself and making sure my needs are met.

07-23-2007, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spiritual Seeker get it, give it, grow in it Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calif coast Posts: 3,169	What are Al-Anon's BIGGEST lessons? Today I won't argue with reality. It just is and I don't know that it should be any other way. Al-Anon is a way if life, there is no finish line. Al-Anon helped me to understand that addiction is a sickness which can't be oversome unless the addict is willing to help himself. Now I can laugh at myself and how I viewed the world before Al-Anon. I know that serenity is NOT the absence of conflict, but my ability to COPE with it.The Al-Anon program places great emphasis on positive qualities, but I could only do it when the negatives had been sorted out. The healing began and my life changed when I became aware of a Power greater than my ego. I know that I have NO RIGHTto expect that my solutions will solve other's problems. I recognize that my burdens need not crush me. My heart had to be broken in order for my HP to enter. My BIGGEST LESSON: I know that when I try to control, my life becomes unmanageable!! UNLESS I stand firm upon the 1st step, the other 11 fall apart under me. I have true friends in Al-Anon, so I do not walk this path alone. Every min. that I am sad, costs me 60 seconds of happiness. Just for today: I will look my best, I'll not say one critical comment,. Today I choose to be happy. What do you choose today? What is your biggest lesson from Al-Anon or that you hope to learn in recovery? __________________ If tears could build a stairway I'd walk up to Heaven and bring my son home.

07-23-2007, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Spiritual Seeker get it, give it, grow in it Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calif coast Posts: 3,169	Parentrecovers, "Minding our own business" that is a good lesson. __________________ If tears could build a stairway I'd walk up to Heaven and bring my son home.

07-23-2007, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Spiritual Seeker get it, give it, grow in it Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calif coast Posts: 3,169	I have peace of mind today. Just for today I am accepting what is. When I argue w/ reality, that is when I get into trouble. __________________ If tears could build a stairway I'd walk up to Heaven and bring my son home.

07-23-2007, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rella927 ¢σммυηιту gяєєтєя Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Spreading my wings Posts: 7,147	To totally embrace the concept of Letting Go Totally from A-Z I'am only at about K so I'am not doing to badly! __________________ Dance as though no one is watching you Love as though you have never been hurt before Live as though heaven is on earth.

07-23-2007, 07:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
Spiritual Seeker get it, give it, grow in it Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calif coast Posts: 3,169	Letting go + detaching These seem to be the keys to those of us who love addicts. It is hard to figure out just how to go about it. "Progress not perfection" comes to mind. We work it until it works. __________________ If tears could build a stairway I'd walk up to Heaven and bring my son home.

07-23-2007, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
parentrecovers let it grow! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Posts: 15,542	today i'll mind my own business and take care of myself. the best i can do is to lead by good example.

07-23-2007, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
parentrecovers let it grow! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Posts: 15,542	it seems so simple - mind my own business. NOT!!!

07-23-2007, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
denny57 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 5,077	That there is a grander plan for me than I could ever imagine or try to manipulate. To have compassion for those who suffer, yet take care of myself.

07-23-2007, 07:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
aztchr Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: phoenix arizona Posts: 741	To detach and let go of guilt for taking care of myself first

07-23-2007, 08:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mr. Christian My Cape Is at The Cleaners Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Metropolis Posts: 1,117	I think the biggest thing was learning to let go. That I had no control of what happened and that in the grad scheme of things, it was not all that big a deal. When you learn to just shrug your shoulders and say , “what ever”, life gets much easier. __________________ They can be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way.

07-23-2007, 08:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
DesertEyes Starting over Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Starting over all over again Posts: 3,452	My biggest lesson is that I had spend my life trying to change the world to meet my expectations. Steps 1 - 6 taught me that. What I have to do now is change my expectations to meet the world. Steps 7 - 12 show me how. Mike __________________ Sunsets are not endings. If I have enough faith, they are beginnings.

07-23-2007, 10:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Spiritual Seeker get it, give it, grow in it Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calif coast Posts: 3,169	feel, deal and heal Mike, thank you for the simplified explaination of the steps. It made me take a look at them again and you are right. They're not as complicated as some make them out to be or as they appear at 1st glance. They allow me to feel, deal and heal. __________________ If tears could build a stairway I'd walk up to Heaven and bring my son home.

07-24-2007, 04:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
cagefree I Finally Love My Life!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Posts: 649	I learned that the best guards of interruptions to my serenity are setting boundaries, focusing on myself and making sure my needs are met. __________________ Free At Last!

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