JFT July 4

[REZ]

July 4


Conflict

“We learn that conflicts are a part of reality, and we learn new ways to resolve them instead of running from them.”

Basic Text, p. 90

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From time to time, we all experience conflicts. It may be that we just can’t get along with that new coworker. Maybe our friends are driving us crazy. Or perhaps our partner isn’t living up to our expectations. Dealing with any conflict is difficult for recovering addicts.

When tempers rise, it is often a good idea to back away from the situation until cooler minds prevail. We can always return for further discussion when we have calmed down. We can’t avoid troubling situations, but we can use time and distance to find perspective.

Conflict is a part of life. We can’t go through our entire recovery without encountering disagreements and differences of opinion. Sometimes we can back away from these situations, taking time to reflect on them, but there always comes a time when conflict must be resolved. When that time comes, we take a deep breath, say a prayer, and apply the principles our program has given us: honesty, openness, responsibility, forgiveness, trust, and all the rest. We didn’t get clean to keep running from life—and in recovery, we don’t have to run anymore.

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Just for today: The principles my program has given me are sufficient to guide me through any situation. I will strive to confront conflict in a healthy way.

[Gmoney]

Conflict is a part of life. We can’t go through our entire recovery without encountering disagreements and differences of opinion.... We didn’t get clean to keep running from life—and in recovery, we don’t have to run anymore.

Amen!!

There was an oldtimer in my area years ago that would always talk about how we would run from our problems by using...and how, once we "came down" our problems would still be there (or worse). He'd ask, "If using was the answer...then, what the hell was the question?"

Recovery has helped me to learn that I don't have to always be right and in cases when I am, I can allow others to be wrong. IMO, there's no two people on this earth that totally agree on everything. And you know what? They don't have to! Living life on it's own terms isn't always a matter of black or white. There's gonna be grey areas and compromise is a spiritual principle. Disagreeing without becoming disagreeable is a practice of this new way of life for me, and I no longer have to run.

tflms