practical application

[cloud8]

Hay all, First let me say im very grateful to be sober and clean, 2 years the 4th one day at a time. who would of thought. Im also grateful for sr what a world..
That said Id like to know some of your experience with daily application of the 12 steps. how do you do it on a daily bases. once you have worked them through the first time. For me it seems a daily learning thing. first i always have in mind the first 3, to me it says i cant he can ill let him, then i have some foot work to do, although the first time around certain defects were glaring and let go of and some still remain and with prayer god seems to be helping, this is ongoing. my amends r made as they present themselves, some im making now over time financial ect, others are living amends and others have been direct, always trying not to say sorry just to make myself feel better at another's expense. And of course i have daily prayer although i must say im still working on listening. as i do have more requests..lol but its also better. Now im not sponsoring anyone yet havent had the opportunity, unlike some at meetings i dont recruit, if someone askes for help im there to help, and i have had that opportunity its good to be of service. although there are days when i prefer hiding out i do get over it.So there it is for me and i try to applt all this to work, home, family ect. am i perfect hell no, but i am aware more then before of my life and the oppertuninties both spiritualy and materialy, All this and i have freinds a good job a future, transportation, a new freedom. im happy more then im not, and i nolonger want to die,, althogh im not afraid of it either, god is good,

So heres my question is what ive written considerd daily practical application of the program and if so how do some of you do the same, and what r your results. or am i fooling myself yes i still have some insecurities over my program just wanted a little outside opinions.. oh and yes my sponsor and i do discuss this he says im cool dont worry..

to the newcombers here one day at a time i just dont pick up, i show up, and i fess up, then i give it to my higher power, the rest is all icing on the cake..

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by cloud8

...Id like to know some of your experience with daily application of the 12 steps. how do you do it on a daily bases.

The key to keeping thoughts of drinking out of my life and out of my mind are directly linked to minimizing self-centeredness and moving toward other-centeredness. These few sentences from the Big Book sum up my daily program:

"Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code." (page 84)

- All quotes from Alcoholics Anonymous 1st Edition -

[keithj]

Short version of yesterday:

Woke up, read a few things in a daily meditation book, got on my knees and asked my higher power to keep my motives out of fear, self-pity, and selfish thinking. Sat quietly and thought of nothing.

Did a few small gestures to make another person in my life feel special. Got a surprise in the morning on my way to work that caused an instant resentment. I paused, and asked that his will be done, not mine. Did a mini-4th step on a 1/2 sheet of paper. Saw where my resentment was fear based. Asked god to remove my fear that I might be useful.

Went about my day trying to do my job with the mindset that I'm there to serve my employer. Called a sponsee to see how they were doing. Took care of something I'd been dreading. Fought fear with faith.

Went to a sick meeting and carried a message of recovery. Reached out to a newcomer.

Reviewed my day before going to bed. Identified my character defects that rose up in the day and asked to be more useful tomorrow.

Slept like a baby.

[freya]

I have certain readings and certain prayer/meditation practices that are built into my day (3rd and 11th Step). Also, do a daily 10th Step, usually in the morning and usually looking into the mirror. I also have "prayer" tools/accessories (rosary bracelets, rosary cards, mini Big Books, daily readers, etc....) strategically located at home, office and in my purse, in case I get into a real funk or tizzy and have to take a break to seriously re-connect during the day.

I have lots of numbers of program people programmed into my cell and carry meeting lists from all the meetings I attend regularly in my purse. And I use them, both when I need help and/or suppport and because I usually have at least 4 or 5 people I've got in mind to call that I want to check-in on during the day (12th Step).

Probably not a day goes by that I don't meet with and/or call a sponsee, and often it's more than one (12th Step). And I volunteer 2 hours per week at our local AIS office.

I think, for me, one of the things that really, really helps me a lot on a daily basis and that, at this point, I do almost automatically, is mentally apply program principles/idea/slogans to whatever is going on right at the moment. I really do think to myself on a regular basis: "What's the next right thing here?," or "Am I trusting or trying to control?" or I stop and pray "God, please don't let me say anything stupid/hurtful/whatever." It's like all that stuff is just there in my head for instant access whenever I get stressed or tempted to act out. Contemplating the Serenity Prayer and taking time to stop and notice all of the good things I have to be grateful about also helps me to stay centered and "together."

For me, the only time I feel like I need to do a focused, spot 4th Step is when something throws me off to such an extent that I can't seem to get back on track using my simple everyday tools. Then I usually call/ask somebody -- almost always an AA friend -- to help me out, too, because 1) my AA friends seem to be more familiar/comfortable with the whole mini-4th-step idea and practice, and 2) it just works better / in more effective for me to process that kind of stuff with somebody else.

freya

[cloud8]

Thanks all for your reply, Its good to here others recovery processes, And to know it works..

[Threshold]

On days when I am doing recovery work, if I get an insight, etc I copy it into my recovery journal/sobriety journal...then, on days when I don't have time to really get into working out issues, etc. I pull out my journal and read some of those things, and they get me thinking, they remind me, they give me something to think about pray about, etc.

this helps me a lot, if I don't write them down, they are lost to me, and have only helped me that one time, but if I write them down, they help me over and over and sometimes I can share them and they can help someone else too.