Into SMARTS Belly

[Five]

Well, this is kind of what I am focusing on at the moment. I am returning from a much needed break from "recoveryisim" and am very interested in the principles of SMART and have made a few donations to their site. Here are their principles:

http://www.smartrecovery.org/resourc...s_of_SMART.pdf

I am only mildly familier with how SMART works, but I am looking forward to it being a nice addition to my recovery. Addition meaning I am not looking to be too dogmatic about anything...hope SMART allows for that? Anway, here is their website.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/

[bartender129]

Cool Mill,
See you around Smartville

[laurie6781]

Hmmmm seems familiar just worded differently than the program I used to get sober lol.

As I have looked into other recovery programs over the years, out of curiosity, more than anything, I have found that what I ended up with is really all of them.

Here's how it works for me today:

Just for today, to the best of my ability I am thoughtful, kind, and considerate to all who cross my path and to the best of my ability I treat others as I would like to be treated.

I had to simplify it for me and this is what has worked for over 24 years now. Yes, in the beginning I had to look into myself and really find the person underneath that had been buried by all the alcohol and drugs.

By doing the above, yes it's practice, practice, practice every day, I have a pretty darn good life today, even with my current disabilities. I've led a full life, had a great job that I absolutely loved doing, have made some really great friends over the years, etc.

So, I guess what I am saying is go with what you are comfortable with and what works for you Mill. Sobriety in my book is a great way to live, and how you get there is your choice,

I'm very grateful for you being sober and posting here even if sometimes you do get my committee to start "over analyzing" roflmao.

Love and hugs,

[bartender129]

Originally Posted by laurie6781

Hmmmm seems familiar just worded differently than the program I used to get sober lol.

Out of curiosity,
What program did you use to get sober?

If you are implying that the REBT techniques are the 12 steps, just worded differently, I think you need to take a closer look lol.

If you are speaking of a non - 12step program, I would be curious to hear what it is.

Thanks

[laurie6781]

I didn't use the 12 steps as written, I used the principals of the 12 steps as follows:

1. Honesty

2. Hope

3. Faith and belief that my life can change if I take action.

4. Courage

5. Integrity

6. Willingness

7. Humility

8. Respect of and for my fellow man.

9. Reconciliation

10. Perserverance

11. Awareness of other forces

12. Service

Yes, I got sober in AA many many years ago, but found that the above worked for me rather than the actual 12 steps the way they were worded.

The above gave me the impetus to WORK on me. Helped me to get INTO ACTION so to speak.

From the above I derived the way I have lived now for a long time. I have found that by practicing what I wrote in my first reply, people react totally different towards me than they used to when I was my "wonderful" NOT old self, rofl.

Most recovery programs that I have looked at do seem to, in one way or another, require the person to work on themselves, thus

As I said to Mill, find what you are comfortable with and go with it.

I am not here to debate one program over another. I really don't care how someone gets sober, just that they find a way for them and stick with it.

Sobriety is a wonderful way to live for this alkie, and I only hope and yes pray that others still suffering can find it.

I was so far down and I did die, that when I got my second chance I was willing to try anything for the first few weeks and then I started to rebel against the rigidity of AA or what I thought was the rigidity. Fortunately, I had found a mentor who understood, and helped me past my fears and prejudice and allowed me to find my way with guidance only when I asked for it. I used AA for the fellowship and thus made some new sober friends, and I used AA to learn how to act again, and become civilized enough to be in society.

But I still had to find my own way, and work on me. Thus the principals above worked quite well for this alkie.

I put the plug in the jug on the afternoon of June 7, 1981 and on June 8, 1981 they were writing the TOD on my medical chart in the emergency room when my heart started on its own. That was my last chance. That was over 24 years ago. Somehow, I have not found it necessary since that day to drink or use.

That's what works for me.

Please feel free to ask away, I will answer if I can or say "I don't know" when I don't lol.

JMHO

Love and (((((to all))))),

[bartender129]

I wasn’t really looking for debate either, I was just intrigued that you would make the above statement after reading the tutorial that Mill linked. SMART is based, primarily, on the principles of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy that were developed by Albert Ellis. That is why I was confused that it could be a reword of something else.

SMART recovery and the cognitive techniques it employs are not about “working on yourself” in the moral and spiritual way you have described your recovery. Don’t get me wrong, I believe those things to be important, it is just that is not what SMART Recovery addresses.

Smart is essentially about examining thoughts and beliefs and determining if they are healthy / rational or unhealthy / irrational.

[Five]

Originally Posted by bartender129

I wasn’t really looking for debate either, I was just intrigued that you would make the above statement after reading the tutorial that Mill linked. SMART is based, primarily, on the principles of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy that were developed by Albert Ellis. That is why I was confused that it could be a reword of something else.

SMART recovery and the cognitive techniques it employs are not about “working on yourself” in the moral and spiritual way you have described your recovery. Don’t get me wrong, I believe those things to be important, it is just that is not what SMART Recovery addresses.

Smart is essentially about examining thoughts and beliefs and determining if they are healthy / rational or unhealthy / irrational.

Exactly the reason I am interested in it: its largely without the morality and spiritual aspects. Of course it has a few simularities with AA, but most of its major tennants are different...from my observation.

Anyway, lets see how it goes! Printed off about five of the worksheets today and they all got me thinking...so that cannot be bad!

[FaeryQueen]

they all got me thinking...so that cannot be bad!

For you mill, that could be bad.

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[Five]

Originally Posted by FaeryQueen

For you mill, that could be bad.

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I know Feary, its not without risks.

[Don S]

Originally Posted by laurie6781

... and to the best of my ability I treat others as I would like to be treated.
...

for many people, it's a matter of learning to treat ourselves as we would like to be treated.
Thanks, laurie; interesting posts.
Don S