Jomey

I read a quote recently in a book about the 12 steps in the step 3 chapter -"If you put as much energy into going with the ebb and flow of life as you did into your addiction, you are on the right path." It made me stop and think and I got curious. How does one put energy into going with the ebb and flow of life? It's kind of like making an effort not to make an effort, if that makes sense. I understand it to some degree, but concrete examples always help me understand better. Can anyone shed some light on some ways that they put positive energy into going with the ebb and flow of life?

Thanks guys! Jomey

miss communicat

GREAT question Jomey!!

Its all about acceptance. living life on life's terms.

Its also kinda like the idea that to not act is an action....

in some cases, Going With The Flow can be summed up as restraint (of tongue, pen, keyboard, car, wallet etc..)

Alcoholism includes many habits of controlling situations, manipulating others, resisting reality, resisting authority, resisting maturity, resisting a higher power than our willpower.

Life, on the other hand, ebbs and flows like a stream. It has a natural order and tendencies whether we like them or not, no matter what we do about it (or not). If I want a joyous ride on the river of life, it behooves me not to try and row upstream.

How do I know?

I spent years trying to push the rivers and pull the tides. I got very tired.

tommyk

Very, very good reply. I liked it a lot.

Jomey

Thank you so much for that excellent response. I see things clearly now, esp. the part about restraint. "resisting reality" and "resisting maturity" - very, very well said. Thanks again Miss. By the way, even though I am an absolute beginner (and kinda feeble in the balance department - always was, not PAWS related, or at least not entirely ), I am loving my yoga too! Jomey

Dee74

kinda like my favorite philosopher says...?

Turn off your mind, relax
and float down stream

D

Dee74

....ok without the LSD subtext maybe
LOL

D

Jomey

Oh, my friend D, you have a way with words! what if I turn off my mind and it never comes back on? LOL Thanks!

Dee74

whaddya mean - if ?

D

Jomey

No one was supposed to know that it's permanently "off"! LOL Thanks for the laughter D. That makes everything better! Love JJ

Signal30

The more I tried to control my life, the more I ended up resentful and depressed. I don't run the show. When drinking, how I wanted things to go had a lot to do with others doing exactly what I wanted. I always had to be different and it always had to be my way. I was that one that always paddled upstream just to thumb my nose at God and everyone else. It makes as much sense as banging my head on the wall for the simple reason to pi$$ others off.

The insanity of alcoholism.


Tom

Jomey

"How I wanted things to go"....Tom, that's a great phrase. I never realized until I sat here and thought about it that how much time and effort I wasted (and continue to waste as I recover and learn) trying to arrange things. Dang! Very humbling, esp. when I consider myself to be very in tune with my HP. LOTS more thought going into Step 3. Amazing how sobriety changes us...sanity is a very cool place to come home to.

Thanks Tom.

Jomey