Mountainmanbob

there are three types of people in prison


one who never grew a conscience

one who grew a conscience and temporarily set it aside

one who killed their conscience


I thank God that I (too many times) only temporarily set mine aside
for a good healthy conscience is a blessing

among many other things Recovery is having a healthy conscience

Mountainman

Mountainmanbob

conscience CONSCIENCE, n. [L. , to know, to be privy to. ]1. Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within
12047 conscienced CONSCIENCED, a. Having conscience.


A Weak Conscience (1 Corinthians 8:4-7) John MacArthur - YouTube

Mountainmanbob

A Weak Conscience (1 Corinthians 8:4-7) John MacArthur

A Weak Conscience (1 Corinthians 8:4-7) John MacArthur - YouTube

kyle84

Hi,

I like your idea about the types of people residing in human mind. However, if an individual can grow his or her conscience and maintain it throughout lifetime while helping other people grow theirs, can it be called a different type of human mind?

I have seen such people in real life situations. So, I started believing that this is perhaps the most desired state of human mind in terms of recovery.

MIRecovery

Yes I put my conscience aside too many times. Then the shame and guilt would kick in and they would require more alcohol to erase the pain. Just another aspect of the death spiral I called life as an active alcoholic

Mountainmanbob

I have been there too many times. And then there were also the times in which the law (kicked in). There is nothing pretty when I'm full into the drink. All other things of importance in life go to the back burner.

A sober day wished for all,
Bob

IEpiphany

its not easy but its posible, i really enjoy your post

Hawks

I like the concept in the definition of "power within"

Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

From Wikipedia....

Sanity (from Latin: sānitās) refers to the soundness, rationality and healthiness of the human mind, as opposed to insanity. A person is not considered sane anymore just if he/she is rational. In modern society, the terms have become exclusively synonymous with compos mentis (Latin: compos, having mastery of, and mentis, mind), in contrast with non compos mentis, or insane, meaning troubled conscience. A sane mind is nowadays considered healthy both from its analytical -once called rational- and emotional aspects.[1]

Mountainmanbob

Some never grew a conscience.

Some grew a conscience and temporarily set it aside.

Some grew a conscience and then killed it.



In my drinking days I set my conscience aside too many times.
Thank God that I did not kill it.

M-Bob

IvanMike

Good one. It's nice to live in line with my conscience and values. This is definitely something we depart from in active addiction. I recall reading the book Pinocchio (very different from the movie). In both the cricket represented the voice of Pinocchio's conscience. However, in the book Pinocchio squashed the insect and was rid of the pest for good. I remember realizing that this was exactly what I attempted to do when I was using.

Recovery means becoming a person of Integrity and Substance.

Mountainmanbob

Excellent point made Mike.
Thank God we did not kill our conscience.
At times as I look back it seems as though I sure tried hard.
Not even realizing that I was playing with fire (running with the devil).
M-Bob

Thumpalumpacus

Amen, Bob. For too long I overrode my moral sensibilities by dulling my conscience with alcohol, and ended up a liar and a hypocrite.

My recovery is as much if not more about correcting these failings as it is about sobriety itself, because as noted above, they become a vicious cycle.

Mountainmanbob

Yes, my sponsor refers to it as recovering from the wreckage of our past.

First I put the plug in the jug and then I had to work on letting go of some old ideas.

Even with 8 years away from booze my mind still at times goes to la la land but, I don't act out like I did when I was drinking.

Bless you,
Bob

Thumpalumpacus

In that sense, I have to make amends to myself.

Mountainmanbob

I guess making amends to myself are ok but, listening to my conscience is what's top of my list here on the mountain.

Been some temptation lately and it ain't drinking. Still, a very, very wrong thing to do. I have not done it and I know from my studies of the Book that the best thing to do is to turn and flee. Why test myself? Seems that only a fool would do that?

If I was drinking today I think that I would make the wrong descision and jump right into it. But, in sobriety I can think these things through (at most times) and realize that the end result would be a real stinger.

We keep bee hives here on the mountain top. I would be better off to go out and kick a hive and then just stick my naked head in the box for 5 or 10 minutes. Better pass.

Sometimes sin looks to be so sweet and gentle. Only to find out later that the after effects leave a sour horrendous taste in ones soul!

M-Bob

Thumpalumpacus

A bitter conscience is its own punishment.

ZenLifter

What if your conscience is overactive, lets say, as mine seems to often be, and is constantly beating you up for being less than perfect? Not being contentious or a smartass, this is a genuine question.

Mountainmanbob

I suffer from the same (overly guilty conscience) at times.

Something that I work on (a little).

But, I still consider it a good thing.

Let's not forget -- some people have none.


Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.


MB



(2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

Thumpalumpacus

That is yourself telling yourself you have to put more work into it.

You have to understand that you can't change the past. There's no fixing what elephants break. You've stomped all over your life? Guess what, we've all done that.

I have a conscience. I pang every day for the destruction I wrought, by my own actions, on the relationship with the woman I love. I hurt her. I lied to her. I broke her heart. And I broke her trust.

Nothing I can do will fix those things -- you cannot fix what elephants break. I'm typing this right now near to tears, my conscience kicking my ass six ways to Sunday.

There's no such thing as your conscience being overactive, there's only you unable to leave your past behind. And me, for that matter.

Mountainmanbob

Nicly said.

And not to repeat our past.
For me that's what sobriety is all about.
Turning from what I did and doing it no more.

Mountainman