The sweet taste of Surrender

We hear the word Surrender in recovery all the time, but what is it really like? what does it look like? How does it taste? and how does it really feel?

I recently had a new surrender experience, and will try to describe it, it was very hard to take and felt like I will die before I took the action, however once I did take the steps and surrender I was a new man. I had a new freedom and a new happiness.

I had more time and energy to focus on what I needed to in my recovery and a fog has been lifted from me.

Lack of power, that was our dilemma

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says on page 45 that “lack of power, that was our dilemma” for me that means that the reason I couldn’t stop what I was doing was not lack of wisdom or lack of knowledge, (nor was it a lack of morals as the book mentions in another place “some of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore”) so what was it that we lacked?

It was a lack of “power” if I lack power than it just makes sense that my solution should be power too. The truth is I just need to realize that the power I lack is within me, so if I am going to win this game I need a power to help me and that power is a “power” from outside of me, and a power greater than myself

It works!

If you are trying to change and stop certain behaviors in your life, it would help to know how to do it.

Since 1935 millions of people have had success in changing their life for the better by practicing the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous in their life on a daily basis.

Some people at the same time have spent thousands of dollars on therapy sessions without getting any results, the most a good competent therapist can do is encourage a client to go to AA.

What’s the reason behind this success? It’s probably rooted in the spiritual rather than anything physical. In order to change destructive behaviors people need to go through a “psychic change” which is accomplished by having a sponsor, taking advice, and incorporating the steps into daily living.

Do I Live to Work, or Work to Live?

As you can probably tell, I haven’t posted in a while, the reason being mostly me being busy and overwhelmed at work with the “holiday” season.

This morning as I am riding the subway to work it dawned on me to reflect a bit on what’s been happening and how being ovehwelmed with work is affecting my spirituality and my spiritual condition.

Its painful to acknowledge, but when I put my work before the spiritual principles, and before my recovery, my life suffers as a result.

I also realized that part of my working so hard before the holiday season is my codependency and lack of appropriate boundaries of knowing when to walk out and say I need to leave, I’m done with my work for today (of course the work will suffer and won’t get done then).

Another part of it is maybe lack of “complete” faith that God will take care of me, I am working extra hours, working hard, and expecting “something” in return from my company, not from God.

I am surrendering myself to God for just today, and will do his will today!

Today I will work to live life, and not just any life, but a life of recovery, honesty and integrity.

Spiritual Awakening

Spiritual Awakenings are not always what we think they might be or this great “Ahaa” moment. Sometimes a spiritual awakening can take shape or form in a mini awareness or awakening.

Two days ago I had such an experience, I felt “stuck” for the last few months in my recovery, but I didn’t know what I needed to do, or how to proceed, when I spoke to my sponsor about it a month ago, he told me to talk to God and pray about it, I did a couple of time, but I didn’t get the answer at the time. Two days ago out of nowhere I got this crazy crystal clear awareness of where I am standing, and exactly what I need to do to grow and proceed in my recovery, its something I didn’t want to do and have been trying to avoid, but after getting the awareness and discussing it with friends in recovery I am ready to do it.

Actually I am happy and psyched up to do it!

Happy recovery :)

Why Admitting Powerlessness Is So Important

In case you are not familiar with the steps yet, or if you haven’t worked the first step yet, you might not realize how important the first step is.

Step One “We admitted that we were powerless over … — that our lives had become unmanageable.”

If we don’t admit that we have a problem, how are we planning to ever change our situation? Admission of a problem is half the solution!

When we realize how sick and defenseless we are at least in one area of our life, we can become ready for the work necessary to accept the help we need.