September 1
Real Values
"We become able to make wise and loving decisions based on principles and ideals that have real value in our lives."
Basic Text, pg. 101
Addiction gave us a certain set of values, principles we applied in our lives. "You pushed me" one of those values told us, "so I pushed back, hard." "It's mine" was another value generated by our disease. "Well, okay, maybe it wasn't mine to start with, but I liked it, so I made it mine." Those values were hardly values at all - more like rationalizations - and they certainly didn't help us make wise and loving decisions. In fact, they served primarily to dig us deeper and deeper into the grave we'd already dug for ourselves.
The Twelve Steps give us a strong dose of real values, the kind that help us live in harmony with ourselves and those around us. We place our faith not in ourselves, our families, or our communities, but in a Higher Power - and in doing so, we grow secure enough to be able to trust our communities, our families, and even ourselves. We learn to be honest, no matter what-and we learn to refrain from doing things we might want to hide. We learn to accept responsibility for our actions. "It's mine" is replaced with a spirit of selflessness. These are the kind of values that help us become a responsible, productive part of the life around us. Rather than digging us deeper into a grave, these values restore us to the world of the living.
Just for today: I am grateful for the values I've developed. I am thankful for the ability they give me to make wise, loving decisions as a responsible, productive member of my community.
© Copyright 2008
3 comments
playing poker can be a great oppurtunity for working the 12 steps. The thing is, for me it's kinda contradictory (poker seems to bring out the worst in me... oops.. take some responsibility Tilt... I let the worst of me out while playing poker).
Have a great day today,... unless of course you've 'chosen' otherwise!
You know I appreciate these blogs furr. I think a lot of this is good common sense advice that can be applied to most peoples lives, addict or not but... I don't believe in a higher power, at least not an other wordly one.
The power is in ourselves, in every individual. Right or wrong, we make our choices. People choose to stop using, to find strength and support in fellow NA members/family/friends and sometimes to go it alone, hardest of all to STAY clean, or maybe harder still, to fall and use then quit and start over, again and again.
The human mind and 'spirit' are incredible things. It's from them we get our strength and power to go on, sometimes against formidable odds. Why give credit to a 'higher power' when the most amazing power comes from within ourselves?
I think that Angry Dragon says what I wanted to say..lol..he beat me to it
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Hope your doing ok..say hi to the family
~Flops~