What this tells me I need to be responsible & do the right thing instead of always doing the wrong thing when I was out in the madness, because out there it was always about me, me, me.

The ability to make good decisions comes as we practice good principles. When I think about then and now....the difference is amazing. I can't take all the credit, it was a direct result of a partnership....even though it began with me. My decision. My action. After that the help came from out of the wood work. Yes, it is amazing how a little effort on my part created a whirlwind of support and strength.

It all began with a honest appraisal of my life and situation. A willingness to change and that meant action....trying to do the next right thing. When it wasn't the right thing, I stuffed it away in my memory bank and learned very quickly. And finally....I handed my worries and fears to an unknown power and placed trust in God as I don't understand. It works for me.

Oh, it has not always been easy.....especially in the beginning. But it was easier than the way I had been living at the time practically my whole life. The chaos, hopelessness, heartache and harm I had caused myself and others was my way of life.....others told me I could change because "they had done it." and "they would show me how to do it"

Angel 4 hope
Ree

Thanks gjm and Angel, this post helped me greatly this morning!

Let go of the rationalising, questioning and indecision. Stand up and take the knocks, get up and you fall down, keep getting up, show up and do whatever it takes, but never give up. No half assed deal. You can't commit and then decide to throw it away, that's not commitment. We are responsible to make changes in our life, no-one else. Get passionate about your commitment and have hope that you will succeed.

Great post...thanks. I have always had a fear of committment.

GJM,

I totally agree with the author of "The Language of Letting Go." Melody Beattie, the originator of these words, would probably not mind you parroting her, as "imitation is the highest form of compliment." It would be nice if you gave her credit, however.

Wayne-

Bibliography of the above quote is, "The Language of Letting Go" by Melody Beattie, p.149. Copywrited in 1990 by Hazeldon.

I really like what she (thx wayne) said about "trying" vs "committing" how many have "tried" marriage...getting sober etc...wow.

A strange and paradoxical thing happens for many of us when we completely commit ourselves to a course of action and say full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes. But it isn't just about acceptance as resignation or admitting defeat, as the commitment actually creates a new reality, not just in the space between the ears, but in the realm of facts and the direction our lives actually takes. As an old AA clich goes, if I had achieved the goals I wanted to set for myself in early sobriety, I would have sold myself a mile short.

I love this quote:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of the unforeseen, which no man could have dreamed would come his way."

So wrote W.H. Murray in a book called "The Scottish Himalayan Expedition." Whether the expedition is to climb a mountain or to find meaning and happiness in recovery from alcoholism, the same dynamic seems to come into play. I have yet to face a problem in living sober where re-committing myself to the basics has failed to open my eyes and mind to resources and opportunities that I literally couldn't see or imagine a day or even an hour before. But when I've stepped back from whatever was bugging or puzzling me and put the focus back on recovery as my primary purpose, I've actually begun see concrete opportunities and resources that were already flowing in that stream of events around me. Sometimes the solutions were so obvious that it's downright embarrassing to admit that the only reason I didn't see them was that I couldn't pry my eyes off my bellybutton.

Thanks for directing our attention back to this Nemo. Intention and commitment are key in all of our lives

good post and good replies.

There is no try when you are tackling any difficulty or challenge in life. You do. That's my commitment. Trying suggests you may fail if you come up against difficulties. You won't if you've already decided that you're going to take action and commit to that action. We suffer when we stay on the fence. Indecision is a dangerous place to be emotionally for long periods of time. You suffer far less once you make a decision and deciding not to decide is still making a decision. Thanks for this!