Alcoholism Support Group

Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.

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Could Be!!

okiyoe1
okiyoe1
Alcoholics Anonymous helps me keep my ego in check -- "right sized." One result of this is a freedom from interpreting other people's wish to be included as a "threat" to me. To put it another way, other people's "me too" doesn't equal "not you."

The world is a less hostile place from that perspective.

Their abundance is not my lack (because they don't have my stuff -- their stuff has nothing to do with me).

Their success does not diminish me (because their accomplishment or good fortune is not a comment on my abilities or fortunes).

Their faith is not an indictment of my belief -- or doubt, for that matter (even if they think it is).

Whenever I think someone else's anything is a comment upon me, whether overtly or covertly, I've slipped back into an ego based world-view. I'm deeply grateful to Alcoholics Anonymous for giving me the tools to recognize that -- and change it.

Peace.

http://mrsponsorpants.typepad.com/mr_sponsorpants/the-algebra-of-recovery/
billwfriend
billwfriend
it does Jacker it does...too often I value you and your stuff and think it is not mine....I guess I have an ego out of control....hugs bill
CoogeeMum
CoogeeMum
Had to search for it, but found a little card that was given to me ...

"I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening, When I counted my scanty score.
For life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menials hire, Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid."
J.B. Rittenhouse
Taradactyl
Taradactyl
Nice post B.

Makes me think of... My value is not measurable by another person's ruler. Or something like that. If my perspective on "value" is only by comparison then I limit myself to the standing best or even just the status quo.

To me the degree of my success or faith or abundance, etc is measurable only by degree of acceptance I have for myself. Maybe.

I dunno. Made me think.
deleted_user
deleted_user
values are the secret.......and tools.......i plan on looking for a dremel 3 in one tool on value.....:)

just kidding.....

perspective is the key.....all too often faith is directed. hopefully we all find faith on our own terms.......after all we are specks and are limited in our crossword abilities. we understand what we can understand.

personally......i keep searching for a cracker jack box (they come in bags now)................................the box always held the childhood secret.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Great one Oki. I look at it this way. I no longer have a position to defend, should I live by AA principles. My whole life, I'd be at odds with people because I had a position to defend. Living spiritually, I am still allowed to have a position, or a belief system, but now, as a more enlightened person, I can have my belief system and so can others and we don't have to be in conflict, with each seeking to "win" or over ride the position of the others. It's futile amyway - I'm not going to change my position, nor is the other person.

I'm not perfect at this, I regress, as is normal. And the times when I see innocent people being hurt, especially wome and children, I really do get my dander up and want to help people. But fact is I generally can't help them or change the situation and all I do is cause angst for myself.

As to basing my self esteem on comparisons with others - it's a losers game. There is ALWAYS going to be someone in our world with aspects of their lives that are seemingly "better" than mine. Psychs call it External Locus of Control compared to Internal Locus of Control, ie the first means I am always on shifting sands, with the goal posts changing continually meaning I NEVER live up to my expectatins of myself, whereas if I base myself on my Internal Locus of Control I have firmer ground and can keep working on Progress not Perfection in having a bedrock of appropriate self esteem and expectations of myself and the world.
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