Higher Powers are what keeps us on the road to recovery. We realize that God won't get us sober,we have to do that. It says in the prayer that God wants to be partners with us in this business of living. That means we have to do the footwork. We have a sponsor and work these steps to the best of our ability. Steps 6& 7 help us to get to know ourselves we can then be of service to other alcoholics still struggling . Working with others revealed more about me than I thought possible. I wish you the best Bob. Keep putting one foot in front of the other knowing that your higher ppower is guiding your steps. Greg

Hi, You Know what was wonderful , I was told no matter how tied up, tattered and blue I was .

I could begin to understand the cause and effects of things going on in my life ,quite quickly in step work.

But along with that I still might need to become even a little more inquisitive as to the things that had been blocking off from a power greater than myself, that began to surface the longer I'm sober.

Life lived on others term's sober , created only a sober shell of a person . Don't miss out Bob!
Billy

Greg I do but always worry about doing the wrong thing.
Again it's that fear factor.

Billy, funny you should mention that. I use to live my life trying to make other people happy because I thought that was the key to my own happiness! Now I am doing what I want to do being self employed and the things I need seem to come my way for some reason. But it is still scary because I don't know what to make of it all.

I too didn't know who I was. I had to work the steps and get some therapy in order to help me to grow in the right direction. I know myself today - my inventory takes care of that - I know my faults and try to live as a spiritual person.

Spirituality is not about being good all the time, it is about being able to recognise my part in things, accepting that, make amends and carry on.

So serenity is the key to being happy. Taking life as it comes, working the steps, and daily prayer and meditation, knowing our Higher Power is ready to help us up if we fall!

Thanks and God Bless!

My thoughts? Hmm. I started trying to be someone else when I was around 7 or 8? First it was reading, then it was pot, then an eating disorder at 14 / 15 or so.....then I 'graduated" to socially acceptable booze. I have been trying to get away from myself for most my life.
What I finally have realized is I'm actually OK. Its OK. I'm exactly where I need to be. And enough of the time to make it tolerable, I can be in that spot.

Are you still on medication?

Hi Bob, the old me had to die. The old me drank. I believe the Big Book when it says "We were reborn."

I've made my peace with the past, I've swept my side of the street clean. I use the bad stuff from the past in working with others so even that can be useful.

I am a spiritual infant now and that's fine by me. Like you, I found that my Higher Power must be the central fact of my life.

Gally I understand that. I remember my iop counselor told me to repeat the story of my past over and over because there are many who can identify with it, not so much here but in PDA and when asked to go back to the iop class and share my story representing AA.

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I seem to know I'll have a bad day. That's when I start praying the serenity prayer over and over and start searching for the things that are blocking that communication link with my Higher Power. Is it guilt, is it shame, is it a ly I told. Kinda like a self inventory which I do when I lose that special feeling that makes me happy, makes me whole and makes me feel like I am a part of something greater then myself. It's a feeling which I am sure you have had! OK now I am rambling :)

Peace!