Hello everyone! My name is Bianka. I would like to give you another warm welcome to Detox to Rehab’s Recovery Reflections. Please join us each Monday at 12pm PST on our Facebook page to listen to the experience, strength and hope shared by Reisto, Connor, Corey and myself.
We will live stream a reading from Narcotics Anonymous: Just for Today and Alcoholics Anonymous: Daily Reflections. We express how this reading has helped our recovery or how it has impacted us. Please join us, engage as an audience member, post questions and or leave feedback for us at 12pm PST. We thank you and hope we can inspire your recovery journey!
Narcotics Anonymous
December 12th, 2016: Fear of Change
“By working the steps, we come to accept a Higher Power’s will…. We lose our fear of the unknown. We are set free.” Basic Text pg. 16
Life is a series of changes, both large and small. Although we may know and accept this fact intellectually, chances are that our initial emotional reaction to change is fear. For some reason, we assume that each and every change is going to hurt, causing us to be miserable.
If we look back on the changes that have happened in our lives, we’ll find that most of them have been for the best. We were probably very frightened at the prospect of life without drugs, yet it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us. Perhaps we’ve lost a job that we thought we’d die without, but later on we found greater challenge and personal fulfillment in a new career. As we venture forth in our recovery, we’re likely to experience more changes. We will outgrow old situations and become ready for new ones.
With all sorts of changes taking place, it’s only natural to grab hold of something, anything familiar and try to hold on. Solace can be found in a Power greater than ourselves. The more we allow changes to happen at the direction of our Higher Power, the more we’ll trust that those changes are for the best. Faith will replace fear, and we’ll know in our hearts that all will be well.
Just for today: When I am afraid of a change in my life, I will take comfort from knowing that God’s will for me is good.
Just for Today: http://www.justfortodaymeditations.com/daily-recovery-readings-december-12/
Trusting a Power Greater than Yourself
It is normal to have a fear of change. I still fear change to this day after a year and some change of being clean and sober. However, I know now that the fear of the unknown can drain you emotionally. Looking in the past I must remind myself that all major changes I have been through have been for the better.
“Being sober is a pretty gigantic change,” Corey said.
I agree with Corey. I came from a life I would never wish on my worst enemy. I was homeless and beaten down. However, that is the exact opposite of what I am living today and I couldn’t be any more grateful. Of course, I was terrified to sober up but when I finally did, a miracle happened. I am alive and free today.
“I am afraid because I don’t know what’s coming my way,” Corey said.
I was afraid because I didn’t know anything other than getting high. I was going to have to learn a new way of life which would be scary for anyone.
“There are some changes that I don’t like but am not afraid of,” Corey said.
Today, things are different. I may not like a change that is about to happen but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am afraid of it. This is because I live on God’s will today and my Higher Power will guide me in the direction I need to be taking.
“No matter what change I have been through in the past it has always worked out for the better and has benefited my life in such a beautiful way,” I said.
The changes I have endured have helped me in such great ways because I am doing the right thing by staying clean and sober while living on God’s will for me and I have the power to carry it out.
“I just have to trust in my Higher Power and everything will be okay,” I said.
It is when I am living on self-will things go wrong because if I do what I want to do I will end up getting loaded but if I am living on God’s will for me everything will work out the way it is supposed to.
“Change is always super uncomfortable,” Connor said.
No matter how hard I try there will always be a part of me that is nervous and afraid of the unknown. However, I just need to remind myself that if I am living on God’s will for me everything will be just fine.
NA and AA
The NA: Just for Today focuses on the fear of change while the AA: Daily reflections puts attention on the 12-step. While each reading is somewhat different, they share the same importance. They give me hope and guide me in the right direction. Also, it reminded me of how blessed I am to be living a life clean and sober.
Alcoholics Anonymous
December 12th, 2016: A Common Solution
The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 17
The most far-reaching Twelfth Step work was the publication of our Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Few can equal that book for carrying the message. My idea is to get out of myself and simply do what I can. Even if I haven’t been asked to sponsor and my phone rarely rings, I am still able to do Twelfth Step work. I get involved in “brotherly and harmonious action.” At meetings I show up early to greet people and to help set up, and to share my experience, strength and hope. I also do what I can with service work. My Higher Power gives me exactly what He wants me to do at any given point in my recovery and, if I let Him, my willingness will bring Twelfth Step work automatically.
Daily Reflections: http://www.justfortodaymeditations.com/daily-recovery-readings-december-12/
Twelfth Step Work
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Practicing the 12th step isn’t just working with another alcoholic or addict- it is holding the door, introducing yourself to others at a meeting, or helping clean the room after.
“Reaching out a friendly hand could really help someone. Who knows if they were thinking of picking up a drink or using. Yeah, it could save their life,” I said.
Reaching out and introducing yourself could change someone’s mind about getting loaded. It is small acts of kindness that help other people stay in the 12-step rooms- clean and sober.
“Behind Step 12 is service and gratitude,” Corey said.
It is important to participate in service and to be grateful. No matter where you are in your recovery you can practice both. Help a newcomer, make some coffee, smile and be grateful that you have such a beautiful program to live by.
“My job isn’t to get people to receive the message- it is just to carry it,” Corey said.
When you do get to step 12 and start carrying the message to addicts and alcoholics who still suffer you need to remind yourself it is not your fault if they don’t receive the message. All you can do is share your experience, strength, and hope, and pray for the best.
“I was doing these things because I wanted to stay sober,” Connor said.
Connor said it how it is, in order to stay sober, you need to participate in service and be grateful for the 12-step program, your life, and your recovery.
“My life gets better and I can help the people around me,” Connor said.
By participating in service and gratitude your life will get better each day. The 12-step fellowship is a place where miracle happen. Become a miracle and get help today.
