WALKING THE FINE LINE
The longer I'm in AA, the narrower the road gets.
The narrower the road gets, the freer I become.
The narrower the road gets, the freer I become.
Fine line - - - Over the years in AA, I have come to understand that I am responsible. I am responsible for my thoughts, my feelings, and my responses. I have learned how to better deal with negative, crazy, unhealthy thinking when it occurs. (I may not be responsible for the first thought that pops into my mind, but I am responsible for the next thought I have.) Going to AA meetings, talking with my sponsor and other recovering people helps keep my mind straight.
My feelings are usually a product of how I'm thinking so when my feelings are depressed, negative, or morbid, I know I have to unearth my thinking behind these feelings and I do this by talking them out with my sponsor or another alcoholic.
I have to make choices of responses many times every day. The line I walk in choosing responses is a fine one that requires careful attention to my thoughts and feelings.
Another fine line I walk is the one I traverse as I set boundaries with others. The first thing I must do is "know myself" before I can begin to set a boundary. I have to know - "How important is it?" What are my true needs and wishes? It is a fine line for me between being flexible and being a door mat. I realize whenever I set a boundary I am risking the loss of a relationship with the other person. Self-worth, self-esteem are at stake when setting boundaries. Quite a fine line.
A fine line also exists between erasing the self-centered and selfish alcoholic nature - the natural state of the alcoholic - and the need to work a "selfish" program. I learned long ago that I must jealously guard my sobriety, my AA program. No one will do this for me and my life depends on it. I do this at the same time as I try to put the other person first after spending a lifetime of everything being all about me. This is the finest line of all in my opinion. The better I walk this line, the healthier I and my relationships with others become.
I ask God to help me walk these fine lines of my life.
11 comments:
Hey there "Prayer Girl" You had a lot of good stuff to say today. Thanks for posting.
Thought provoking blog today, girlie...I heard a speaker once say "Every night when I go to bed, I ask God to have people treat me tomorrow the way I treated them today." I think that is a good way for me to keep myself in the boundaries of good behavior and treating one and all with love and compassion.
Enjoying reading your blog!! xoxoxAnnie
Nicely said.
"I have to unearth my thinking behind these feelings" that i've realised. yet i somehow get lost when either me or those around me seems to get impatient with the time it takes me to do that... but i'm getting there...
Good Morning!
"A fine line also exists between erasing the self-centered and selfish alcoholic nature - the natural state of the alcoholic - and the need to work a "selfish" program."
I hate 'fine lines'. They're always breaking!
This was incredibly powerful and very necessary for me to read this morning, thank you so much for your thoughts and words today!
Thank you for your words and thoughts and your brilliant spirit!
Love,
G
Excellent post, thank you for sharing.
good post!
You always find the perfect pics for your wonderful daily message. I love them both! Hugs Prayer Girl
This is amazing! I want to know more about "boundaries"...
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