"OUR WHOLE ATTITUDE AND OUTLOOK UPON LIFE WILL CHANGE"
("Alcoholics Anonymous", p. 84 - 8th 9th step promise)
The world used to seem a punishing place. Abuse and unkindness that came my way seemed deserved. I did not see that this was my vision of life until I discovered the truth working the 12 steps in Alcoholics Anonymous. In that process I discovered the roles I had been playing in my life - the victim, the person responsible for things that went wrong, and the one whose job it was to fix things and put them right. These beliefs colored my attitude towards life.
Life was represented in my mind like a glass half empty. I spent many years in depression that colored my world gray. When the world is gray, the glass is half empty. Recovery has brought truth and light into my life turning the world a million, brilliant, bright and beautiful colors. The vibrancy of this world shifts my vision of the glass to half full.
When I woke from my last drunk, a spiritual experience met me. At that moment, a new hope was born, a hope that I could stay sober and life could be worth living. This hope slowly brought forth a whole new attitude. Hope bred gratitude and love. As the years have passed, my gratitude has grown. As I have been allowed to pass on what I have learned in recovery, love has grown.
The world is such a different place today. Everything has changed because I have changed. When difficulties arise and bad things happen, my attitude and outlook upon them is different. They have changed as a result of working steps 1 through 12 and as THE RESULT of the 12th step, I have had a spiritual awakening. This spiritual awakening sustained and strengthened by prayer and meditation developed in step 11, allows a new approach to problems. I remind myself that I took step 3 and turned my will and my life over to the care of God and then I pray. These actions have the power to change my attitude in an instant.
This new outlook and attitude upon life is a miracle to me. My attitude about being an alcoholic was most negative when I initially took step 1 and admitted my powerlessness over alcohol. Today, that attitude has completely changed and I know that becoming an alcoholic is the best thing that ever happened to me. It allowed me to have this wonderful life that I live today.
Prayer Girl
13 comments:
From darkness to grey to light, everything changed. It's the dawning of a new welcoming day. You are the examples that give hurting people hope - a possibility because of the one day that was the last day that you sipped alchohol and turned to God. The best is yet to come for you.
Just stopping by to say hi :) As I approach an AA birthday, I feel an overwhelming appreciation for the Steps. Mainly Step One. I love this post. (((Anna)))
Beautiful description of a life reborn! And the picture is so perfect. I am enjoying this series and your experience with the promises. They really do come true, don't they? We are so blessed!
Thanks PG, this is one promise I have never really consider until just now. I am no longer bitter and angry about people and situations in the world that I can not change and mention at meetings on step 3 I was one of those who were violently anti-religion but never thought that my change in attitude was the promise coming true. I have to agree, it was a big part of step 11 that started this change, it was via step 11 that I stopped feeding the negative and started feeding the positive, simply by starting to gain that conscience contact with God I became aware of how negative imput creates negative output, for me anyway. I have been really trying to watch my use of profanity, use of gossip or saying bad things about people, these are attitudes that have change because of this promise. My mental health and serenity are directly portional to my attitude and for the most part my attitude is positive. More seems to be revealed all the time and this is a blessing!
Thanks again
Scott
Each time I read about your new life, the transformastion you made possivle to and for yoruself, I am so amazed. It reinforces hope other may choose your path and LIVE. Hugs to you. Have a glorious Sunday
"Everything has changed because I have changed" -- what a truth. If more people could find the power in those words, the world would be a happier and easier place. This was such an excellent post; the end is so inspiring. Bookmarked! Love it! Thanks for sharing these wonderful insights.
I am so happy your life is so full of love and acceptance. Cogratulations
Lovely post
Recovery is so amazing, and even when I screw up (in my mind) I find that God is right there, paving the way for amends and also...that life hasn't ended...in fact... a new day has just begun!
Your blog picture is very nice with so many messages in it....I can say that perception matters ..this can be the message from the picture...........
jolliiees:-)
I also love this post, it says so much of what we learn in our beautiful program of AA. And yes, the secret IS change.
We are not simply one day sprinkled with sober dust--we must become as another person...it is called "complete psychic change". I am guessing that "COMPLETE" does NOT mean 75%
Peace
It reallly is a miracle, isn't it?
We are blessed.
Now those are some rosy glasses to be using to focus on the good to make it expand!
I'm glad that your outlook and life have changed. It is amazing how these steps work for positive change if I just let them.
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