Daily Recovery Readings
June 2, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE UPWARD PATH

Here are the steps we took. . . . — ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

These are the words that lead into the Twelve Steps. In their direct simplicity, they sweep aside all psychological and philosophical considerations about the rightness of the Steps. They describe what I did: I took the Steps and sobriety was the result. These words do not imply that I should walk the well-trodden path of those who went before, but rather that there is a way for me to become sober and that it is a way I shall have to find. It is a new path, one that leads to infinite light at the top of the mountain. The Steps advise me about the footholds that are safe and about chasms to avoid. They provide me with the tools I need during the many parts of the solitary journey of my soul. When I speak of this journey, I share my experience, strength and hope with others.

Big Book Quote

“We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. ‘Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?’ As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47

Keep It Simple

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of us want to be happy. We just don’t know how. We aren’t sure what happiness is. We’ve learned the hard way that some things we wanted didn’t make us happy. We’re learning that happiness comes when we live the way our Higher Power wants us to live. That’s when we’re honest. When we do our best work. When we are a true friend. We make happiness; we don’t find it. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re happy. We’re too busy with our work, our recovery program, our friends, and family. We need to slow down and know that when we do what we need to, happiness comes.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me know that I’m most happy when I listen to You and do Your will. You know better than I do what makes me happy.

Action for the Day:
What parts of my program am I most happy about? Today I’ll think of these and enjoy myself.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You can think of plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t take any chances today. However, upon further analysis, your arguments break down one at a time, especially when you consider all the facts. It turns out that remembering a painful experience is warping your current logic. If you start out in a fearful place, you are likely to wind up with a negative outcome. Fortunately, you have an opportunity to overcome a self-imposed limitation by acknowledging when your worries are not based on the current situation. Jim Rohn wrote, “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”

Daily Recovery Readings
June 1, 2017

Daily Reflection

A CHANGED OUTLOOK

Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. — ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered; my pleasure and my comfort came first. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. My whole attitude toward life and other people is changing. For me, the first “A” in our name stands for attitude. My attitude is changed by the second “A” in our name, which stands for action. By working the Steps, attending meetings, and carrying the message, I can be restored to sanity. Action is the magic word! With a positive, helpful attitude and regular A.A. action, I can stay sober and help others to achieve sobriety. My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length to stay sober!

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead, we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to out grow fear.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 68~

Keep It Simple

We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.—Step Six

Character defects include being stubborn, feeling self-pity, and wanting to always be in control. We must be ready to give up these defects, or they will hurt us. Being ready is our part of Step

Six. Our Higher Power will remove these defects. We don’t need to know how. We just need to be ready to give them up when God asks for them. We don’t need to know when. We just have to be ready.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, take away my self-pity, fears, anger, and anything else that hurts my recovery. Help me make room for peace.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll get ready to have my character defects removed. I will list them and ask myself, “What do I get from keeping them?”

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You’re so hopeful that your hard work and dedication will be rewarded with a promotion or a raise that you go the extra mile in all that you do today. Although the ambitious Venus-Saturn trine grounds your 6th House of Efficiency and your 10th House of Career, this practical aspect influences more than your current work habits. Whatever you seek in life is worth your time now. But don’t get discouraged if success seems far off. When you master patience, you master everything else, too.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 31, 2017

Daily Reflection

READINESS TO SERVE OTHERS

. . . our Society has concluded that it has but one high mission – to carry the A.A. message to those who don’t know there’s a way out.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

The “Light” to freedom shines bright on my fellow alcoholics as each one of us challenges the other to grow. The “Steps” to self-improvement have small beginnings, but each Step builds the “ladder” out of the pit of despair to new hope. Honesty becomes my “tool” to unfurl the “chains” which bound me. A sponsor, who is a caring listener, can help me to truly hear the message guiding me to freedom.
I ask God for the courage to live in such a way that the Fellowship may be a testimony to His favor. This mission frees me to share my gifts of wellness through a spirit of readiness to serve others.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 145~

Keep It Simple

You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.—Ethel Barrymore

There was a time when we wouldn’t let anyone laugh at us—even ourselves. We had to much shame. We had to much pain. We took the world too seriously. If we laughed it was at others—not at ourselves. Over time , real honest laughter returns to us. Laughter is a way of accepting ourselves as human. To be human means we can make mistakes. It means we can lighten up. It also means growing up. And growing up means being happy with all of who we are—even parts of us that may seem odd or funny. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we shut ourselves off from the world. We shut ourselves off from the parts of us we need to accept. Am I willing to accept the fact that I’m human.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You made laughter. Help me us it to make my life easier. Help me accept all of me a funny mistake I’ve made.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll share with someone close to me a funny mistake I’ve made.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your current confidence opens doors to conversations that have been difficult to unlock until now. You don’t even need to think about a strategy; just trust your intuition and speak your truth. It’s not necessary to write out a script before you deliver your message. In fact, your spontaneity charges your words with a strength of conviction that others can’t ignore. Your creative approach will be heralded by people who applaud your point of view. Ken Blanchard teaches, “The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 30, 2017

Daily Reflection

OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE

The more A.A. sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere.

— A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 109

It is with gratitude that I reflect on the early days of our Fellowship and those wise and loving “foresteppers” who proclaimed that we should not be diverted from our primary purpose, that of carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

I desire to impart respect to those who labor in the field of alcoholism, being ever mindful that A.A. endorses no causes other than its own. I must remember that A.A. has no monopoly on miracle making and I remain humbly grateful to a loving God who made A.A. possible.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152

Keep It Simple

One Day at a Time —AA program slogan

One Day at a Time reminds us to live in a sane, natural way. It reminds us we can’t control the past. It reminds us we can’t control the future. We can live only in the present. We have only the moment. We have only today.

Before recovery, our worries about the past and the future put stress in our lives We need to live in a way that doesn’t put us in danger. We need to live in a way that lets us enjoy things. We need to live in a way that lets us stay close to others, ourselves, and our Higher Power.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, teach me to really live One Day at a Time.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll keep reminding myself that I have the moment. No more, no less. Am I using my moments the way my Higher Power wants me to?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

A recent decision of yours may be challenged today by people who don’t really understand your motivation. They aren’t aware that you’re not limited by tradition and are willing to step outside of the norm in order to give everyone another option. But you don’t expect anyone to just blindly follow you. You simply want your ideas to be heard. In fact, you’ll consider your efforts worthwhile once you are given a fair hearing. Tony Robbins claims, “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 29, 2017

Daily Reflection

TRUE TOLERANCE

The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 139

I first heard the short form of the Third Tradition in the Preamble. When I came to A.A. I could not accept myself, my alcoholism, or a Higher Power. If there had been any physical, mental, moral, or religious requirements for membership, I would be dead today. Bill W. said in his tape on the Traditions that the Third Tradition is a charter for individual freedom. The most impressive thing to me was the feeling of acceptance from members who were practicing the Third Tradition by tolerating and accepting me. I feel acceptance is love and love is God’s will for us.

Big Book Quote

“When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don’t waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 90

Keep It Simple

The more one judges the less one loves.—Balzac

At times we need to make judgments about people’s behavior. We stand back and look at how their lives affect our sobriety. We have to do this to choose people whose relationships will be good for us. We have to do this before we trust someone in the business. We should take a good look at the others person before we fall in love. But we decide to trust or love someone, we have to stop judging.

When we love someone, we don’t stand back. We move in close. We give them all our love can offer. We don’t just think and judge. We feel. We are on their side. We look for the good in them. We don’t pick them apart. We love the whole person.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me to judge a little and love a lot. Help me accept the people I love, faults and all. Help me love them better.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll catch myself when I start to judge others. I will accept them as they are.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Responsibilities at work coax you out of hiding today. Although you might prefer to go about your business unseen by everyone else, you could be backed into a situation where you must stand up for what’s right. Defending your values is not a personal battle now; you must take action to prevent an authority figure from arbitrarily imposing his or her agenda onto others. Fortunately, you won’t need to confront your adversary alone if you explain your perspective to others. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 28, 2017

Daily Reflection

EQUAL RIGHTS

At one time or another most A.A. groups go on rule-making benders. . . After a time fear and intolerance subside. [and we realize] We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism. We wish to be just as inclusive as we can, never exclusive.

— “A.A. TRADITION: HOW IT DEVELOPED,” pp. 10, 11, 12

A.A. offered me complete freedom and accepted me into the Fellowship for myself. Membership did not depend upon conformity, financial success or education and I am so grateful for that. I often ask myself if I extend the same equality to others or if I deny them the freedom to be different. Today I try to replace my fear and intolerance with faith, patience, love and acceptance. I can bring these strengths to my A.A. group, my home and my office. I make an effort to bring my positive attitude everywhere that I go.

I have neither the right, nor the responsibility, to judge others. Depending on my attitude I can view newcomers to A.A., family members and friends as menaces or as teachers. When I think of some of my past judgments, it is clear how my self-righteousness caused me spiritual harm.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84

Keep It Simple

Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing.—Johann Fredrich von Schiller

As we grow in recovery, we’ll need to change our behaviors, values, and beliefs to stay sane. This take courage. Courage is doing what is needed in spite of fear.

Courage means facing what we can’t change. We can’t change the fact that we have hurt people. We can’t change the fact we have an illness. And we can’t change the fact that we need help from others.

Courage also means facing those things we can change. We need courage to be honest, to have faith, and to be humble. And we need courage to let people know how important they are.

Prayer for the Day:
Courage is more than being tough. Courage means being human. Higher Power, grant me the courage to stay sober and live a spiritual life.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll have an attitude of courage. I’ll talk in my meeting. I’ll offer help where it is needed. I’ll have the courage to say no when needed.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You continue to be an emotional being in a world where it’s often prudent to tightly wrap your feelings up in the logic of the day. However, the drive to express your heart’s desires in the safety of a stable relationship is fundamental to your wellbeing. Although you might be tempted to withdraw into your shell, growth occurs now from opening up. Self-disclosure is a rough road today because your perspective may conflict with someone else’s. Instead of making happiness your current goal, strive for recognition. Amy Bloom wrote, “Intimacy is being seen and known as the person you truly are.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 27, 2017

Daily Reflection

NO MAUDLIN GUILT

Day by day, we try to move a little toward God’s perfection. So we need not be consumed by maudlin guilt. . . .

— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 15

When I first discovered that there is not a single “don’t” in the Twelve Steps of A.A., I was disturbed because this discovery swung open a giant portal. Only then was I able to realize what A.A. is for me:

A.A.is not a program of “don’ts,” but of “do’s.”
A.A. is not martial law; it is freedom.
A.A. is not tears over defects, but sweat over fixing them.
A.A. is not penitence; it is salvation.
A.A. is not “Woe to me” for my sins, past and present.
A.A. is “Praise God” for the progress I am making today.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 24~

Keep It Simple

It’s only by forgetting yourself that you draw near to God.—Henry David Thoreau

The biggest danger we face as recovering people is self-will. Do we try to control others?

Do we always put ourselves before others? Are we full of self-pity? These are all ways that bind us to our self-will.

In recovery, we put our lives in the hands of a loving God. Here, we find a new home. Our goal is to lose as much of our self-will as we can. We than put love in place of self-will. Recovery is truly about love.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I pray and offer my self-will to You, Self-will is a danger to my sobriety. I pray that I may be closer to You than to myself.

Action for the Day:
I’ll list the areas that self-will get in my way. I’ll read my list every day next week, and I’ll try to put love in place of self will.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You are an easy target today because you’re wearing your changing moods on your sleeve. There’s no hiding the fact that your subjectivity can suddenly override your rationality. Objectivity ebbs and flows with your emotional tides, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it now, other than choosing denial. Thankfully, those you admire the most will benefit from your unyielding support. You are a champion at nurturing the people, animals and plants that you love. Be proud of your open heart and let your love light shine.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 26, 2017

Daily Reflection

TURNING NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE

Our spiritual and emotional growth in A.A. does not depend so deeply upon success as it does upon our failures and setbacks. If you will bear this in mind, I think that your slip will have the effect of kicking you upstairs, instead of down,

— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 184

In keeping with the pain and adversity which our founders encountered and overcame in establishing A.A., Bill W. sent us a clear message: a relapse can provide a positive experience toward abstinence and a lifetime of recovery. A relapse brings truth to what we hear repeatedly in meetings – “Don’t take that first drink!” It reinforces the belief in the progressive nature of the disease, and it drives home the need for, and beauty of, humility in our spiritual program. Simple truths come in complicated ways to me when I become ego driven.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to
Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give
freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the
Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164

Keep It Simple

When I look at the future, it’s so bright, it burns my eyes.—Oprah Winfrey

During our illness, it was as if our spirit lived in a deep, dark cave. Our spirit became gloomy, cold, and lonely. Our spirit didn’t know how to get out of the cave. We were dying.

Recovery brings us into the sunlight. At first, we can’t see a thing—it’s too bright! The world stretches around us—it’s so big! There are so many way to go! We don’t know what to do.

But our eyes get used to the light, and we feel the warm rays of the sun. We see we aren’t alone anymore. We relax. We know our spirit is in a better place—a place where we can live!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me feel at home in the sunlight of my new life.

Action for the Day:
Addiction made my world so small. It made my future so dark. Today, I’ll list three new choices I want to make to better my life.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Everyone notices the twinkle in your eyes and the smile on your face today, but you’re not giving them any facts to validate their assumptions. One reason you’re keeping your thoughts to yourself is that you might not be sure why you’re feeling so good. Or, perhaps you know exactly the source of your happiness; you just don’t trust that it will last. Either way, it’s preferable to find someone you can confide in about your inner journey. A joy that’s shared is a joy made double.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 25, 2017

Daily Reflection

PROGRESSIVE GRATITUDE

Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward.

— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 29

I am very grateful that my Higher Power has given me a second chance to live a worthwhile life. Through Alcoholics Anonymous, I have been restored to sanity. The promises are being fulfilled in my life. I am grateful to be free from the slavery of alcohol. I am grateful for peace of mind and the opportunity to grow, but my gratitude should go forward rather than backward. I cannot stay sober on yesterday’s meetings or past Twelfth-Step calls; I need to put my gratitude into action today. Our co-founder said our gratitude can best be shown by carrying the message to others. Without action, my gratitude is just a pleasant emotion. I need to put it into action by working Step Twelve, by carrying the message and practicing the principles in all my affairs. I am grateful for the chance to carry the message today!

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~

Keep It Simple

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me.—Virginia Satir

Let’s keep this in mind: each of us is special in our own way. Often, we’re hard on ourselves because we’re different.

Our Twelve Step groups pull our differences together. We listen and learn from our differences.

We learn to see that each one of us is different—and this is important. Our program and the Steps stay alive for us, because each new person brings a different way of seeing things. Let’s celebrate our differences instead of trying to be alike.

Prayer for the Day:
Today, is a day to celebrate that, in all of the world, there is only one me. Thank-you, Higher Power, and help me see clearly how special I am.

Action for the Day:
I’ll make a list of what makes me special. I’ll share this with a friend or my sponsor and my Higher Power.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Although you might be so scattered that you’re not very productive at work today, there are many kinds of success stories. In fact, your accomplishments aren’t visible to others with the Gemini New Moon occurring in your 12th House of Privacy. Luckily, your stream of consciousness reveals a new direction for you to follow. Don’t resist any thoughts that enter your mind, even if they seem outrageous in the current context. Happily, there is plenty of time to weed out the irrelevant ideas while nurturing the best ones. Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 24, 2017

Daily Reflection

“HAPPY, JOYOUS, AND FREE”

We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn’t do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence.

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 133

For years I believed in a punishing God and blamed Him for my misery. I have learned that I must lay down the “weapons” of self in order to pick up the “tools” of the A.A. program. I do not struggle with the program because it is a gift and I have never struggled when receiving a gift. If I sometimes keep on struggling, it is because I’m still hanging onto my old ideas and “. . . the results are nil.”

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

“When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He isn’t.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 53~

Keep It Simple

The way to love anything is to realize it might be lost. —G.K. Chesterton

Every day we take so much for granted. But we can count certain blessings: a roof over our head, food, clothing, family, and friends, freedom, a Higher Power we trust. These things are special.

Thinking about them wakes up our happiness. Our recovery program shows us how happy. we just have to remember to do what it tells us!

Step Ten helps us wake up our happiness. Each evening, as we think about our day, we can give thanks for the things we love: our recovery, our health, and the special people in our lives. If we spend part of our day thinking about these important areas, we wont lose them.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me make the most of my blessings today.

Action for the Day: Today, I’ll tell five people I love that I’m glad to have them in my life. And I’ll tell each of them one reason why.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Talking about your plans with a close friend enables you to be seen in a deep and profound way. But your current desire to keep communication simple makes it more challenging to convey the subtleties and nuances of your professional yearnings. Nevertheless, you are committed to understanding the big picture and may even consider enrolling in a course to further your studies. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”