Daily Recovery Readings
April 28, 2017

Daily Reflection

TWO “MAGNIFICENT STANDARDS”

All A.A. progress can be reckoned in terms of just two words: humility and responsibility. Our whole spiritual development can be accurately measured by our degree of adherence to these magnificent standards.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 271

To acknowledge and respect the views, accomplishments and prerogatives of others and to accept being wrong shows me the way of humility. To practice the principles of A.A. in all my affairs guides me to be responsible. Honoring these precepts gives credence to Tradition Four—and to all other Traditions of the Fellowship. Alcoholics Anonymous has evolved a philosophy of life full of valid motivations, rich in highly relevant principles and ethical values, a view of life which can be extended beyond the confines of the alcoholic population. To honor these precepts I need only to pray, and care for my fellow man as if each one were my brother.

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

Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues. — Hugh Prather

Before recovery, we saw only a blurry picture of ourselves, like we were looking through an out-of-focus camera lens. We couldn’t see the good in ourselves because we wouldn’t look close enough.

Step Four helps us look more closely. We see a picture of ourselves, with our good points and our faults. We don’t like everything we see. But we can’t change until we accept ourselves as we are.

Then we can start getting ready to change.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me see the good in me and love myself.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll make a list of four of my good points and four of my faults. Am I getting to have my Higher Power remove these defects of character?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Someone enters your life today with a thrilling opportunity that seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, it probably is. Much to your chagrin, progress on all projects is excruciatingly slow now and nothing much will change the dynamics, unless you decide to put in the extra time and energy. Thankfully, everything speeds up once messenger Mercury aligns with authoritative Saturn. Proactively drag potential problems into the open before they turn things sour. As is often the case, clearing the air is a cathartic process for everyone involved.

<h1>Daily Recovery Readings
April 27, 2017</h1>

<h2><b><u>Daily Reflection</u></b></h2>

JOYFUL DISCOVERIES

<i>We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.</i>
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 164

Sobriety is a journey of joyful discovery. Each day brings new experience, awareness, greater hope, deeper faith, broader tolerance. I must maintain these attributes or I will have nothing to pass on.
Great events for this recovering alcoholic are the normal everyday joys found in being able to live another day in God’s grace.

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

<h2><b><u>Big Book Quote</u></b></h2>

<i>”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.”</i>

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~
<h2><b><u>Keep It Simple</u></b></h2>

<i>I noticed my hopelessness was because I had lost my freedom of choice.<i>—AA member

By doing a Fourth Step, we start to see ourselves more clearly. We see how we’ve acted against ourselves. Soon, we hear a little voice inside telling us to stop before we act. “Are you sure you want to say or do that?” the little voice asks. Then we make a choice: we do something the same old way, or we try a new way. One part of us will always want to do things the old, sick way. This is natural. But we’re getting stronger every day. Our spirit wants to learn new ways so we can be honest and loving. Sometimes we don’t know how. But we still have a choice. We can ask for help.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me listen to the little voice inside that helps me see that I have choices.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll make a choice between old ways and new ways of acting. I will call my sponsor this evening to talk about my choices.

<h2><b><u>Daily Horoscope – Cancer</u></b></h2>

You can rely on your friends and coworkers to support your efforts today. Magically, people seem to show up with the right skill or piece of information just as you need it. Thankfully, the Moon’s receptivity in your 11th House of Networks enables your actions to resonate within your larger group or community. Nevertheless, you might worry that trouble is brewing beneath the surface. There is no reason to be shy; ask questions to bring unspoken feelings out into the open. Author Terry Pratchett wrote, “The best research you can do is to talk to people.”

Daily Recovery Readings
April 25, 2017

Daily Reflection

ENTERING A NEW DIMENSION

In the late stages of our drinking, the will to resist has fled. Yet when we admit complete defeat and when we become entirely ready to try A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and we enter a new dimension—freedom under God as we understand Him.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 283

I am fortunate to be among the ones who have had this awesome transformation in my life. When I entered the doors of A.A., alone and desperate, I had been beaten into willingness to believe anything I heard. One of the things I heard was, “This could be your last hangover, or you can keep going round and round.” The man who said this obviously was a whole lot better off than I. I liked the idea of admitting defeat and I have been free ever since! My heart heard what my mind never could: “Being powerless over alcohol is no big deal.” I’m free and I’m grateful!

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

Big Book Quote

“First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

Keep It Simple

You’re never to old to grow up.—Shirley Conran

Some of us have spent many years trying not to grow up. As children, we watched the adults around us. They may not have seemed happy. “Is life all hard work for grown-ups?” we wondered. No, it’s not hard work. There are lots of good things about growing up. We can take charge of our life. We can learn to take care of ourselves. We can learn to share feelings with good friends. We can make our world safe enough for us to express feelings again. We learn how to love others. We do have choices.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me grow up into a happy, grateful adult.

Action for the Day:
There are happy grown-ups. I’ll find one to be my sponsor.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

An unbalanced situation at work may be creating a funky tension between you and your coworkers. It seems as if it’s best to ignore your feelings today, since your words are likely to be upsetting to others. Unfortunately, your silence only feeds the negative energy. Ironically, speaking up is the fastest path to reestablishing equilibrium. It’s your turn to strike like lightning and shock others with the truth. Hopefully, the calm after the storm will be proof you did the right thing.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 24, 2017

Daily Reflection

LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES

Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us. . . . We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others. . . . We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or dependence.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 252

When I did my personal inventory I found that I had unhealthy relationships with most people in my life—my friends and family, for example. I always felt isolated and lonely. I drank to dull emotional pain.

It was through staying sober, having a good sponsor and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to build up my low self-esteem. First the Twelve Steps taught me to become my own best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach out and love others.

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

Big Book Quote

“We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Pg. 70~

Keep It Simple

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.—David Russell

Making big decisions is like crossing bridges. Sometimes, these decisions change our lives. We find that turning back will be very hard. This is why we have to be very careful when we decide to burn bridges. When we decide to make changes, we act carefully. We don’t want to make decisions out of anger or envy. Instead , we can think about what we want and how our program can help us make wise decisions.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me cross those bridges that are on my path.

Action for the Day:
What do I really want in life? What decisions do I need to make to get there?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your interactions tend to grow emotional only when you’re in the company of those you trust. You’re unable to decide how much you want to reveal today because you’re afraid of placing yourself in a vulnerable position. It’s prudent to keep your feelings in check now, since you could easily overwhelm people with your intensity, especially at work. Your associates may not share your desire to dredge water up from the bottom of the well. Taking the rational route enables you to make your point without upsetting or offending anyone along the way.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 23, 2017

Daily Reflection

A.A. IS NOT A CURE-ALL

It would be a product of false pride to claim that A.A. is a cure-all, even for alcoholism.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 285

In my early years of sobriety I was full of pride, thinking that A.A. was the only source of treatment for a good and happy life. It certainly was the basic ingredient for my sobriety and even today, with over twelve years in the program, I am very involved in meetings, sponsorship and service. During the first four years of my recovery, I found it necessary to seek professional help, since my emotional health was extremely poor. There are those folks too, who have found sobriety and happiness in other organizations. A.A. taught me that I had a choice: to go to any lengths to enhance my sobriety. A.A. may not be a cure-all for everything, but it is the center of my sober living.

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

Big Book Quote

“Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we could not place money first. For us, material well being always followed spiritual progress; it never preceded.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 127~

Keep It Simple

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. — Ernest Hemingway

It’s hard to listen in a complete way. Often we listen, but we’re still thinking about ourselves. We wonder, “How do their words relate to me? Do I have anything to add?” Often, fear is behind these questions. We fear saying the wrong thing. We fear looking stupid. Good listeners know how to let go of their fears. To listen completely, we step outside ourselves, and we’re totally there for someone else. Sometimes we listen for only a few moments. Sometimes we don’t even agree with the people we’re listening to. But we let them know that they count. What a gift we give when we listen in a complete way!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, teach me to listen in a complete way. Teach me to step outside myself and be their for others.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll listen to what the person says.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your energy doesn’t express directly today, making others unsure about where you stand. However, you want to be heard and could make multiple attempts at communicating your perspective. But the noise of the cosmos is blowing up a storm that threatens your emotional security and drowns out your voice. You aren’t happy about being put on the spot; you might even seriously consider walking away from the whole situation. Don’t give up until you exhaust all options. A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 22, 2017

Daily Reflection

NEW SOIL . . . NEW ROOTS

Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual serenity, as I have excellent reason to know. Roots of reality, supplanting the neurotic underbrush, will hold fast despite the high winds of the forces which would destroy us, or which we would use to destroy ourselves.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 173

I came to A.A. green—a seedling quivering with exposed taproots. It was for survival but it was a beginning. I stretched, developed, twisted, but with the help of others, my spirit eventually burst up from the roots. I was free. I acted, withered, went inside, prayed, acted again, understood anew, as one moment of perception struck. Up from my roots, spirit-arms lengthened into strong, green shoots: high-springing servants stepping skyward.

Here on earth God unconditionally continues the legacy of higher love. My A.A. life put me “on a different footing . . . [my] roots grasped a new soil” ( Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12).

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

Big Book Quote

“More than most people the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character. This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a certain reputation but knows in his heart he doesnt deserve it.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 73~

Keep It Simple

One meets his destiny often on the road one takes to avoid it.—French proverb

None of us, perhaps, ever thought we’d end up in recovery. But we were working at joining recovery years before we got here! Maybe recovery was our fate from the day we first took a drink or a pill. Others around us could see the writing on the wall, but we couldn’t. We were to busy trying to avoid the pain. Alcoholism and other drug abuse have to do with us trying to find spiritual wholeness— the kind of spiritual wholeness we’re finding now. . .in recovery. So, let’s welcome recovery into our lives. We have found our spiritual home.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I got lost because I acted like I knew the way to a good life. You lead the way. Thank-you for putting me on the right track.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll think about why it’s my fate to be in recovery. I will list ways that I try to avoid my fate.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You may still be licking your wounds from a recent emotional skirmish, but the tide has shifted and you can see the clear skies ahead. In the meantime, your imagination is untethered from the events in your life. No one can prevent you from embarking on your physical or metaphysical travels now. But this newly found freedom is built on a lack of constraint, which could make you feel slightly nervous. Fight your fear or pay the price of regret. Basketball Coach Jerry Dunn said, “Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits.”

Daily Recovery Readings
April 20, 2017

Daily Reflection

CULTIVATING FAITH

“I don’t think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice it. And I don’t believe we do A.A. too well unless we practice it. . . . We should practice . . . acquiring the spirit of service. We should attempt to acquire some faith, which isn’t easily done, especially for the person who has always been very materialistic, following the standards of society today. But I think faith can be acquired; it can be acquired slowly; it has to be cultivated. That was not easy for me, and I assume that it is difficult for everyone else. . . .”
— DR. BOB AND THE GOOD OLDTIMERS, pp. 307-08

Fear is often the force that prevents me from acquiring and cultivating the power of faith. Fear blocks my appreciation of beauty, tolerance, forgiveness, service, and serenity.

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

Big Book Quote

3rd Step Prayer:

“God, I offer myself to Thee —to build with me and to do with
me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better
do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may
bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy
Way of life. May I do Thy will always!”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 63~

Keep It Simple

A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness.—Fontenelle

Our disease is sometimes call the disease of “always wanting more.”
We push ourselves to get as much pleasure as we could. If one was good , two was better.
We didn’t see that what we were lacking was faith.
At times in recovery, we still crave “more.”

We must pay attention to these cravings. When we have a craving, maybe we’re scared, and our Higher Power is trying to tell us that, if we have faith, we’ll be taken care of. Perhaps our Higher Power just has a message of love for us. All we need to do is listen. It may be that this is only “more” we really need.

Prayer for the Day:
I pray to see my as spiritual needs. I pray to turn to my Higher Power instead of to alcohol or other drugs.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll think about how much recovery has given me. I will share this with a friend and with my Higher Power.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Working long hours isn’t very much fun, yet it may lead to personal satisfaction when you reflect on the minor sacrifices you made in the name of success. In fact, meeting deadlines can be turned into a game that you actually win today. But instead of crossing one item at a time off your list, make optimal use of enterprising Mars by jumping all around on your agenda. Shaking up your work schedule keeps your energy reserves high and prevents you from getting bored. Hank Williams, Jr. sang, “Go on and do things your own way.” There’s nothing to be gained by conforming to mediocrity.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 19, 2017

Daily Reflection

SELF-EXAMINATION

. . . we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86

When said sincerely, this prayer teaches me to be truly unselfish and humble, for even in doing good deeds I often used to seek approval and glory for myself. By examining my motives in all that I do, I can be of service to God and others, helping them do what they want to do. When I put God in charge of my thinking, much needless worry is eliminated and I believe He guides me throughout the day. When I eliminate thoughts of self-pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness as soon as they enter my mind, I find peace with God, my neighbor and myself.

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

Big Book Quote

“We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 25~

Keep It Simple

A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness.—Fontenelle

Our disease is sometimes call the disease of “always wanting more.” We push ourselves to get as much pleasure as we could. If one was good , two was better. We didn’t see that what we were lacking was faith. At times in recovery, we still crave “more.” We must pay attention to these cravings. When we have a craving, maybe we’re scared, and our Higher Power is trying to tell us that, if we have faith, we’ll be taken care of. Perhaps our Higher Power just has a message of love for us. All we need to do is listen. It may be that this is only “more” we really need.

Prayer for the Day:
I pray to see my as spiritual needs. I pray to turn to my Higher Power instead of to alcohol or other drugs.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll think about how much recovery has given me. I will share this with a friend and with my Higher Power.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Discussions at the water cooler and chat conversations online are not distractions from your life. Rather than an accessory, they are part of the fabric to your world. In fact, an informal exchange could turn into a significant interaction that impacts the direction of your career. Don’t be afraid of entertaining all possibilities now; stretching your mind by remaining open to the craziest ideas invites more options to enter the dialogue. From little things, big things grow.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 18, 2017

Daily Reflection

SELF-HONESTY

The deception of others is nearly always rooted in the deception of ourselves. . . . When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 17

When I was drinking, I deceived myself about reality, rewriting it to what I wanted it to be. Deceiving others is a character defect—even if it is just stretching the truth a bit or cleaning up my motives so others would think well of me. My Higher Power can remove this character defect, but first I have to help myself become willing to receive that help by not practicing deception. I need to remember each day that deceiving myself about myself is setting myself up for failure or disappointment in life and in Alcoholics Anonymous. A close, honest relationship with a Higher Power is the only solid foundation I’ve found for honesty with self and with others.

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

Big Book Quote

“Resentment is the number one offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 64~

Keep It Simple

Patience is needed with everyone, but first of all with ourselves. —St. Francis de Sales

How do you treat yourself? Do you talk to yourself in a kind and loving voice? We can’t be kind and loving to others until we learn to be kind and loving with ourselves. To live this way, we must give ourselves the gift of patience.

Let’s practice patience with ourselves daily. Practice talking to yourself in a kind, loving voice.

Your voice will be that of a loving parent who helps a child with a new task. Your Higher Power

Is willing to be patient with you. Give yourself the same gift.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I pray that I’ll treat myself and others with the same loving patience You’ve shown me.

Action for the Day:
I will listen to how I talk to myself. I will practice talking to myself with a kind, loving, and patient voice.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You’re almost certain that someone is secretly trying to control your actions today. However, it’s nearly impossible to tell where your logical thinking ends and your paranoia begins. There’s nothing wrong with being cautious now; paying careful attention to the signs around you could keep you on track. Unfortunately, spinning yarns of fictional enemies won’t help boost your productivity. Let your beliefs acquiesce to the facts if you want results.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 17, 2017

Daily Reflection

LOVE AND FEAR AS OPPOSITES

All these failings generate fear, a soul-sickness in its own right.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49

“Fear knocked at the door; faith answered; no one was there.” I don’t know to whom this quote should be attributed, but it certainly indicates very clearly that fear is an illusion. I create the illusion myself.

I experienced fear early in my life and I mistakenly thought that the mere presence of it made me a coward. I didn’t know that one of the definitions of “courage” is “the willingness to do the right thing in spite of fear.” Courage, then, is not necessarily the absence of fear.
During the times I didn’t have love in my life I most assuredly had fear. To fear God is to be afraid of joy. In looking back, I realize that, during the times I feared God most, there was no joy in my life. As I learned not to fear God, I also learned to experience joy.

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

Big Book Quote

“Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make believe have eventually seen the childishness of it. This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 130~

Keep It Simple

We create revolution by living it.—Jerry Rubin

There’s a lot wrong in the world—Child abuse, homeless and hungry people, pollution. Our old way of dealing with these troubles was to break the rules or to “drop out” by using chemicals.

Now we have a new way to change the world. We’re changing ourselves. One Day at a Time, we’re acting like the caring , responsible people we want to be. We use the ideas of the program in our lives.

We’re kinder. We’re more honest. We stand up for ourselves and for others who need our help. What if the whole world started working the Steps? What a wonderful world this would be!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, please work through me today. Help me make the world a little better place.

Action for the Day:
I’ll list one thing that brothers me about the world today. How can using the ideas of the program help solve that problem? Remember, the program tells us to look at our own behavior.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your skin starts to crawl when people criticize your work in public. The truth is you’re open to receiving useful feedback, but you prefer it to be given in a more private setting. However, you may believe that it’s important to keep up appearances today, so no one will realize that you’re upset. Unfortunately, stifling your humiliation or frustration impacts the current interpersonal dynamics. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”