Building A New Foundation

    While going through treatment most of us realize that we have been standing on a pretty shaky foundation (a place or thought pattern from which all actions/reactions and thoughts come from) for some time and that it might just be the right time to take a look at building a new solid foundation that corresponds with our own true core values.  This might be the first time that many of us have really gotten in touch with what we honestly believe in and stand for, separate from our family of origin.  It is with the help of AA/NA members and sponsors, and possibly a therapist, that we start building from this new cornerstone.  We must be open, willing, and able to take in new information to make a change without being defensive and automatically going back to our old ways.  There is a saying in the 12 step program that is very helpful while we are looking for new ways of behaving and thinking, “Take what you want and leave the rest.”  It makes sense that not all suggestions that are made to us are going to be a good fit for our new foundation at this time. We may need to grow a little more before we know what is truly good for us.  The important thing is that we consciously partake in the building of our new foundation which is based on our new core values that are uniquely ours.
Just sayin'
Lila

Keeping the Momentum Going

"A body in motion stays in motion...
  while a body at rest tends to stay at rest" 


    How can you relate Newton's 1st Law of Physics to your sobriety?  Have you ever found yourself sitting on the couch and not wanting to get up to go to a meeting because it's dark and cold outside? (A body at rest tends to stay at rest.)
   What can you do to get your body in motion or better yet, keeping your body in motion until after the meeting?


Just sayin'.....
Lila

Can you hear me now?

Most of us are familiar with Verizon’s slogan about their cell phone reception, but have you ever really thought about the dialog in your head and whose voice you are listening to?  We often have a running dialog going in our mind and we aren’t even really aware of the impact.  I hear myself saying, “Kim why did you have to say that? Or why did you eat that 2^ndhelping?  Or your hair sure looks bad today?  These are silly examples, but we all can fall into the trap of believing wrong thoughts that end up reinforcing feelings of low self worth and lack of confidence.  It’s important to actually think about the things we tell ourselves and then to think about whether it’s really the truth, or something we’ve heard in the past that really isn’t a reality today.

Kim

Anger

Anger:

Check your anger level.  Where are you on a scale of 1-10?  Have you been snapping at people?  Have you been irritated lately?  Do you get impatient with others?  Often anger is a sign of impending relapse or even current abuse.  When we are using drugs, alcohol, food, money, or any other thing to cope with our feelings, we end up mad at ourselves and we take it out on others.  I know when I start to lose my patience or feel irritated or angry that there is something out of balance in my life.  Just start to notice yourself and your mood and if you’re feeling angry, it’s time to get some help.  Call your sponsor! Call Powell!  Call your friends!  Call someone!!!!!

Kim