Blog entry for:

Wed, Oct 6, 2004 04:44:41 AM


expectations
posted: Wed, Oct 6, 2004 04:44:41 AM

 

although the JFT reading was about expectations that i may develop about making amends i really do not have much to say on that exact topic. i have learned to let go of my expectations about the outcomes of amends and do a pretty good job of it most of the time.
the expectations i have trouble with are those about myself. i expect to be getting better every day and see the results of recovery without any difficulty. when i have moments of insanity, or self-will i feel that i am doing something wrong or that i am inherently bad, incapable of growth and forever doomed to repeating the same mistakes over and over again. i know i am not unique in this regard, but i still feel different, that i am missing some vital part of this recovery gig.
the truth is that i have grown and am continuing to grow, and that i am merely another addict in recovery, with all the frailties of the human condition. although this realization helps ground me in the here and now, it is not enough some days. the addict self whispers that this whole trip is not worth the effort and i might as well give up and return to using. nothing but the temporary bliss of a substance induced fog will relieve these expectations.
that being said, i have chosen not to use today and to allow GOD to work through and in me to continue the process today.
the biggest issue i am dealing with now is FEAR and i thought i had developed some courage over the course of this journey. on monday i have to go to the hospital to be tested for a live liver transplant. my fears about this are two-fold and of course at extremes. the first is that they will find me to be the perfect candidate for the procedure and i have to face the decision of whether to proceed or not. the flip side of this fear is that they will find something seriously wrong with my liver and i will have to deal with physical illness. of course, the option that i am healthy and not the match for the procedure does not even enter my mind these days. i go instantly to the extreme cases and feed the FEAR to the extent that i have considered taking a large dose of non-prescription drugs to make sure that my liver functions are screwed up on monday.
TRUE INSANITY
now the tricky part, i just have to let go and let GOD guide me through this process and see what happens. and today i can do that at least right now.
and you know, that is the best i can do right now!
-- DT --

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

α expecting results Ω 415 words ➥ Thursday, October 6, 2005 by: donnot
δ although i may not be granted a full pardon by everyone to whom i owe amends, δ 417 words ➥ Friday, October 6, 2006 by: donnot
α if i approach steps eight and nine expecting anything, i am likely to be very disappointed with the results. ω 412 words ➥ Saturday, October 6, 2007 by: donnot
↔ i need to be willing to make my amends regardless of the outcome. ↔ 352 words ➥ Monday, October 6, 2008 by: donnot
⊗ i can plan the amends, but i cannot plan the results ⊗ 504 words ➥ Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by: donnot
Δ i will let go of any expectations i have on other people Δ 215 words ➥ Wednesday, October 6, 2010 by: donnot
× projections about actually making amends can be a major obstacle × 462 words ➥ Thursday, October 6, 2011 by: donnot
¿ will i be tarred and feathered by the persons i have harmed ? 527 words ➥ Saturday, October 6, 2012 by: donnot
∪ in the amends process, ∪ 266 words ➥ Sunday, October 6, 2013 by: donnot
∝ amends ∝ 431 words ➥ Tuesday, October 6, 2015 by: donnot
¿ will i be forgiven ? 812 words ➥ Thursday, October 6, 2016 by: donnot
🠾 my tendency 🠼 583 words ➥ Friday, October 6, 2017 by: donnot
🌠 learning to forgive myself, 🌠 442 words ➥ Saturday, October 6, 2018 by: donnot
🐌 carrying the burdens 🐂 566 words ➥ Sunday, October 6, 2019 by: donnot
🍄 to become willing 🍄 394 words ➥ Tuesday, October 6, 2020 by: donnot
👹 major obstacles 👾 401 words ➥ Wednesday, October 6, 2021 by: donnot
🛎 the burdens 🛈 401 words ➥ Thursday, October 6, 2022 by: donnot
😌 safety, 😌 321 words ➥ Friday, October 6, 2023 by: donnot
🤐 frequently, however, 😶 366 words ➥ Sunday, October 6, 2024 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 2

2) But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The
first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking
from taking precedence of others.