Blog entry for:
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 08:47:43 AM
∏ if i do not use the gift of freedom of choice that i have been given, ∏
posted: Tue, Oct 20, 2009 08:47:43 AM
and if i refuse to accept the responsibilities that go along with it, i will lose that gift and my life will be diminished. honestly there are days when i want FREEDOM FROM CHOICE, in active addiction as much as i railed against choosing by default, i actually preferred it. when things did not work out the way i wanted them to, then i could blame something else, and when they did, i could take credit, so having a day off from making choices, seems very seductive to me still. after all, would losing the freedom to choose and make the multitude of decisions that i make in a day really be all that bad? i could move through my day, reacting to the events as they unfold, and it would really be living in the moment, or would it?
when i look at it in that manner, i see, that it would actually be living in the past. i would be reacting to events in the here and now, BUT everything that was driving my life would have already happened, as i chose not to exercise my freedom of choice. all that i am in that situation is an automaton, lacking the capability to be anything more, not much different from the kind of life i had in active addiction. as tough as life in the real world, abdicating my responsibility to make decisions, to choose my path and accept the consequences for those decisions would make it even worse. i did not get clean, just to return to the way i was, and the amazing part of this reading this morning is the sense of gratitude i feel when i consider how far i have come since i first decided that this set of steps would focus on decision-making. even though it doid not seem like it, even though most of the time i forgot wehat the focus of this step cycle was, and even though i was seemingly looking elsewhere and dealing with other issues, when all is said and done, as it soon will be, it is the process of decision-making, and the consequences of that process that has been revealed in my spiritual awakening from this step cycle. the freedom i have received is beyond measure.
so i could continue to say that over and over again, instead i will make the decision to move into my exercise gig and get started with the rest of my work for the this day, of which there is plenty to do. i am FREE to CHOOSE my path today, and i choose to be a full participant in my life, at least just for today.
when i look at it in that manner, i see, that it would actually be living in the past. i would be reacting to events in the here and now, BUT everything that was driving my life would have already happened, as i chose not to exercise my freedom of choice. all that i am in that situation is an automaton, lacking the capability to be anything more, not much different from the kind of life i had in active addiction. as tough as life in the real world, abdicating my responsibility to make decisions, to choose my path and accept the consequences for those decisions would make it even worse. i did not get clean, just to return to the way i was, and the amazing part of this reading this morning is the sense of gratitude i feel when i consider how far i have come since i first decided that this set of steps would focus on decision-making. even though it doid not seem like it, even though most of the time i forgot wehat the focus of this step cycle was, and even though i was seemingly looking elsewhere and dealing with other issues, when all is said and done, as it soon will be, it is the process of decision-making, and the consequences of that process that has been revealed in my spiritual awakening from this step cycle. the freedom i have received is beyond measure.
so i could continue to say that over and over again, instead i will make the decision to move into my exercise gig and get started with the rest of my work for the this day, of which there is plenty to do. i am FREE to CHOOSE my path today, and i choose to be a full participant in my life, at least just for today.
∞ DT ∞
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.
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!
freedom of choice 189 words ➥ Wednesday, October 20, 2004 by: donnotα freedom to choose ω 569 words ➥ Thursday, October 20, 2005 by: donnot
∞ freedom from active addiction means, among other things, the freedom to make choices for myself. ∞ 529 words ➥ Friday, October 20, 2006 by: donnot
α freedom of choice is a wonderful gift, but it is also a great responsibility. ω 519 words ➥ Saturday, October 20, 2007 by: donnot
α i am responsible for my own recovery and my own choices. ω 583 words ➥ Monday, October 20, 2008 by: donnot
• in active addiction, i often live my life by default • 431 words ➥ Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by: donnot
◊ enforced morality lacks the power that comes to me when ◊ 555 words ➥ Thursday, October 20, 2011 by: donnot
+ as difficult as it may seem , 430 words ➥ Saturday, October 20, 2012 by: donnot
¹ today, i will accept responsibility for my recovery, ¹ 626 words ➥ Sunday, October 20, 2013 by: donnot
¿ i am grateful for … 877 words ➥ Monday, October 20, 2014 by: donnot
ℜ freedom to choose ℑ 480 words ➥ Tuesday, October 20, 2015 by: donnot
⅔ abdicating ⅔ 605 words ➥ Thursday, October 20, 2016 by: donnot
🌫 being unwilling 🌫 736 words ➥ Friday, October 20, 2017 by: donnot
⚖ weighing my choices ⚖ 547 words ➥ Saturday, October 20, 2018 by: donnot
🤔 seeking the experience 🤯 411 words ➥ Sunday, October 20, 2019 by: donnot
🤔 choosing to live 🤩 599 words ➥ Tuesday, October 20, 2020 by: donnot
😲 living 😲 253 words ➥ Wednesday, October 20, 2021 by: donnot
😠 enforced morality 😒 640 words ➥ Thursday, October 20, 2022 by: donnot
🤐 anonymity 🤐 528 words ➥ Friday, October 20, 2023 by: donnot
😵 doing my damnedest 😯 315 words ➥ Sunday, October 20, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
3) He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who
is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult.
Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so
never has any difficulties.