Blog entry for:
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 07:24:09 AM
≈ FAITH gives me the courage and direction to make good decisions, ≈
posted: Tue, Aug 23, 2011 07:24:09 AM
the strength to act on them, and consequently a life worth living. well this morning i could not settle into meditation, as i was already working at the new gig. ironic as it is, i am already taking on new stuff and bringing it into my life, before i have been there more than 8 hours. what to do? well for one, let go of what i am going to do before i get there and two accept that i have the skill-set to perform the task i was hired for and leave it alone when i am not there. that FEELS like a good decision this morning!
yes, i know the literature says not one of us is capable of consistently making good decisions, that is why I have trusted friends and a sponsor. while that still rings true today. over time and through the process of recovery, i make BETTER decisions more consistently than anytime in my past. yes i still act on impulse and self-will, and yes, i still can make some really terrible decisions, BUT those come fewer when i ALLOW the POWER that fuels my recovery to let me in on what is the correct direction to go.
so while i can certainly rejoice in the fact that i am getting better, in all sorts of ways, i am also reminds that this ability, does not arise from within. the evidence of my decision-making process in active addiction was one of narrowing my horizon, limiting the possibilities and driving me over a cliff or into a box canyon, like a member of a buffalo herd being hunted by a native american hunting party. the end result was a death of my spirit and FEAR of any sort of decision-making process, at least if I WAS NOT the one making the decisions, i could blame others and the events in my life for the consequences!
no, the power to make better decision has been taught to me by those members who have walked the path before me, both in word and deed. the ability to choose rationally, after evaluating the possible outcomes, comes from the process of recovery and is a gift of that POWER that fuels my recovery. the desire to participate in that process is the RESULT of seeing that it is not rigged against me, and that if i ALLOW things to happen , LISTEN for guidance, THAN i GET what i NEED and have the ability to make a fairly good decision most of the time.
so enough of the cheerleader this morning, all of what i have written is true for me today. i am still more than a bit obsessed on work, so instead of fighting it by wiring pablum here, i will surrender to it, hop in the shower and head on down to Broomfield and get cracking. it is a good day to be clean and i will do my best to bring the POWER that fuels my recovery, into all the decisions i NEED to make today.
yes, i know the literature says not one of us is capable of consistently making good decisions, that is why I have trusted friends and a sponsor. while that still rings true today. over time and through the process of recovery, i make BETTER decisions more consistently than anytime in my past. yes i still act on impulse and self-will, and yes, i still can make some really terrible decisions, BUT those come fewer when i ALLOW the POWER that fuels my recovery to let me in on what is the correct direction to go.
so while i can certainly rejoice in the fact that i am getting better, in all sorts of ways, i am also reminds that this ability, does not arise from within. the evidence of my decision-making process in active addiction was one of narrowing my horizon, limiting the possibilities and driving me over a cliff or into a box canyon, like a member of a buffalo herd being hunted by a native american hunting party. the end result was a death of my spirit and FEAR of any sort of decision-making process, at least if I WAS NOT the one making the decisions, i could blame others and the events in my life for the consequences!
no, the power to make better decision has been taught to me by those members who have walked the path before me, both in word and deed. the ability to choose rationally, after evaluating the possible outcomes, comes from the process of recovery and is a gift of that POWER that fuels my recovery. the desire to participate in that process is the RESULT of seeing that it is not rigged against me, and that if i ALLOW things to happen , LISTEN for guidance, THAN i GET what i NEED and have the ability to make a fairly good decision most of the time.
so enough of the cheerleader this morning, all of what i have written is true for me today. i am still more than a bit obsessed on work, so instead of fighting it by wiring pablum here, i will surrender to it, hop in the shower and head on down to Broomfield and get cracking. it is a good day to be clean and i will do my best to bring the POWER that fuels my recovery, into all the decisions i NEED to make 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!
a process 185 words ➥ Monday, August 23, 2004 by: donnotα decision-making tools Ω 235 words ➥ Tuesday, August 23, 2005 by: donnot
α i came to see decision-making as a rigged game, one i should play as little as possible Ω 427 words ➥ Wednesday, August 23, 2006 by: donnot
∞ today, my decisions and their consequences need not be influenced by my disease. ∞ 337 words ➥ Thursday, August 23, 2007 by: donnot
∞ life is a series of decisions, actions, and consequences. ∞ 241 words ➥ Saturday, August 23, 2008 by: donnot
≠ when i was using, my decisions were driven by addiction ≠ 723 words ➥ Sunday, August 23, 2009 by: donnot
» before i got clean, many of my actions were guided by impulse « 759 words ➥ Monday, August 23, 2010 by: donnot
“ i will use the principles of the Twelve Steps to make healthy decisions ” 618 words ➥ Thursday, August 23, 2012 by: donnot
¥ :given my history of making poor decisions, ¥ 658 words ➥ Friday, August 23, 2013 by: donnot
÷ the result of active recovery based decision-making ÷ 283 words ➥ Saturday, August 23, 2014 by: donnot
∏ guided by impulse ∏ 570 words ➥ Sunday, August 23, 2015 by: donnot
↠ decisions, ↠ 680 words ➥ Tuesday, August 23, 2016 by: donnot
☕ the courage ☕ 650 words ➥ Wednesday, August 23, 2017 by: donnot
🌬 decisions and actions, 🏎 528 words ➥ Thursday, August 23, 2018 by: donnot
🎰 a rigged game 🎲 511 words ➥ Friday, August 23, 2019 by: donnot
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🤔 a life 🎁 365 words ➥ Monday, August 23, 2021 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
2) In loving the people and ruling the state, cannot he proceed without
any (purpose of) action? In the opening and shutting of his gates
of heaven, cannot he do so as a female bird? While his intelligence
reaches in every direction, cannot he (appear to) be without knowledge?