Blog entry for:
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 08:07:30 AM
« it is particularly important to check my motives »
posted: Mon, Dec 17, 2012 08:07:30 AM
to find out what i really want.
learning how to defeat the lies i tell myself about why i do what i do, is certainly a task that i can undertake today and every day. after meeting with my sponse last week, one thing is clear, i DO NOT want to practice service-based recovery any longer. no what i desire is recovery-based service. we spoke very briefly about this topic last week, but for some reason, it still is ringing in my head, especially as i hear about and participate in e-mail blasts, about the issues that are facing my local service structure. one of the downfalls in doing service, for an extended period of time, is that i get the notion, that somehow, i have gradated from group conscience and into the realm of knowing what is best, for myself, for my group, for all the various service committees i am a part of and for the fellowship that has given me the opportunity to become more than i ever was, i am no longer satisfied with being part of the problem and i do believe that these days, the suggestion made by my sponsor, to alter the manner in which i participate in service will be one that i take to heart. the very notion that someone may feel bullied by my efforts to carry the message, has become abhorrent to me, and the game-playing and manipulation i am uncovering as i begin working STEP EIGHT, are more than evident in the manner i served in the past. the nice part of this introspection, is that i can start to really examine who i am, who i was and who i want to becomes, as i walk down the metaphysical hall of terror that is the process of change in my life. what is really behind door number one? well i will not know until i open it and walk into the room itself. the longer i traipse the hall waiting for a sign or some sort of notion about certainty, the longer i remain exactly where i am. there are, however, signs that perhaps all that i have accomplished in my checkered service career has set me up for this new phase of recovery-based service, on which i will be embarking as the days go on. it certainly does not mean that my service efforts will be diminished in any way, but will be altered to better fir my new way of looking at life and my impact on the fellowship that has given me this life.
i know i am being obtuse and more than a bit cryptic and although that is not my intention, the problem lies in where i am going in this respect, has yet to be revealed to me. i do know where i am not going, and that is to once again play the foil to thwart the efforts of others, or at least present an alternative view of what is going on.
so as i prepare to start my last two days of my current full-time gig, i can be certain of one or two things, this morning: 1)withdrawal from the fellowship that i love, is not an option i will exercise today and 2) i have FAITH that the collective intelligence, motives, knowledge and experience of those addicts who serve the fellowship, WILL sustain it and they will do so, without any input from me, just for today.
learning how to defeat the lies i tell myself about why i do what i do, is certainly a task that i can undertake today and every day. after meeting with my sponse last week, one thing is clear, i DO NOT want to practice service-based recovery any longer. no what i desire is recovery-based service. we spoke very briefly about this topic last week, but for some reason, it still is ringing in my head, especially as i hear about and participate in e-mail blasts, about the issues that are facing my local service structure. one of the downfalls in doing service, for an extended period of time, is that i get the notion, that somehow, i have gradated from group conscience and into the realm of knowing what is best, for myself, for my group, for all the various service committees i am a part of and for the fellowship that has given me the opportunity to become more than i ever was, i am no longer satisfied with being part of the problem and i do believe that these days, the suggestion made by my sponsor, to alter the manner in which i participate in service will be one that i take to heart. the very notion that someone may feel bullied by my efforts to carry the message, has become abhorrent to me, and the game-playing and manipulation i am uncovering as i begin working STEP EIGHT, are more than evident in the manner i served in the past. the nice part of this introspection, is that i can start to really examine who i am, who i was and who i want to becomes, as i walk down the metaphysical hall of terror that is the process of change in my life. what is really behind door number one? well i will not know until i open it and walk into the room itself. the longer i traipse the hall waiting for a sign or some sort of notion about certainty, the longer i remain exactly where i am. there are, however, signs that perhaps all that i have accomplished in my checkered service career has set me up for this new phase of recovery-based service, on which i will be embarking as the days go on. it certainly does not mean that my service efforts will be diminished in any way, but will be altered to better fir my new way of looking at life and my impact on the fellowship that has given me this life.
i know i am being obtuse and more than a bit cryptic and although that is not my intention, the problem lies in where i am going in this respect, has yet to be revealed to me. i do know where i am not going, and that is to once again play the foil to thwart the efforts of others, or at least present an alternative view of what is going on.
so as i prepare to start my last two days of my current full-time gig, i can be certain of one or two things, this morning: 1)withdrawal from the fellowship that i love, is not an option i will exercise today and 2) i have FAITH that the collective intelligence, motives, knowledge and experience of those addicts who serve the fellowship, WILL sustain it and they will do so, without any input from me, 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!
↔ service work and motives ↔ 236 words ➥ Friday, December 17, 2004 by: donnot∞ motive check?reality check! ∞ 288 words ➥ Saturday, December 17, 2005 by: donnot
δ when i find myself with an especially strong urge to do or have something, δ 378 words ➥ Sunday, December 17, 2006 by: donnot
μ when i decide to serve my fellowship, i make a decision to help addicts find and maintain recovery. μ 208 words ➥ Monday, December 17, 2007 by: donnot
∞ my motives are often a surprise to me, even after a bit of time clean! ∞ 505 words ➥ Wednesday, December 17, 2008 by: donnot
± it is much easier to frighten away using addicts than to convince them to stay ± 428 words ➥ Thursday, December 17, 2009 by: donnot
… my service efforts must be motivated by the desire to more successfully … 740 words ➥ Friday, December 17, 2010 by: donnot
≅ i will check my motives for the true spirit of service ≅ 478 words ➥ Saturday, December 17, 2011 by: donnot
ƒ however, an unselfish desire to serve others ƒ 492 words ➥ Tuesday, December 17, 2013 by: donnot
→ everything that occurs in the course of service to this fellowship ↵ 621 words ➥ Wednesday, December 17, 2014 by: donnot
☀ service motives ☁ 458 words ➥ Thursday, December 17, 2015 by: donnot
🌎 the true sprint of service 🌎 502 words ➥ Saturday, December 17, 2016 by: donnot
🌊 motivated by the DESIRE 🌌 798 words ➥ Sunday, December 17, 2017 by: donnot
👁 what i really want 👁 625 words ➥ Monday, December 17, 2018 by: donnot
✓ checking my motives ✔ 724 words ➥ Tuesday, December 17, 2019 by: donnot
🗦 an unselfish desire 🗧 329 words ➥ Thursday, December 17, 2020 by: donnot
🦚 game-playing, 🦚 477 words ➥ Friday, December 17, 2021 by: donnot
🤔 the desire 🤐 438 words ➥ Saturday, December 17, 2022 by: donnot
😑 patience 😑 372 words ➥ Sunday, December 17, 2023 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
1) The movement of the Tao
By contraries proceeds;
And weakness marks the course
Of Tao's mighty deeds.