12 steps ahead

Thursday, February 24, 2011

2/24/2011 Daily Reflections

A THANKFUL HEART

I try to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful
heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming

with gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in
outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 37

My sponsor told me that I should be a grateful alcoholic
and always have "an attitude of gratitude"--that
gratitude was the basic ingredient of humility, that
humility was the basic ingredient of anonymity, and that
"anonymity was the spiritual foundation of all our
Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before
personalities." As a result of his guidance, I start
every morning on my knees, thanking God for three things:
I'm alive, I'm sober, and I'm a member of Alcoholics
Anonymous. Then I try to live an "attitude of gratitude"
and thoroughly enjoy another twenty-four hours of the
A.A. way of life. A.A. is not something I joined; it's
something I live.

from "Daily Reflections"

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

2/23/2011 Daily Reflections

GUIDANCE

... this means a belief in a Creator who is all power,
justice, and love; a God who intends for me a purpose,

a meaning, and a destiny to grow, however... haltingly,
toward His own likeness and image.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 51

As I began to understand my own powerlessness and my
dependence on God, as I understand Him, I began to see
that there was a life which, if I could have it, I
would have chosen for myself from the beginning. It is
through the continuous work of the Steps and the life
in the Fellowship that I've learned to see that there
is truly a better way into which I am being guided.
As I come to know more about God, I am able to trust
His ways and His plans for the development of His
character in me. Quickly or not so quickly, I grow
toward His image and likeness.

from "Daily Reflections"

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Balance In Recovery- Submitted from Derek J.

So life is in session...meetings, girlfriend, dog, sponsees, commitments, H&I, 60 hr work week, cross-fit at 6am 5 days a week, maintaining a clean house (literally), and trying not to be stressed out… It’s difficult. I’m always trying to do more, be more, strive for more...so much so that I find that I don't actually enjoy myself a lot of the time. It's hard to find balance and remain at peace when I have a full life--I have a list that is always unfinished...and that’s ok, as long as I'm ok with it-

What I have come to realize is that I need to live in the program and visit my life. When I put work, girlfriend, gym, money before my program, I then seem to have problems with work, girlfriend, and money--But when I make the program come first I change, and although the circumstances may not, my perception changes, and my ability to accept life as it comes changes...
I still always want more, and I believe it’s good to want more but when
I focus so much on what I need I can screw up the present moment....
When I focus on the footwork, and let the result be what it is I have Balance... When I meditate and pray every day for a consecutive week I have balance-What I have found is that it's really about the cumulative result. That is where I can find peace--
and that's about it .

-Derek J. 12STEPSAHEAD.COM FOLLOWER FOR LIFE!

2/22/2011 Daily Reflections

GUIDANCE

... this means a belief in a Creator who is all power,
justice, and love; a God who intends for me a purpose,

a meaning, and a destiny to grow, however... haltingly,
toward His own likeness and image.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 51
As I began to understand my own powerlessness and my
dependence on God, as I understand Him, I began to see
that there was a life which, if I could have it, I
would have chosen for myself from the beginning. It is
through the continuous work of the Steps and the life
in the Fellowship that I've learned to see that there
is truly a better way into which I am being guided.
As I come to know more about God, I am able to trust
His ways and His plans for the development of His
character in me. Quickly or not so quickly, I grow
toward His image and likeness.

from "Daily Reflections"

Monday, February 21, 2011

2/21/2011 Daily Reflections

I'M PART OF THE WHOLE

At once, I became a part--if only a tiny part--of
a cosmos....

AS BILL SEES IT, p. 225

When I first came to A.A., I decided that "they" were
very nice people--perhaps a little naive, a little too
friendly, but basically decent, earnest people (with
whom I had nothing in common). I saw "them" at meetings
--after all, that was where "they" existed. I shook
hands with "them" and, when I went out the door, I
forgot about "them." Then one day my Higher Power,
whom I did not then believe in, arranged to create a
community project outside of A.A., but one which
happened to involve many A.A. members. We worked
together, I got to know "them" as people. I came to
admire "them," even to like "them" and, in spite of
myself, to enjoy "them." "Their" practice of the
program in their daily lives--not just talk at meetings
--attracted me and I wanted what they had. Suddenly the
"they" became "we." I have not had a drink since.

from "Daily Reflections"

Sunday, February 20, 2011

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Please visit and follow us at our new website!

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Follow Our NEW WEBSITE!

12 Steps Ahead's Website can now be found at 12stepsahead.com!!!

Please visit and follow us at our new website!

12stepsahead.com

-Sponsored by Clarity House and Reality House