TAKING A RISK

Jan 13 from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader

“Talking about our feelings is a risk; however, this is a risk worth taking because the rewards are great. “BRB p.186

Where is it safe to talk about our secret fears, our perceived shortcomings, and our doubts about our own sanity? Our Higher Power gave us a group of ACAs who listen to our feelings and do not judge us.

Our ACA fellow travelers feel what we feel and share many of our same doubts and our often misguided perceptions. They do so without trying to fix us and without telling us to “get over it.” Their hands are outstretched to newcomers who take the risk of walking through the meeting doors to tell their secrets.

It is very difficult not to believe in a Higher Power when we walk into the rooms of ACA and see the unconditional love we display to one another. The ability to share our feelings in this safe environment moves us toward the rewards of the program. We experience the miracle of learning to love ourselves, and we project a new image to the world.

On this day I know that in ACA I can risk sharing my innermost feelings. They will be met with acceptance and love.

My experience:

Risk is something I would never do.  I wanted guarantees.  Because of this, sharing what I was feeling inside would rarely, if ever, happen.  I developed comfort in the loneliness this created rather than the potential for closeness that sharing could provide.  How wrong I was.  What I have found is that I just needed to find the right people for whom I could be risky.  I share with these folks and I get understanding, support, and love for what I have gone through.  I hear things like, “thank you for surviving.”  What a blessing to know that people can appreciate the journey of survival I went through, and love me for it, and love me even more for sharing it and maybe providing someone in the room with the strength to risk themselves.  This is the power of this program.  Risk equals strength!!  What a blessing!