WILLINGNESS

July 8, from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader

“In ACA we become willing to apply what we learn in the program to our daily lives and to relationships.” BRB p. 401

“When we first got to ACA, some of us couldn’t wait for recovery to be finished. How long was this going to take, because we had better things to do than hang out with damaged people. After all, our story wasn’t that bad. We just wanted to fix the little things that were holding us back so we could get on with our real lives.

Now Step work and service are two of our favorite things to do. Creating a safe place for ourselves and others – to acknowledge the wounds we all carry – and then begin to grow is the most exciting adventure we have ever been on.  The 12 Steps are a design for living that is better than anything else we have tried up to this point in our lives. We are grateful for those who came before us who kept the doors open.

In our homes and in our jobs we practice what we learn at meetings – like listening. We allow others to speak their truth. We learn not to control others and not let ourselves be controlled or manipulated. We trust that the principles of the program that have worked for so many others will continue to work for us in all our affairs. We are becoming fearless in our pursuit of a healthy life. We now have joy, and others can see that.

On this day I will be real in all that I do. By doing so, I make space for others to own their truths.”

My Experience:

Willingness, what a fear inspiring word.  But if I wanted recovery, and I did, I decided that I needed willingness, courage and trust.  I was willing to see and acknowledge that what I had been doing up to this point was not working.  I was willing to make changes.  I was willing to do things differently.  I was willing to ask for help.  All this took courage and trust that my higher power would walk with me through this and help me get to the other side.  Although it is scary to reach out to others, to ask for help, to discard the blanket of dysfunction that you have grown accustomed to, you must have the courage to be willing to do these things for any hope of things getting better in your life.  I am so glad I have been and continue to be willing, for today I am beginning to see that I can live a life beyond my wildest dreams.

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