Talking to a good friend today, I was asked whatever happened to “i over e”? That thing about intellect over emotions. I can remember when it was being constantly recommended to those of us, who wanted to stay sober.
Years ago I remember reading a statement: there is nothing more destructive in this world than human emotions.
Two things happened today to remind me of this. One very well could have led to a drink. The first was a person, who had just experienced a breakup of a relationship. The other was anger over what he felt was an assault on his principles.
I know that I’m powerless over getting a point across to anyone, but I do know what has worked in my life. My sponsor told me long ago and often that I should think with my head and not my heart. I know that I’ve written about this often, but it bears repeating. My sponsor told me that when I came in, I was like a blind man. I was feeling my way through life. He told me that God put that thing on my shoulders to be used and not abused. I was to learn to think. Like the prescription on the wall said: “Think, Think, Think”.
I know I have been guilty of letting my emotions run away with me. Fortunately I had a sponsor, who wouldn’t let me get away with that kind of stuff. He hammered his message home to me over and over again until it penetrated my thick skull. I was a slow learner, but I eventually caught on to what he was saying. If I wanted to stay sober, I was going to have to follow his directions.
Anyway, I was thinking of this today and I think I’ll follow his advice. “i over e”. Think with my head and not my heart. At least for today.