One of the hardest tasks I had in this program was to learn to change from the negative to the positive. All my drinking life, and probably before I even picked up a drink, was to see everything in the negative. I felt negative and thought negatively. Then I came to this program and learned that everything I thought and did had to be changed, if I wanted to stay sober.
For instance, I remember how my sponsor wanted me to deal differently with all those I knew or would meet. I always had that defensive posture that I had to be right or else. So, what did he want me to do? He asked me to keep repeating to myself the words, “you might be right and I could be wrong”. Who me? Almost choked on those words. Yet, it was among those things that were going to help me throw this way of living and thinking into reverse.
When he said to me that I shouldn’t take myself so seriously, that was a beginning of the positive thinking in my life. I began to learn how to laugh at myself. In other ways, through the process of putting these 12 Steps into action in my life, it began to open my mind and my heart, not just to the people around me, but to my higher power. The door was open to that spiritual awakening we all seek in this program. And it worked, just as we were told it would.
Today I look forward each and every day to thinking positive thoughts, despite what’s appearing around me. I’ve learned to do this with the help of others and my higher power. The fact is that not all things are going to go smoothly. This program has prepared me for that and what to do and how to act in most situations.
I’ve never regretted my coming here and how my life has been since I’ve gotten sober. Not just the fact of being freed from the bondage to alcohol, but the privilege of learning to live a sober life.
Talk about positive thinking, it’s the best thing that ever happened in my life.
Even, as I have gotten older and begun the process we call old age with all its aches and pains, I still find myself laughing. Up to now I think it has been absolutely wonderful. Has its moments, but so what. I’m comfortable and happy living in sobriety. I only wish more drunks like myself could come in and share it with all of us.
Anyway, I was thinking about plus and minuses in my life and how I keep choosing the pluses. The minuses, the negative, is always around, but that’s life. I always have a choice what I want in my life. I’d rather be positive than negative. I’ve already had my fill of the latter. With the help of the people in the program and the God of my understanding, I hope that I can continue down this road with a positive attitude. I look at so many, who have difficulties I know, but I witness their positive attitudes and take their example and put it to work in my life. I love it.