Today was a good reminder for me to MYOB. Or to mind my own business. I have no right to be thinking I’m any more than what I am. I’m just an alcoholic, who, by the grace of my Higher Power is sober today. What others in my home or on the streets or in business are doing or not, as long as it is them minding their own business, is just that. Their own business.
I was reminded today that I’m not their psychiatrist or psychologist. Not their counselor. I’m not there to give any of them advice, unless asked for it. Even then to remember to take care not to overstep mine or their boundaries. I have never been able to change anyone’s mind, unless they’re ready to do that.
This all came up, when someone wanted to hear something about maintaining his temper in his family. I know I had to learn how to do that, when I first got sober. Not that I was exercising anything more than just getting angry and had to begin to put these Twelve Steps into action and begin to change. And I have. I know that today, even though I’m still human and can make mistakes. But for the most part I know that I have learned to smile and walk away from incendiary moments of others.
I have learned from my old sponsor and others that the solution to my old way of thinking and acting is spiritual. I was talking to a relatively new man today and brought up the thought of learning to begin to live a spiritual way of life. I told him how difficult it was for me at first, but how others helped me to change my mind and my direction in my life. Like those, who helped me, I hope I was doing for him what was done for me. I pointed out it was in the BB, as it was shown to me.
And, of course it took time for me to learn how to apply the Sixth and Seventh Steps. My character defects. My ego, my temper, and a whole lot more. I’m still learning. But I have learned to turn to the God of my understanding for help. On my own I know I can find myself in a lot of difficulties. I need the help and direction of a power greater than myself. And I’m always directed to the spiritual axiom in the Tenth Step in the 12&12, when I open my mouth at the wrong time and let my temper loose. I know I’m wrong and need grace to get back on track.
All this has been part of practicing these principles in all of my affairs. The maintenance of my spiritual condition, I hope. Again it’s a day at a time and with the help of others like myself and my Higher Power. Once again thinking about staying sober and doing something about it.