One of the things, which took over our meeting today, was about being ruled by negative thinking. Several people told about how these negative emotions had controlled their lives, and that was too much for the rest of us. We all had to cover and try to help change these things.
First of all we had to come to understand that we can change this kind of thinking, but that’s not an overnight event. Time takes time. It’s not a day, nor a week, a month, or even a year. In the end it’s more than just several years, including the Steps. But the biggest part is the spiritual way of life. The Second Step. First our start to begin to practice a spiritual way of life and our beginning to have a relationship with our Higher Power.
And, when this was underway, I was told that I had to stop having my negative emotions run my life. I had to learn how to get rid of these, and to begin to think rationally, in a positive way of my mind. Not easy, because the negative emotions, which ran my way of thinking, back when I was drinking alcohol, intensely controlled my mind. And, when I came into sobriety and this program, it still was running the control of my thinking.
I had to learn how to grow into adult-hood, and begin to think in a mature way of positive thinking. Of course eliminating the control of negative emotions. Not easy at all. However it was do-able, as I found out. And with my old sponsor’s help and directions I began to do just that. Change, from the negative to the positive.
Two things became very important for me; I had to get rid of my way of thinking, and then to begin to say the Serenity Prayer a number of times everyday. Learning to accept the things and the people I cannot change…everyone…and learning to focus on the person I can change, with the help of my Higher Power. And that’s myself.
I had to learn how to freely give to new alcoholics, and even those in here, by telling them what I had done and the things they can do. And then learning to step back and begin to practice humility.
Not easy, but, as I learned, do-able.