I was reminded today, by a number of people, just how devastating or helpful feelings are. One man had undergone a panic attack the day before, another talked about the pressure he felt he was under, another wrote about being nervous. All of them feelings, all of them acute at the moment we go through them, but none of them permanent, and none of them even remotely related to reality.
The problem with feelings is that we can keep them in action within us by reinforcing them. We can give them a credibility they don’t deserve. And then we can drive ourselves crazy with them and even to the brink. We can end up drinking over them. And people have.
That’s why we need to talk to others, who have undergone the same things we’re going through. We have to learn to open our minds and listen to what others are saying to us. I know that we can work ourselves up into such a state that we forget that communication is a two way street. If we don’t listen, we may miss the answer someone is giving us. Our feelings stop up our ears and make us deaf.
That’s why I always think to myself, how amazing. In spite of myself I’m still sober. Some people in the program said something at one time or another, which got through my defenses I had against help. Often my feelings told me that there was no way out and I felt doomed because of how I felt. But someone said something and it opened my eyes and I got over my self centeredness, which the feelings caused.
I learned that I had to stay in the moment and learn that I can handle anything just for now. I learned from others that this too shall pass. And, I, also learned that sometimes I had to go to others, professionals, who knew more than I did.
I, also, learned that the power of prayer can change me. Somehow I always thought it would change God. But through prayer I found a way out. I was changed.
Anyway, I was thinking about these things today.