Today we were being shared with by alcoholics, who had been upset with others. Interesting, since their descriptions were what those old timers, back when I came in, taught me not to go to.
The first reminded me of negative emotions. Allowing our feelings to judge others and condemn them, despite the fact they might never have been involved. Like my old sponsor told me, I was to think with my head and not my heart. Or, like those old timers taught us, “intellect over emotions”. I had to learn how to think and put the spiritual life in here into action.
And part of that was the Tenth Step, and the other, The Serenity Prayer. The Tenth Step in the Twelve and Twelve offers us the spiritual axiom, that every time we’re disturbed there is something wrong with us. We can be upset, and the other person might not even be involved. Our negative emotions are in charge. We can’t think straight. We have to pray and ask for help and then change. To put our thinking always first. I learned that the hard way, but am grateful I did.
And then I have to learn, as the Serenity Prayer states, that I’m not able to change anyone or anything. I may think I am and that often leads us to stumble and tumble. Like the prayer states, I have to have the courage to change the things I can. And, as far as I can tell, that’s me. My dependence on my Higher Power. And that is about humility. Not easy, but do-able, if I take the time and turn my will and my life over to this program and my Higher Power.
Anyway I am grateful for all the help I have received from my Higher Power and the people in here, who have supported and helped me to change. And always I must remember that my primary purpose is to stay sober a day at a time. I know that I have to give thanks to my Higher Power for freeing me from alcohol. I never ever want to forget that.