I feel like posting this. I've recently felt a lot of stress as a soon-to-be college grad. I haven't been able to find a job yet and I am feeling like I am going to relapse. I know alcohol isn't the answer. I've tried that in the past and it hasn't worked. I figured I would start this thread and see what advice other people have to cope with stress.
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You have to live life to the fullest because you don't know what you got till it's gone.
*prayer *walk my dogs *delve into work that I had been procrastinating on- that item you really hate the idea of doing but when you do it and get it done...or at least you are in the deep process of doing this stuff, stress is turned into a feeling of accomplishment..in process *did i say pray? *spend time with a sober friend, or lots of sober friends! *exercise, anything that is aerobic, move- don't take the nearest parking spot, look for the one far from the entrance and walk a lot! *plan something good for someone you care about! (think about other people and their needs) *become a real good listener *go camping read something cook something meet new people write in a journal care about your environment get involved in a cause attend church, be a member and participate on a committee *pray when you feel submerged and sinking and learn what the answer really is, not what we want a whole lot of the time
Ah that was fun, thanks for asking cause i need to remind myself too!! lol
Step Three was my first thought.Simple, but not easy.I can turn things over to my Creator, but I have a tendency to take them back.Sometimes it reminds me of a tennis match.
My sobriety is one day at a time and so should just about everything else in my life.I try and do my best (humanly) each day and leave the rest to my Creator. (Not lip service - Action)
I am also someone who looks at how I want things, before I've done any of the work and get disappointed because things are not going as fast as I'd like or in the manner I'd like them to.Sponsor starts talking about baby steps and prayer here. It's also kind of funny when I get my mind on something or someone else the problem is usually solved before I even know it.
I truly believe God didn't bring me this far, just to drop me on my head.
All I can say to you is do your best and give it to GOD. I have been told recently (for instance my algebra final) that if I had dtudied the best and the hardest that I could and than quick studied the day of, than I needed to give it away.....I tried that and you know what I made a 73.33(c), But I really studyied hard for that C. idk I just believe now that It's not up to me anymore,things will happen, good or bad and in those times we have to pray , talk to others like us and give it away to your GOD. Anyway that's what I do. Good luck to you and keep your head up that job might fall right on you..lol
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Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
Great topic, as all of us experience or have experienced, in sobriety, be it early on or well into our recovery, serious stress.
It is funny, how we can be an impatient lot, us AA's. I have been incredibly stressed out regarding job searches, myself. i don't know about you, but for me, the stress sounded something like this in my head: "This is the 8th interview... what's wrong with me???" "I wonder if the employer KNOWS SOMETHING about me?" "What if I get stuck working somewhere where I hate it?" "I really want THIS joba nd am going to be devastated if I don't get it!" "It has been three weeks, I'll never hear back from them now." "What if I have picked the wrong field/major???" "I hope I find something before I have to start paying back those loans." "What if I can't make the money I thought I would make?" "I know God is in charge, but it's up to ME to find a job." "Why do I have to be different and not drink?" "This sucks, a college graduate should be able to have a cocktail..."
and so on, and so on.
We can come up with just about anything to try to explain what we don't yet know, we can make assumptions all day long about what the outcome of our search is (or isn't) going to be. Being patient about this all important aspect of our lives seems totally out of reach. We will, after all, be spending the majority of our waking lives at this "job". There are so many variables,a nd it is exhausting.
Graduating and job hunting is what we MAKE OF IT. Interviews where we don't get the job are worthwhile, for the simple experience of interviewing itself. Our Higher Power knows where he wants us, and is going to put us exactly where he wants us, in His Time. All we have to do is the footwork, and leave the rest to him, sometimes again and again.
Celebrate this milestone by looking at this as an adventure. Recognize how far you've come and what you've accomplished. Celebrate with sober friends after a long day of job hunting/interviews, even if you have already celebrated. Think often about how sobriety GOT us to this point in the first place. Think about how you will soon be heading off to work with your head held high, fresh and sober. Look at your job search as your JOB right now. When you come home, let go of it. Immerse yourself in something else, take your mind off of it. You have done all you could for the day. The goal was not to get a job TODAY, it was to do the footwork. And you did it. Head to a meeting. There are so many things we can do, ways we can put a situation into a different light, one that changes our attitude about it.
I wish you peace and positive thought and feelings while you take on this adventure. Please let us know how things go in the coming days! Good htings are on the way for you, all you have to do is believe it!
Joni
Oh, and P.S..... read the signature line at the bottom of this!!!!!!!!!!
-- Edited by jonijoni1 on Friday 15th of May 2009 06:38:58 PM
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
For me it's honestly doing the best with what I have at the moment and trusting that more will come thru awarenesses, others, and surrendering to my HP. Stay humble reaching out for help and support...Good attempt here.
