TM, most concepts in recovery are paradoxical (<-- word?) in nature. Counter intuitive or opposite of what we think. "Surrender to Win" is one example. One of my sponsors told me that "There will come a time when we will realize that the things that we counted as our "strengths" were actually our weaknesses, and those that we thought of as our "weaknesses" were really our strengths. Example, where I thought that I was very persuasive, I found out later that I was manipulative (and dishonest, self seeking....). I laughed a little when I read only 5 things lol. I would be a lot easier to make a list of what we actually have power over, being of course, ourselves. Your sponsor is pretty savvy here getting you take the first bite of the elephant.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Monday 21st of May 2012 01:40:59 PM
My sponsor is making me email her a list of five things I'm powerless over everyday. It sucks! Having to think about these things and write them out makes me feel like I have little to no power over almost everything I've always tried to control. There better be a method to her madness because I'm not seeing the point of this exercise yet
"...makes me feel like I have little to no power over almost everything I've always tried to control."
Hmmm...kinda makes you wonder Who does control it all, eh? Step three is deciding to turn your will and life over to the care of God as you understand God. Isn't that going to be easier knowing you never really ran the show all along?
I got a rush knowing that I was powerless and a bigger rush knowing when I align with a Higher Power I am open to even greater things...sobriety, serenity, etc.
I am rooting for ya, Tipsy. Work it cause you're worth it. :)
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
My sponsor is making me email her a list of five things I'm powerless over everyday. It sucks! Having to think about these things and write them out makes me feel like I have little to no power over almost everything I've always tried to control. There better be a method to her madness because I'm not seeing the point of this exercise yet
"Wax on, wax off"
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
I used to despite those gratitude lists. Didn't much care for sponsors either. I figured I'd fix 'em...loaded it up with stuff like I'm grateful I can take a dump everyday; grateful my ear wax isn't too thick today. Of course that didn't faze the sponsor-types in the least. What I learned from the dreaded gratitude lists was the crucial distinction of being powerless but not helpless. And I am so grateful for that.
Alcohol would be my only concern right now. Yes, I'm powerless in and of myself, but drinking should be my first concern. What follows from there can be worked on over time. Only my take though.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 03:22:14 AM
I get it now...it's meant to show me the futility of trying to control things I'm powerless over but have been trying to control. It came to me when I was doing my list for tomorrow. Drinking, for me anyway, is/was a way of controling my world and blocking out or numbing myself to these outside things that I was/am actually powerless over.
I get it now...it's meant to show me the futility of trying to control things I'm powerless over but have been trying to control. It came to me when I was doing my list for tomorrow. Drinking, for me anyway, is/was a way of controling my world and blocking out or numbing myself to these outside things that I was/am actually powerless over.
Aye. It's about learning not to punish yourself when the world doesn't do what you want. When you grasp it and apply it things get pretty nice (I sorta have and I sorta do but I'm a work in progress). Serenity and piece of mind is a wonderful thing and well worth the effort.
You got it Tipsy! When you recognize you are powerless over lots of things, you don't stress so hard, you realize that God (or your HP) controls most of the things anyhow. Hence, that urge to drink and escape all the "pressures" is lessened because you have no power over people, places, and things anyhow.
At first, when doing step 1 - I felt the same as you. I figured I was powerless over everything and that made me feel like a loser. It took much more time to realize that my power lies in doing the next right thing. That sounds petty but it's HUGE. If I just do the next right thing across major areas of my life - things start blossoming. I no longer sabotage myself and things turn out SOOO much better. You do have some power. You have power to do the foot work of going to meetings, staying willing, and doing the next right thing 1 day at a time. Other than that, it's useful to know you are powerless over most things.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
