And welcome to M.I.P. What you just described is something all of us have struggled with at one time or another. The phrase "I'm treating sobriety more like a mission than developing an internal process" describes me to a Tee. I was more inept at telling horror stories than I was strategizing my next move. So from that perspective I can totally relate. My only 'real' fear at the time was the possibility of suffering another relapse. So I had to make A.A. an ongoing commitment, that way I had no excuses if I did. So off I went to my first meeting.
As far as mission work is concerned, well, it's more of a journey for us than an actual mission. Our journey starts with acceptance and continues along from there. It's an avenue that can lead to something greater beyond life's strategic boundaries. And that's why sobriety is so important. It allows for certain privileges -like friendship and camaraderie- while providing us with some friendly advice on anything recovery related. It's the only connection that seems to work, at least it has for me. Just remember one thing, though: "the only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking" and not just to finish a mission. Once we accept that fact in its entirety, we're ready to proceed.
Going through the rigors of basic training and treading the waters of early sobriety are similar in some regards; we both have to sit down and listen when required. So make your mission in sobriety just as rewarding, Rebecca. Sit down, relax and take it in slowly at first. The rest you'll learn along the way. Welcome again.
~God Bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 6th of November 2012 02:40:56 AM
Im active duty military and an active duty drunk. I recently decided to try out what AA is all about because with Antabuse I was just being a dry drunk and without Antabuse I couldnt stop drinking on my own and was a belligerent drunk. Ive been around the program previously but never thought anything pertained to me. Well now that Im trying the program out and I really do like going to meetings every day. Im afraid though, that I am making my sobriety more like a mission rather than a developing internal process. Someone in the Program told said that going through Basic must have been hard. I replied, Not really, I just shut up and did what I was told. And with that I was informed that is how AA, in a sense, is like. I made up my mind to stop drinking, but Im not sure I made up anything else. As active duty and veterans can probably attest to, the Military instills in you this Mission First attitude that seems to seep into every, or almost every, aspect of our lives. Im not sure if Im alone in this feeling of sobriety as a mission that must be accomplished. Im not sure if this is the right mentality to have or if there is a right way to tackle my terribly cunning addiction. Its only day 11 so maybe Im looking or thinking way too into this.
Sobriety is a journey. Not a destination (or mission). At least mine isn't. It's just a one day at a time deal. Kepping things one day at a time help me to not think into things way to much. For me staying in today means I have to do things throughout the day to stay close to the program and my higher power. Some examples are meetings, phone calls, visting this site, and stopping numerous times through the day to keep conscience contact with my higher power. Keep listening on what you CAN relate to and not what you CAN NOT. It helps to know that you are just like others but you don't have to have the exact same qualities.
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Willingness without action is fantasy!
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I can relate to being worried I'm doing it wrong. Some of that is probably the alcoholic in me talking. I like to make it more complicated than it actually is. I like to find the differences I have with everyone else. I like to look at what other people are doing instead of what I'm doing. I tend to be a perfectionist, trying to get everything just perfect, so I can somehow then be perfect in making everything else around me perfect... but that's never ever ever worked ; )
The program is expansive and accommodating enough so that we can all fit and make it work if we have a desire to stop drinking. You can call it a mission, you can call it a journey, a program, a spiritual path, I have sometimes called it baby weaning classes... when I was new and was more concerned about putting down my "baby bottle". I know... we're all a bunch of weirdo's right? LOL
I sure did a lot of comparing and judging, a lot of trying to find the differences instead of the similarities. But... I just kept coming back anyway - and that's kind of your ticket right now too I think. The rest of the wording will work itself out.
I'm sure glad you're here giving it a go. You help me to stay sober, and that's something I've come to really enjoy and rely on... sobriety : ) Take care, Tasha
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
I do see a problem with the use of the word 'mission' to describe your goal of seeking sobriety ... especially if you look at it in a broad sense ... I'm ex-military so I know what 'following orders' and missions are all about ... I guess you could look at it as a 'daily mission' to stay sober ... but I don't really like the term used this way because it implies that it's a job that must be done to completion in order to accomplish it ... and since this is a 'One Day at a Time' program AND since we never really complete our 'mission', then we must repeat the process again the next day ...
I suppose you could see it as your mission in life to learn the AA principles and employ them into your life but that is a lifelong process and goal ... and you know the only requirement is a 'desire' to not drink ... so it's not a costly part of your recovery program should you chose to stick with us ... also, I've heard some horror stories about 'Antabuse' ... so you'd be wise to work the program and develop a spiritual solution to your problem rather than a chemical one ...
Congrats on day 11 ... just keep going to meetings and LISTEN for a while ... the picture will become clearer and clearer to you as you read the 'Big Book' of AA ... ... ... keep contact here frequently and we can certainly help you along to your destiny ....
Thank you for your service to our country, Love Ya and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Getting too hung up on semantics never did much for me, unless if I was using words to con myself into not doing the work. What saved my life was "simply" was taking one step at a time, at face value, learning about each one from AA literature and people in the fellowship, and facing every element of the step before moving on to the next. If I did a half-baked job of it, I came to see how true it is that "there is no easier, softer way".
Welcome to the MIP forum, hope you keep coming back. I don't have a military background, but I have sponsored a number of ex and current military people and I have to say their success rate in AA is really good if they truly take the first step and are "HOW", Honest, Openmined and Willing. They generally seem to be very committed once they get started in AA.
Best to get your thinking out of the way, practice HOW, learn listen and get a sponsor.
Our goal in AA is the growth and maintenance of a spiritual experience as we suffer from a spiritual illness. We all come from different backgrounds and environments, thus we have different ways of thinking when we walk into AA, so I wouldn't be concerned if you are approaching the program correctly. Recovery paths are often unique based on the individual. It will take some time, but at some point AA fundamentals will be instilled within you (just like the military concepts).
pg 55
We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend. Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found. It was so with us.
We can only clear the ground a bit. If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.
-- Edited by Rob84 on Saturday 3rd of November 2012 12:39:43 AM
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Could your mission actually be turned into a purpose? Sobriety, as others have said, is a journey for me. I do consider my purpose in life to be developing my spiritual fitness and relationship with my Higher Power for the better. Having this as my purpose makes it clearer to me what fits into my life and what detracts from that purpose. It's not a goal as much as a beacon of light I want to stay in. One of the best ways to feel that light is to work the program of AA, attend meetings, be of service and as God for His will to be done and to grace me with the willingness to take the next right action. All the best to you. :)
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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.
The program is expansive and accommodating enough so that we can all fit and make it work if we have a desire to stop drinking. You can call it a mission, you can call it a journey, a program, a spiritual path, I have sometimes called it baby weaning classes... when I was new and was more concerned about putting down my "baby bottle". I know... we're all a bunch of weirdo's right? LOL
Like this Tashia,
"Baby bottle" HAHA, in Ohio they used to call it "banging on the high-chair"
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
The mission analogy doesn't seem a bad one from my point of view. Looking back ot our history, the early members around Cleveland and Aakron seemed to have an urgency to get the newcomer connected with the God of their understanding, that was their mission and they seemed to be set on accomplishing it in a few weeks. 4 weeks was a typical time for taking the steps, and archives indicate the recovery rate was pretty good back then.
I came in godless and spiritless and my sponsor, in a very subtle way, centred most of his work with me around the same thing, conscious contact with God. The steps were done a lightning speed by today's standards, around 90 days. The 10th step promises came true. So in a sense the mission was accomplished as far as alcohol was concerned, I had recovered just as promised. But then I learned that this was only the beginning, that what I really had was a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of my spiritual condition. So the war was over but the price of democracy is eternal vigilance.. to introduce another analogy.
For a long time now I have been free of alcohol, and free to make mistakes and learn, without the devastating consequences of the first drink provided I stay in fit spiritual condition. Funny though, I don't feel like that proviso is any knid of a threat. Instead I have found the AA way of life creates endless opportunities for spiritual and emotional growth, and life just keeps getting better.
When I came into this program the last time I was facing seventy years in prison - time that I wasn't planning on doing. During my time in the military I spent time in a cage as an enemy of the former Soviet Union and I was never going to wake up behind bars again. I planned on killing myself the first night in prison. With 92 days before sentencing and having made bail, I set about sobering up. I knew alcohol and drugs were going to kill me if I continued to drink and use - and I knew I was going to kill myself if I somehow survived the next 92 days and made it to prison.
I decided that I was okay with dying but if I did I was going to do so by my own hand. Alcohol and drugs became the enemy and I staunchly refused to allow the enemy to have the satisfaction of killing me. Yeah, it was a mission. Since then, it became a lifestyle. I don't have a problem with them mission analogy - it worked for me and has resulted in 7,482 days of continuous sobriety. Congrats on your eleven days.
Honestly, I feel that whatever works for you for this 24 hours is great! Your ideas are going to shift and change in the program anyhow. One day you will think it's a mission, then a journey, then you'll think you've arrived and then like you just began. If you stay sober you at least get to have these spiritual thoughts and ideas rather than just being wasted all the time.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Welcome to MIP, Dimanchestreet. Vixen shared for me. We have a preamble in meetings that gives a brief & general outline about what our Fellowship is, the Traditions we use & our Primary Purpose to stay sober & help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Also, the spiritual aim of a meeting is to carry the message of our own recovery through working the steps to the alcoholic who still suffers. So I would say my recovery was, has been & still can be something of a mission & thank God as I needed to prioritise it in order to recover & be useful to others. I believe your focus & skills in discipline can be an asset to help you work through this process & experience a spiritual awakening as the result. Do you choose to accept it? There's is an amazing life after alcohol we can accomplish with the help of a power greater than ourselves as we understand it one day at a time. What do you think? Love & Unity, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Dimanchestreet... Like Danielle said, there is a life after alcohol...although I didn't think there would be.... I was sure my life was over and the only world I knew was of alcohol... I drank every day I was in the service (except on deployments) but I was not deployed very often.... I liked drinking and even though I had two children and was married, I preferred to get drunk and pass out every night... I am divorced now... My children are grown... And I do regret missing so much of my life (and theirs). My best to you...
