Tuesday, 5/26/09 - "ABUNDANCE"

"ABUNDANCE"

"Lose sight of all limitations. Abundance is God's Supply. Turn out all limited thoughts. Receive showers..."
(From "God Calling", A.J. Russell, May 24)

What are the predominant thoughts filling my mind today? Are they thoughts of lack, limitation, negativity OR thoughts of plenty, abundance, and positivity?

There is an 8a.m. meeting everyday at a club near my house and every day they read a piece about attitude. The final sentence is - life is 90% attitude and 10% what happens to you. I need to cultivate my attitude to produce plenty of positive thoughts.

When I arrived battered, broken, bent, and bowed down to my knees in surrender and defeat at the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous, my mind was filled with despair. Despite that, there was one small positive thought, that somehow all would be alright and there was a tiny spark of hope. I believe this positive thought was a gift from God.

My mind was involved in furious battle for many of my early years in recovery - a war of positive versus negative thinking and good versus bad labeling. Gradually through constant repetition and practice of the 12 steps and living the AA way of life, my thinking and attitudes shifted from primarily lack and limit to plenty and abundance.

If I find the following kinds of thoughts in my head, I know I need to take action quickly to change my thinking:

I can't ever overcome my past.
I don't have enough.
It will never happen.
I'm stupid.
I'm old.
I'll never change.
This situation will never change.
I am fearful.
It's hopeless.
Life is sad.
Life sucks.
etc.

When I have thoughts like the following in my mind, I believe I'm on the right path:

Anything and everything is possible.
Prayer changes things.
I am enough.
I am happy, joyous and free.
I can change.
The situation will change.
God will provide.
God is in charge.
Life is beautiful.
etc.

Today life is beautiful. I have many people in my life that I love and I feel loved by others. I even love myself. It doesn't get much better than this.

Prayer Girl

Wednesday, 4/8/09 - "A IS FOR ANGEL"

"A IS FOR ANGEL"

A is for lots of things and ANGEL is one of them. I need my ANGEL, "Morningstar", watching out after my wayward self. When I am wayward, it is usually in my thoughts, attitudes, and temperament. Negativity creeps in (in it's very petty pace), sneaks up on me, and I'm 'off and running' down some back way. Then I call out, "Morningstar", HELP me. What happens? Sometimes a lovely phone call, or I see a beautiful butterfly flutter by, hear a song I dearly love, see a painting that touches my soul, or think to pray. Then I'm back on my trusted way again.

A is for ALCOHOLIC. I have found over the years that I don't know what is good for me. When I first arrived at the doors of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (more A words) I thought it was the worst thing that could have happened to me. I now see that it is actually the very best thing that has ever happened. Being an ALCOHOLIC and finding ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS has given me a new life that has rocketed me into the 4th, 5th, 6th, ..... dimensions.

A is for AL-ANON. What a glorious God-given program. Living with alcoholics made me crazy, mentally and emotionally sick, without my knowing it. I was very unhealthy and getting worse year by year long before I became 'one of them' (an alcoholic) myself.

A is for one of the many gifts I have received from Al-Anon, the three A's - AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE, ACTION give me such hope. Without AWARENESS of myself, others, and my relationships, I remain in everlasting ignorance and without any defense when I am in conflict with myself or others. As painful and difficult as it may be to come out of the darkness of denial, it is only in the light of truth that any positive change can take place. I have stopped fighting and am willing to ALLOW (ah, another A) myself to become AWARE of my own defects and strengths and to be honest about other persons and my relationships with them. I then need to ACCEPT things as they are. I don't have to like them, but ACCEPT I must. Then and only then can I ask God to show me what ACTION I need to take and give me the courage to take it.

AMEN and ALLELUIA are spiritual words that punctuate the way I wish to live my life, think my thoughts, and express my feelings. If I am putting God first and asking that He guide all that I think, say, and do, then AMEN will be on my lips, in my heart, and in my mind always (I will be saying "Yes, God - Your will, not mine!"). I will always be saying, "ALLELUIA" - praise God.

ALWAYS - I am an ALCOHOLIC and will ALWAYS be an ALCOHOLIC. If I remember this and always ACT ACCORDINGLY (another A), then my life will be blessed - blessed in good times and in not so good times.

As you might have guessed, I am very grateful today - As I write this blog I have an ATTITUDE of Gratitude.

Love and prayers,
Prayer Girl

Wednesday, 4/1/09 - "DISCOVERED TRUTHS"

"DISCOVERED TRUTHS"

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." - Galileo Galilei

Thank God I found Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. They have led me to the discovery of truths that had eluded me all my life despite searching everywhere I could think to look. They are quite simple.

These are some of the truths I have discovered. With these discoveries have come a life that makes sense, is easier to live, and is so much sweeter.

It is true that alcoholism is a disease.

It is true that (like it or not) I am an alcoholic. (Today, I like it!)

It is true that I am powerless over alcohol and my life is unmanageable.

It is true that I (yes, I) have many character defects such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, worry, and fear.

It is true that, on my own, I can do nothing about these character defects.

It is true that I need a power greater than myself, God, to be able to surrender.

It is true that I need God to guide my life.

It is true that I need God to remove my shortcomings.

It is true that the depths of my relationship with God are limitless.

It is true that prayer and meditation allow me to connect with God.

It is true that God wants what is best for me.

It is true that I often do not know what is best for me.

It is true that prayer is very powerful.

It is true that prayers are always answered - sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes not yet!

It is true that life is a gift.

It is true that life is beautiful.

It is true that many of these things are true as long as I am looking through the eyes of a positive attitude.

It is true that attitude is everything.

It is true that we have choices and our choices always have consequences.

It is true that we can learn from poor choices as well as good choices.

It is true that we are not alone.

It is true that I have loving family, friends, sponsees, sponsor, and blogging friends.

It is true that miracles of healing happen.

It is true that working and living the twelve steps changes lives.

It is true that the twelve steps have changed my life.

It is true that an attitude of gratitude is a perfect prescription to eliminate negativity.

It is true that peace of mind and serenity are priceless.

It is true that this list could go on into eternity and needs to end for now.

It is true that I sign myself - Prayer Girl