Unwelcome situations and uncomfortable moments have been the bane of my existence for years. For some ghastly amount of time, I have created senseless difficulties in my life- over and over again. Not that I personally enjoy encountering said issues, but because I never took a step back to identify the problems in my life that were reoccurring. “They” say that’s the definition of insanity right? Repeating something over and over again and expecting a different result to transpire. I’m absolutely guilty in that aspect. Unfortunately, many addicts like myself can’t just be told the stove is hot and to not touch it. My personal experience has always been scalding the palms of my hands countless times. Stubborn is an understatement for people like myself. Nothing was really going to change until eventually I was shoved in the direction of Alcoholics Anonymous and introduced to the beginning of the end. A solution if you will that starts with us as the problem.
The Magic That is A.A.
Alcoholics Anonymous presented the 12 steps right from the get go with a solid mixture of confusion and clarity if that possibly makes any sense. They are a guideline, an outline, a means to an end. It’s almost like a code that alcoholics and addicts of all sorts can live by. Really all that it came down to was that these were recommended and that if a drastic change in the quality of life was dreamed of, then applying these common “laws” would humbly do so. As with most anything, you start with the beginning of the beginning. The first couple steps of Alcoholics Anonymous really break down into admitting there is an issue, identifying it, and implementing action. Then as you slowly start progressing through, it becomes more about learning to accept our daily tribulations and taking life on life’s terms. Submission. The first step of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is the only one that has anything to do with drugs or alcohol. The other 11 steps are literally about bettering yourself as a person and producing the best “you” forward. What’s not to like behind that idea? The benefits of being proactive and productive in this life go a long way as the saying, “you reap what you sow” plays a huge role in Alcoholics Anonymous and the introspection required to better ourselves.
One would be lying if they said that entering Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery was simple. Yet, one would be lying if they said entering Alcoholics Anonymous would be tricky. Life can be viewed at in the same perspective where it’s neither easy nor difficult. It’s all about finding a healthy balance and taking action when appropriate. Of course, with this pesky disease, you have to want the sobriety more than it wants you to get intoxicated. The thing with this illness is that it never goes away regardless of age, race, gender, creed, or sexual identity. So in order to combat it properly, the addict or alcoholic has to be constantly vigilant and on their toes. This means working the 12 steps on a daily basis and staying ahead of the game. Chemical dependency is very much like an old Lewis Carroll quote referring to ‘Wonderland’-and it goes, “My dear, here we must run as fast as we can just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that.” This old quotation is very pertinent to how addiction works and how we must always make our recovery a way of life. This is not just a few grains of sand passing through our hourglass, this is all of them. This is life or death for most. Alcoholics Anonymous has taught millions the tools they need to not feed into their alcoholic thinking. The 12 step based program has taught countless numbers to call somebody for moral support when they feel like picking up a drink or getting high. A.A. has spelled out solutions such as prayer and meditation for those whose gears are constantly turning in their heads such as mine.
Once we have actively started progressing on this new pathway, all these changes will start presenting themselves. We will begin to feel differently about ourselves and others. Our standpoint on life will embark positively in a way we would’ve never imagined. Things will become increasingly better. The objective things that haven’t changed, well, our newfound perspective on things will lessen the blows. Alcoholics Anonymous becomes the top priority in our lives because it teaches us wisdom and keeps us running twice as fast as mentioned beforehand. It is through practicing the 12 steps and entering some form of a fellowship that we become people again. Yes, as active addicts and alcoholics we were people still, but we were shells of the human beings we had the potential to be. You see, it’s here in the rooms that we learn about introspection and selflessness. We begin taking a look at our faults (something nobody really enjoys), and we commence the changing of our ways. We develop different relationships and begin to glow with happiness as the tormenting substances become a thing of the past. Entering an Alcoholics Anonymous or any anonymous program for that matter ends up being one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves.
Having made it this far through our recovery guidelines, the only things left to do is to maintain and pass along the message. Spread the happiness that has been bestowed to us through the gift of Alcoholics Anonymous. The last several stages are about recognizing the transformation and preserving the growth that one has worked so diligently to attain. It becomes a process of just keeping yourself in check and then delivering the message learned to somebody who is currently in the hopeless shoes you once were. Think of this whole circumstance as almost being reborn. We’re taking our old way of life, tossing it out the window and pretty much starting from scratch. Then we get to help others and spread joy. There’s nothing like spreading happiness to make you happy.
Grab Your Benefits and Put the Breakdown into Play
The truth of the matter is that we all have our ups and downs- this is part of the human experience. For some of us, though, we deal with a mental restriction known to be addiction/alcoholism. It takes a very firm grip on your life and makes most aspects unmanageable as your left feeling powerless. If you or a loved one is struggling with chemical dependency and are ready for help, please call 1-866-433-1992 or visit www.anylength.net. We are ready to give you any suggestions possible and set you or your loved one on a path that we can all proudly stand behind.