Relax. Take it easy. Don’t struggle.
Those are words I am trying to remember throughout the day. It is a reminder that God’s in charge, not me.
But, but…I do struggle! I get stressed! I have SO much to do! There’s no end to my list of responsibilities!
Awareness—Oh look, my shoulders are up around my ears again. I notice I have knots in my belly. In those moments, I take a deep breath.
Acceptance—I remember that I am only human. I can’t rise above my humanness. I am not God. I am not qualified to be God. I look at my past and see how far I’ve come in recovery. I take a deep breath.
Action—I breathe in deeply and consciously feel my body. I cajole the tight muscles to relax. I take a minute and look out the window. I remind myself that God’s in charge. I may call an OA fellow or read literature. I may listen to a podcast of an OA speaker or I may call into a phone meeting. Sometimes I even take the dog on a walk and pick up garbage or dog poop in my neighborhood. Anything to get my mind off myself.
Breathe in, breathe out. Step Ten and Eleven in action. Thank you, God, and thank you, OA!
Leslie - Region 1
Those are words I am trying to remember throughout the day. It is a reminder that God’s in charge, not me.
But, but…I do struggle! I get stressed! I have SO much to do! There’s no end to my list of responsibilities!
Awareness—Oh look, my shoulders are up around my ears again. I notice I have knots in my belly. In those moments, I take a deep breath.
Acceptance—I remember that I am only human. I can’t rise above my humanness. I am not God. I am not qualified to be God. I look at my past and see how far I’ve come in recovery. I take a deep breath.
Action—I breathe in deeply and consciously feel my body. I cajole the tight muscles to relax. I take a minute and look out the window. I remind myself that God’s in charge. I may call an OA fellow or read literature. I may listen to a podcast of an OA speaker or I may call into a phone meeting. Sometimes I even take the dog on a walk and pick up garbage or dog poop in my neighborhood. Anything to get my mind off myself.
Breathe in, breathe out. Step Ten and Eleven in action. Thank you, God, and thank you, OA!
Leslie - Region 1