Women for Sobriety

Monday Thoughts 12/16/2019

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”  ~T.S. Eliot

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror.  I can take the next thing that comes along.”  ~~Eleanor Roosevelt

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”  ~~Harper Lee

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#12 I am a competent woman and have much to give life.

This is what I am and I shall know it always.

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 A number of women I know include courage as the 5th ‘C’…. Capable, competent, caring, compassionate and courageous when describing themselves in their New Life.  It takes courage to live in sobriety and recovery, and Statement #12 in action enables endurance and spirit.

Feelings of guilt, shame or failure can run rampant in active addiction.  Yet paradoxically it is those small daily victories that over time compound and grow, blossoming into a sturdy foundation of ability.  I still recall and relish the thrill of marking off each month of sobriety that first year.

One of the ways that I have practiced Statement #12 is to challenge myself.  Whenever something felt scary or unsteady, instead of turning away, I moved closer to that fear.  I put my hands on my hips and stand tall, much like the Fearless Girl Statue who resides in Manhattan, or Superwoman.  In our WFS Program booklet, it states “First the thought, then the reality.  Believing you are a competent woman is giving life to life.”

Hugzzz

Karen

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Hi 4C Women,

I love the 5th C for courageous as I see each woman who walks through the doors for the first time to attend a meeting as extremely courageous.  I am also appreciating and feeling deep compassion for those who have suffered losses and still continue to work on or maintain their recovery.  I have 2 friends who have lost their adult children within the last 3 weeks.  My heart breaks and I am without the right words to express it fully.  Statement #12 for me is about the inner strength we possess and how we have each other to lean on in both joyful and sad times.  I couldn’t imagine being on this journey alone.  My soul is fed at each meeting as I am privileged to witness each woman’s willingness to care for each other, to build each other up and listen to each other while building their own self-esteem.

Statement #12 is also about accepting where we are right now, to persevere in moving forward with forgiveness, self-care, kindness and love.  It takes a lot of competency to recognize and acknowledge a need for personal change and then to follow through with practicing the WFS program.  I struggled at first to say “I am a competent woman” yet each time I said the words, it felt authentic and finally one day, I truly believed it.  Nancy Cross once wrote that when we run from our challenges, we kill our power.  We strangle our strength.  No more running or hiding.  We will survive and it will be with the support and encouragement of those who understand, without explanation.  Just as my friends are suffering greatly, my hope is that they will lean upon and find the beginnings of healing from the love and support of those who care.

Bonded in being 4 and 5C women together!  your WFS sister