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Monday Thoughts 10.31.22
“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.”
Sarah Ban Breathnach
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic within it.”
Goethe
“Be brave and create the life of your dreams. Dare to strive for the spectacular.”
Amy Leigh Mercree
#6 Life can be ordinary or it can be great.
Greatness is mine by a conscious effort.
Many dreams before sobriety and recovery were all about wanting the anxiety and emotional pain to end. Life did not feel ordinary at all, and forget great, life felt scary and downright unfair. Why did other people seem to have all the luck? As I drank at the imagined unfairness of it all, my brain could not begin to dream of anything but escaping the mental anguish. Sobriety and Statement #6 open a pathway to building aspirations and living a conscious life.
Dreams are important because they give an inside look at what can bring inner joy to life. A dream can be as simple as learning a new skill or visiting a long-awaited place. A dear friend always wanted to visit Disney when she was younger. As an adult, she gave that dream a deadline and took small actions toward her goal. It took time, yet she became the hero of her own story with conscious effort.
Our WFS Program booklet states “Sobriety is a rewarding experience for those who invest in the moments of each day.” Learning to invest or be consciously aware of moments can build a base for dreams to take hold. A useful tool here is visualization: forming a mental image to create a pathway toward a dream, or it can even help move through difficult feelings or situations. Imagining myself on a beach, smelling the salty air, and listening to the ebb and flow of the waves helped me move through intense cravings, plus motivated me to make that dream a reality. How will you practice Statement #6 this week?
Hugzzz
Karen
Hi 4C Women,
As I read Karen’s thoughts, I wondered how my dreams have changed over the years. I am not sure that I dreamt a lot while drinking for fear of being disappointed. What if I put all that effort into creating a dream I visualized and I failed? Actually, failing felt familiar. I anticipated it. Over time, through the WFS Program, I realized that I learned many life lessons and coping tools in unmet dreams. I began to appreciate the ordinary – being clear-minded to recognize how peaceful life could be without the drama or fear of failing. I realized I was resilient in dealing with unmet dreams. After all, I could dream another dream and that became greatness. I sometimes would change the word dream to goal, desire, vision, or yearning. It’s amazing how they all have a similar meaning yet feel somewhat different.
What I love about the WFS program is that it is a process that gives me the opportunity to learn, and appreciate the joy I had ignored for so long. That awareness took away a lot of my fears, and disappointments, and guided me to be willing to embrace change, to learn, and to be realistic about what I needed and how to survive the outcome, even successful outcomes. Now that may seem odd but when you’re used to failing or being disappointed, it might be uncomfortable or awkward to accept and enjoy a successful outcome. So, now I survive and thrive each outcome. What a huge difference Statement #6 made in my recovery. The awareness, and acceptance that great things, big and small, do and will happen, is a life changer. While life will always present struggles, it also gives joy. I have been blessed to acknowledge the struggles and the joys. It’s made my life more balanced and prepared me to cope without using alcohol to numb, escape or pretend everything is okay. This is the progress of the process I wish for each of you.
How would you describe greatness in your life?
What is your current dream, goal, vision, desire, or yearning?
Do you have a plan/plans to work towards it?
What coping tools do you use when disappointment is the outcome?
Do you feel a balance, understanding that there will always be struggles along with joy?
Are you aware of your joy? How do you celebrate joy?
What is the greatest life lesson you have learned so far?
Bonded in awareness of joy, and learning coping tools as you grow and change, Dee
