Monday Thoughts 12.25.23

“Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.”

Germany Kent

“You are never too old to start over. Every day is a chance to make changes to create the life we want.” Karon Waddell

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

Seneca

#1 I have a life-threatening problem that once had me.

I now take charge of my life and my well-being.

I accept the responsibility.

As many around the globe slow down and embrace this day of celebration, we too can pause and reflect on new beginnings and how sobriety and recovery have changed our world. By investing and putting action behind Statement #1 every day, we can ensure our well-being while accepting responsibility.

Making the decision to embrace and live in sobriety can be a journey in itself. In our WFS Program booklet it states, “Overcoming denial of our problem is the key that opens our mind to recovery.”  I knew for a very long time that changes needed to be made yet the fear of the unknown kept self-defeating habits in place. When the emotional and life-changing turmoil finally outweighed that fear, the veil of denial was uncovered and options became visible and within reach. 

This week, create the time to review your year. Here are some valuable questions from Marion Tilly from The Institute of You:

1.  What is the most important lesson you learned this year?
2. What is the best thing that happened?
3. What challenges did you overcome?
4. What new skills did you learn?
5. What did you do for your career growth?
6. What did you enjoy the most?
7. What was your favorite moment?
8. How did you have fun?
9. What new habits did you start?
10. What are you the most proud of this year?
11. What did you learn about yourself?
12. How did you live by your core values?
13. How did your relationships (family, friends, work) evolve?
14. What was the best decision you took?
15. How did you fail?
16. What got in the way of your success?
17. What would you do differently if you could?
18. How are you different than a year ago?
19. What did you do for your physical and mental health?
20. Who or what had the biggest impact on your life this year?
21. What did you let go of?
22. What were the most useful resources you had?
23. What are you thankful for this year?
24. What did you leave unfinished?
25. What was the best compliment you received?
26. If you were to talk about this year like a story, how would you write it?
27. How do you describe this year in 3 to 5 keywords?
28. What energized you? what drained you?
29. How kind were you to yourself?
30. What advice would you give your last-year self?

Find a quiet spot this week away from the hustle and bustle. Answer as many questions as you like while examining how your sobriety and recovery added to your life.

Hugzzz

Karen

Dear 4C Women,

Powerful, thought-provoking questions. Right now, these questions are difficult and painful as I navigate through feelings of grief. Having said that, I hope each of you will consider choosing the questions that touch your heart, reflect on your personal and emotional growth, and provide guidance for the year ahead. My circumstance is not the usual and I know a year ago, I would have such a different response and answers than I do today. My favorite question this year would be 15 (how did I fail?) and 17 (What would you do differently if you could?). Over the years I have learned more from my failures. Those failures taught me to seek different solutions rather than beat myself up with guilt for making a decision that didn’t work out.  I also know that WFS taught me that there is the authentic truth of my choices/mistakes versus the catastrophizing of my mistakes in decision-making. That has helped me so much this year when I go into the depths of guilt relating to my daughter. It’s natural to feel guilt under certain circumstances yet it’s really important to dig deep for the truth. I believe we can all say we would have done things differently in some situations yet it is Statement 9 that brings me back to reality. I can’t change what has been done yet I have the choice of learning, practicing self-care going forward, and making hopefully more thoughtful decisions as I work through my grief and remain sober. So, did I really fail? Can I give myself credit for doing the best I could at the time? This is where the truth can do the most healing. Yes, I could have done some things differently but I can’t change that today. I can be grateful for being sober so I was present for my daughter and understanding that we all have limits as we learn. Now that is my truth. 

I am glad Karen included these questions to help us uncover and discover our strengths and the work we still need to do. A wonderful way to start the New Year. 

Bonded in being in charge of our lives through learning and truth, Dee

In every organization there are leaders, people who work hard to see that everything is in order and runs smoothly. Our board members and employees are the behind-the-scenes women who make sure that Women for Sobriety continues its growth and expansion, while developing the budget, policies, programming, and strategic planning that running a non-profit involves! 

We thank you for your dedication, your vision, and your hard work to make sure that WFS pursues its important goal of offering support to all women in recovery everywhere. 

Sheroes Among Us!