Women for Sobriety

Monday Thoughts 6.3.24

“The most beautiful things in life are not things. They’re people and places and memories and pictures. They’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.”
Unknown

“Take a little time to be amazed by something you won’t enjoy unless you consciously choose to focus on it. See the things you can’t see when you’re rushing. Hear the things you can’t hear when you’re stressing. Get so caught up in your senses that everything else seems to stop for a moment—because things don’t actually stop. So we have to be the ones who do it.”
Lori Deschene

“Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15-100 times a day. Be six again.”
Unknown

 #11 Enthusiasm is my daily exercise.
I treasure the moments of my New Life.

WFS Level 4 Recovery helps us to use our new attitudes to apply new behavior patterns and includes Statements #3, #6, and #11. We are becoming aware that we need not wait for happiness or enthusiasm; it is up to each of us to create, develop, and embrace these empowering and fresh perspectives. It is a time of discovery as well as construction. 

Initially, this Statement felt difficult to put into practice. Without active addiction defining me, I felt unsure and unsteady. Who was I underneath or at the core? Though feeling stumped at first, it began to dawn on me that my New Life was like a blank canvas; and I, the artist. Whatever image, intensity, or illustration was mine to create as a new 4C woman. The unsteadiness began to wane while enthusiasm shifted into place. What did I wish to create?

The painting began to slowly scroll by like pages of a calendar while it was splashed with the many joys and presence of New Life. First, the canvas was supported and bonded with a sturdy base of sobriety. At points, wiping away layers of old paint and assumptions that no longer fit into my recovery became easier and increasingly manageable. There were even a few stubborn places where I needed a chisel; outdated belief systems were simply difficult to diminish but the WFS Statements coupled with time and effort brought a shine to life. The sparkle of Statement #11 shines brightly while surrounded by a palette of 4C women.

Here are 4 ways that can add enthusiasm and vibrancy:

  1. What did you enjoy as a child? Oftentimes what we are drawn towards in childhood can be an indication of what we might enjoy as adults. Take your mind back to joyful moments in childhood for inspiration.
     
  2. Permit yourself to let go of belief systems that do not fit or belong to you. Refitting a system that reflects your internal dialogue feels connecting and can inspire awareness of what fits.
     
  3. Practice mindfulness: being able to savor an experience or moment begins with clarity. Being able to achieve even a few minutes of mindfulness can increase our ability to enjoy or feel appreciation.
     
  4. Seek balance: Sleep, exercise, meals, connection, work, and play. Determine where you are balanced and where you need to recenter. 

Hugzzz

Karen

Dear 4C Women,

I love the first quote as it rings true for me and I’m sure many of us. Right now I am finding enthusiasm in the mother bird who has made a nest on one of the posts on my front porch. She is getting used to my voice when I’m sitting on my porch chatting with my neighbor. She just sits in her nest looking at me. I am excited about the eggs hatching and hearing the baby birds chirp. I’m not too excited about the bird poop but that’s nature! 

Enthusiasm is in the moments and they are there to create awareness of how our New Life has given us the chance to know and experience enthusiasm. This Statement has always been a challenge for me. Grateful that Jean wrote it to help all of us to have the awareness of those moments that give us joy, smiles, cherished memories and learning how to pause to experience those enthusiastic moments. I struggled with pausing yet without that, there is little chance for awareness. I hope you will consider incorporating the suggestions Karen made to practice Statement 11.

Here are some questions I have asked in the past. I like to re-ask questions as I enjoy reading what I previously wrote to see how I answered them and if there are any changes.

What puts a smile on your face?
What sparks your creativity?
What would you do for free?
What is the last enthusiastic moment you had? 
What activity makes you lose track of time?
How do you express your enthusiasm?
                                                                Date: ________________

Bonded in treasuring the moments of enthusiasm in your daily life, Dee

Our first learning module is up and running on WFS Online!! 

This course has been developed by Newbies, for Newbies, who understand how overwhelming it can be when first arriving at WFS Online. By design, this course is short and sweet, providing some of the answers to the questions many Newbies have when first beginning their New Life journey.  

Joining the WFS Online community is a requirement to access this latest resource.