Essentials Of Recovery

Hungry, Angry,Lonely, Tired ---

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Emmet Fox

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:14:00 +0000

THE Bible teaches spiritual Truth in many different ways. It gives direct teaching about God, as clear and precise as any book on philosophy that ever was written. It expounds the Great Message indirectly through historical narrative and by means of biographical studies, for the Bible includes the most wonderful and interesting set of human biographies that ever was written. It contains an unmatched collection of essays and treatises on the nature of God, and the nature of man, the powers of the soul, and the meaning of life. Consider St. John's opening section in the Gospel, for instance, or the 11th chapter of Hebrews, or the 12th and 13th of Corinthians I, or the 5th, 6th, and 7th of Matthew, to name only a few. Each of these chapters in a different way gives direct and simple teaching of the Truth, unsurpassed in any work outside of the Bible. ~ Emmet Fox

JUST FOR TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:12:00 +0000

God’s Guidance

“Our Higher power is accessible to us at all times. We receive guidance when we ask for knowledge of God’s will for us.”

~ Basic Text p. 92 ~

It’s not always easy to make the right decision. This is especially true for addicts learning to live by spiritual principles for the first time. In addiction, we developed self-destructive, anti-social impulses. When conflict arose, we took our cues from those negative impulses. Our disease didn’t prepare us to make sound decisions.

Today, to find the direction we need, we ask our Higher Power. We stop; we pray; and, quietly, we listen within for guidance. We’ve come to believe that we can rely on a Power greater than ourselves. That Power is accessible to us whenever we need it. All we need do is pray for knowledge of our God’s will for u and the power to carry it out.

Each time we do this, each time we find direction amidst our confusion, our faith grows. The more we rely on our Higher Power, the easier it becomes to ask for direction: We’ve found the Power we were lacking in our addiction, a Power that available to us at all times. To find the direction we need to live fully and grow spiritually, all we have to do is maintain contact with the God of our understanding.

Just for today: My Higher Power is a source of spiritual guidance within me that I can always draw upon. When I lad direction today. I will ask for knowledge of my Higher Power will.

© 1991 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services Inc

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:11:00 +0000

A.A. Thought For The Day

During our thoughts about the rewards that have come to us as a result of our new way of living, we find that we have new kinds of homes, new relationships with our spouses and with our children. Also, peace, contentment, hope, faith, charity, and new ambition. What are some of the things we have lost? Each one of us can answer this question in many ways. I have lost much of my fear. It used to control me; it was my master. It paralyzed my efforts. Fear always got me down. It made me an introvert, an ingrown person. When fear was replaced by faith, I got well. Have I lost some of my fears?

Meditation For The Day

The world would sooner be brought close to God. His will would sooner be done on earth, if all who acknowledge Him gave themselves unreservedly to being used by Him. God can use every human being as a channel for divine love and power. What delays the bringing of the world closer to God is the backwardness of His followers. If each one lived each day for God and allowed God to work through him, then the world would soon be drawn much closer to God, its Founder and Preserver.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may be used as a channel to express the Divine Love. I pray that I may so live as to bring God’s spirit closer to the world.

AS BILL SEES IT

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:10:00 +0000

Spiritual Axiom

It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us. If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong.

But are there no exceptions to this rule? What about “justifiable” anger? If somebody cheats us, aren’t we entitled to be mad? And shouldn’t we be properly angry with self-righteous folks?

For us of A.A. these adventures in anger are sometimes very dangerous. We have found that even justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 90

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

WALK IN DRY PLACES

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:09:00 +0000

NO APOLOGIES FOR SOBRIETY

Attitude Now that we are sober, some of us are invited to social events where there is drinking. Now and then, we see raised eyebrows when others learn that we’re having only soft drinks.

Some of us may respond by explaining that we’re alcoholics and cannot take even one drink. A few recovering alcoholics handle the situation by pretending that they’re holding an alcoholic drink—perhaps enlisting the bartender’s aid in making the drink appear to contain liquor.

While it may be useful to tell others about our alcoholism, we are under no obligation to do so, particularly in a drinking environment. At the same time, there’s something wrong with pretending that one is still taking alcoholic drinks.

Our best course is to remember that we never have to apologize for not drinking. In a world that makes so much fuss about the right to drink, we surely have a right not to drink, and we do not have to explain why we are not drinking.

If I find myself in a drinking environment today, I’ll handle it with dignity and cheerfulness, but I will not feel that I must defend my sobriety to others.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

KEEP IT SIMPLE

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:08:00 +0000

Acceptance and faith are capable of producing 100% sobriety.

~ Grapevine ~

Acceptance and faith are the most important parts of our recovery. If we boil down Steps One

And Two, we’ll find acceptance and faith. Acceptance means we see the world as it is, not as we want it to be. We start to see ourselves as humans, not as gods. We are good, and we are bad. We need to fit in the world, not run it.

Acceptance also guides us toward faith. Faith is believing. We start to believe that someone or something will take care of us. Faith is about giving up control of outcomes. We learn to say to our Higher Power, “Thy will be done.”

Prayer for the Day:

Higher Power help me accept my illness. Give me the faith to know that You and I, together, will keep me sober.

Action for the Day:

Throughout the day, I’ll think of the 11th step. I’ll pray to my Higher Power, “Thy Will be done, not mine.” Amen.

Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation

Father Leo’s

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:08:00 +0000

FEAR

“The spirit of liberty . . . is the spirit which is not too sure it is always right.”

— Judge Learned Hand

I am free to make mistakes. It is okay for me to be wrong. I can say or do something that proves to be incorrect. I am not perfect. Part of the liberty of being a human being is not being perfect; I am not God. In a sense this is a relief. I do not have to take responsibility for the lives of others or the crises in the world. It is okay not to have all the answers. Indeed, sometimes the spiritual life is discovered in “not knowing” and the answer will forever remain in the question. It is human to ask “why are we like we are?” But the answer rests in God.

God of Reason, let me be satisfied with discovering You in the questions.

A DAY AT A TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:07:00 +0000

Reflection for the Day

For many months after I came to the Program, I paid little attention to the practice of serious meditation and prayer. I felt that it might help me meet an emergency—such as a sudden craving to return to my old ways—but it remained among the lowest levels on my list of priorities. In those early days, I equated prayer and meditation with mystery and even hypocrisy. I’ve since found that prayer and meditation are more rewarding in their results than I could have ever imagined. For me today, the harvest is increasingly bountiful, and I continue to gain peace of mind and strength far beyond my human limitations. Is my former pain being replaced by tranquility?

Today I Pray

May I discover that prayer and meditation make up the central hall of my life’s structure—the place where my thoughts collect and form into order. May I feel God’s mystery there, and an overwhelming resource of energy.

Today I Will Remember

Fantasy is mine. Mystery is God’s.

© 1989 by Hazelden Foundation

ONE DAY AT A TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:06:00 +0000

FOCUS ON OTHERS

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street I met a man who had no feet.

Denis Waitely
I find that when I am stuck or feeling sorry for myself I just need to reach out and help someone who is worse off than me. When I pray for someone to help, someone always shows up. This past weekend I was feeling sorry for myself. I went to church and prayed for God to bring someone for me to help. Alas, as I walked in to school this morning I was greeted by a tearful friend whose husband was just diagnosed with lung cancer. I hugged her and told her I was there for her. It took the focus off of ME and I was able to help someone else feel better.

One day at a time . . .

Allow me to be of service to others. I need them as much as they need me.

~ Sue ~

Elder’s Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:05:00 +0000

“You could study the ancestors, but without a deep feeling of communication with them it would be surface learning and surface talking. Once you have gone into yourself and have learned very deeply, appreciate it, and relate to it very well, everything will come very easily.”

–Ellen White, NANAIMO

Inside of every human being are our ancestors, and these ancestors still live. Today, the white man calls this DNA, but there is more than DNA. We have the ability to go inside of ourselves and learn from the ancestors. The ancestor teachings reside in the place of the center. The ancestors are waiting for us to come there so they can share the ancient teachings. It is said, “Be still and know”.

Great Spirit, let me walk in the stillness.

Today’s Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:04:00 +0000

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.

— D. Elton Trueblood

Our lives are enriched by the contributions of those who lived before us. Many men and women gave more than they ever took from society, and now we enjoy the rewards. Some people were fired with a spirit to beautify the world and planted trees that will live for 200 years. Others wrote music that speaks to us from another generation, and others established a government that guides our principles of justice. They gave so much because they knew they were a part of their community and the world.

Most of us cannot make the great contributions that will make us famous, but we enrich our lives when we contribute freely to improving our community and the world. We do that when we simply say hello to our neighbor, when we serve on a volunteer cleanup committee for a local park, and when we do Twelfth Step work in the program. We too have beautified and contributed to the world, and that gives us a feeling of peace and self respect.

Today, I will appreciate all that comes freely to me from others, and I will give what I can to make the world a better place.

From the book:

Touchstones by Anonymous

THE EYE OPENER

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:03:00 +0000

One of the first things we should endeavor to do is to kill the lawyer instinct in ourselves. In our effort to get the new guy straightened out, we try to cure all his troubles by giving advice on subjects on which we possess neither the training nor ability to talk constructively.

Let us confine our efforts as far as possible to those things of which we have real knowledge – his sobriety and the AA Program.

Copyright Hazelden Foundation

Daily Tao

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:02:00 +0000

/ 309 – Contemporary

Why do yogis die today?
Why are there no immortals any more?
What has happened to all the sorcerers?
Why don’t angels come to earth?

A book written by a contemporary yogi stated that the author passed away on a certain date. What a contrast to the scriptures that indicate that a holy person’s death was unknown, or that the person has been seen by successive generations, or that the person was even resurrected!

Today, all holy people die. No one is recognized as a saint, and the supernatural is no longer a consideration. Why? Because people no longer believe these things to be true.

If we accept that the present age is one where the mystical no longer holds sway, can we still be spiritual? It is possible for us to be even more spiritual than ever. Freed of the thought that spirituality is something extraordinary, something possible only for spectacular yogis and immortals, we can finally consider that we ourselves can reach out and be just as spiritual. The ultimate levels of understanding are not inherently barred from any human being. If we are seekers, then we shall find. We may not live forever, we may not escape death, but we will be able to understand what holy people in the past did.

Daily Zen

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:01:00 +0000

If we single-pointedly practice great compassion, then, with little effort, we will be able to gain all other virtues.

-Geshe Namgyal Wangchen, "Awakening the Mind"

Australian Steve - Speaker on Unity

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:18:00 +0000

Emmet Fox

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:17:00 +0000

Daily Reflections

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A DAILY DISCIPLINE

” … when they [self-examination, meditation, and prayer] are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life.”

-TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 98

The last three Steps of the program invoke God’s loving discipline upon my willful nature. If I devote just a few moments every night to a review of the highlights of my day, along with an acknowledgment of those aspects that didn’t please me so much, I gain a personal history of myself, one that is essential to my growth, or lack of it, and to ask in prayerful meditation to be relieved of those continuing shortcomings that cause me pain. Meditation and prayer also teach me the art of focusing and listening. I find that the turmoil of the day gets tuned out as I pray for His will and guidance. The practice of asking Him to help me in my strivings for perfection puts a new slant on the tedium of any day, because I know there is honor in any job done well. The daily discipline of prayer and meditation will keep me in fit spiritual condition, able to face whatever the day brings – without the thought of a drink.

DAILY REFLECTIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:14:00 +0000

“THE QUALITY OF FAITH”

This . . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves. .

. . . We had not even prayed rightly. We had always said, “Grant me my wishes” instead of “Thy will be done.”

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 32

God does not grant me material possessions, take away my suffering, or spare me from disasters, but He does give me a good life, the ability to cope, and peace of mind. My prayers are simple: first, they express my gratitude for the good things in my life, regardless of how hard I have to search for them; and second, I ask only for the strength and the wisdom to do His will. He answers with solutions to my problems, sustaining my ability to live through daily frustrations with a serenity I did not believe existed, and with the strength to practice the principles of A.A. in all of my everyday affairs.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc

AS BILL SEES IT

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:12:00 +0000

~ Page 308 ~

A Way Out of Depression

“During acute depression, avoid trying to set your whole life in order all at once. If you take on assignments so heavy that you are sure to fail in them at the moment, then you are allowing yourself to be tricked by your unconscious. Thus you will continue to make sure of your failure, and when it comes you will have another alibi for still more retreat into depression.

“In short, the `all or nothing’ attitude is a most destructive one. It is best to begin with whatever the irreducible minimums of activity are. Then work for an enlargement of these — day by day. Don’t be disconcerted by setbacks — just start over.”

~ LETTER, P. 1960 ~
© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

WALK IN DRY PLACEs

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:11:00 +0000

THE GIFT OF SENSITIVITY

Facing Reality

Some of us complain about being too sensitive, or others may tell us so. This sets us up for all kinds of hurts, both real and imaginary.

In drinking, we actually dulled our sensitivity, though we thought we were expressing more feelings. This dulling of our sensitive nature blinded us to the damage we were doing.

In sobriety, we are learning that sensitivity is a gift that we can channel wisely. It can make us more aware of the feelings and needs of others. It can help us become a part of the group.

Like all gifts, sensitivity has its downside. It can make us vulnerable to problems that do not belong to us, and it can lead us into the trap of worrying about things we can do nothing about. But sensitivity is generally good, and in sobriety we can become better people because of it.

I’ll take great satisfaction today in the full use of my senses, including that part of me that perceives and expresses deep feelings.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

Keep It Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:10:00 +0000

“Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.”

—Ruth Ann Schabacker

How full life can be! We can untie the ribbons on this gift by keeping our spirits open.

Open to life. Open to how much our Higher Power love us.

Who knows what gifts the day may bring? Maybe it brings a solution to a problem.

Maybe it brings the smile of a child. Maybe we’ll find a new friend. Whatever gifts the day brings, we must be able to receive them. How do we do this? We keep our spirit open and lively through prayer and meditation. Then we’ll be awake to see the beauty and the wonders life holds for us.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, remind me to pray to You often. Remind me to stop and listen to You. Remind me that You love me very much.

Action for the Day: At the end of the day, I’ll take time to list the gifts I’ve been given today. This will be first on my list: I am sober.

Father Leo’s

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:09:00 +0000

TEACHING

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
—Chinese Proverb

I suppose the best way to learn a thing is to do it, practice it, demonstrate it, make it real in our lives. Spirituality needs to be experienced, not talked about. You cannot learn spirituality, get spirituality from a famous guru, read and acquire spirituality from a book—spirituality needs to be discovered in our lives. It needs to be found in body, sexuality, sweat, anger, morning exercise and kneeling in prayer and gratitude at the end of the day.

God, may You be real in my life.

A Day At A Time

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:08:00 +0000

Reflection For The Day

We’re taught in The Program that debate has no place in meditation. In a quiet place and time of our own choosing, we simply dwell on spiritual matters to the best of our capability, seeking only to experience and learn. We strive for a state of being which, hopefully, deepens our conscious contact with God. We pray not for things, but essentially for knowledge and power.

If you knew what God wanted you to do, you would be happy. You are doing what God wants you to do, so be happy.

Today I Pray

May I find my own best way to God, my own best technique of meditation—whether I use the oriental mantra, substitute the name of Jesus Christ, or just allow the spirit of God, as I understand Him, to settle into me and give me peace. By whatever means I discover my God, may I learn to know Him well and feel His presence—not only at these quiet times, but in everything I do.

Today I Will Remember

Meditation is opening myself to the spirit of God.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Essentialsofrecovery) — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:07:00 +0000

SERVICE

When people are serving, life is no longer meaningless.

~ John Gardner ~

I used to always think that I was kind and helpful, and that I was always there for other people. Well, of course I was. I was a people-pleaser, and the payoff was to be liked. That never happened, or at least I didn’t think so, and I became more resentful and full of self-pity. The truth was that I was so self-absorbed and self-seeking that I didn’t know how to really be there for other people, not even my own children. I’m sure that for a long period, even though I was always doing things for them, I was emotionally absent and unavailable when they really needed me. The focus was on me and how fat I looked, or how nobody fulfilled my needs, instead of looking outside of myself to what I could REALLY do for others.

This recovery program has taught me, first and foremost, how to love myself so that I am able to love others, especially my children. I was spiritually and emotionally empty before, but now I am being constantly filled and nurtured spiritually. Now I am able to give back what has freely been given to me. I am learning for the first time the pleasure of giving of myself, of my time and my experience, strength and hope, that others may walk this beautiful road to recovery as I have. In giving what I have, I am strengthening my program and my own recovery. What a joy that has been!

One Day at a Time . . .

I remember that when I do service and give away what I have, I will experience the promises of the program on a daily basis.

~ Sharon S. ~