Acceptance
From the big book, page 418 (the story is Acceptance Was The Answer) : “But when I try to see what I can add to the meeting, rather than what I can get out of it, and when I focus my mind on what’s good about it, rather than what’s wrong with it, the meeting keeps getting better and better. When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases ; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.”
This is one of my favorite stories! It applies to both meetings and everyday life. I can complain because someone in the meeting said something I didn’t agree with, maybe they have a rule I find absurd, etc. Or, I can be grateful I’m at an A.A. meeting and can be sober with others for this time. Same with life! Are we irritated because we can’t get the closest parking spot, because we had to wait extra long at the grocery store? It’s little things that add up and make me annoyed! If I stopped, took a breath, and focused my attention on God and where my feet are planted I wouldn’t have half the irritation I do.
It also applies to big things. Waiting on medical test results, fear over finances. Living in the problem and obsessing about it every free moment is not going to fix it or make us feel any better. Looking towards the solution and living in the now is all we can do.
Please share how accepting where you are today and living in the solution is helpful to your sobriety. Or, share why you struggle with this.