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Post by Susan Peabody on Aug 19, 2012 11:05:07 GMT -8
Attitude of Gratitude
Susan Peabody
If you go to AA, you know we talk a lot about the benefits of gratitude. Gratitude can be a feeling when things are going our way, but it is more important as a decision we make no matter how things are going. Just keep it simple. "I am grateful." Because many addicts are addicted to self-pity this is a wonderful antidote. An attitude of gratitude displaces self-pity. The AA literature is very stern about this. It says you cannot stay sober without gratitude. You will lose everything good about your recovery if you do not adhere to this principle. Wow! AA is famous for its "gratitude list." Keep it handy. At least once a day be grateful for something. Nature, in-house plumbing? Implemented properly, your list will take the edge off of bad things like anger, depression and fear. It does not erase these feelings, but it helps. People like you, and you have more friends, if you are grateful about things in your life. If you look around you will see people taking a stab at being grateful. When my daughter died I was grateful that she was now in heaven with the baby she lost. Resentment is the opposite of gratitude so it must go. (Not temporary anger, but resentment (anger revisited). It bears repeating, gratitude is a decision not a feeling. . .
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Post by mgolden on Dec 6, 2012 0:56:53 GMT -8
I absolute love making a gratitude list! I write down at least a handful of things every day. When I meditate I think about blessings, and gratitude. It really is so powerful in keeping one sober, essential. Sometimes my day will start off sluggish or grumpy and once I'm in that grateful space it turns everything around.... great post!
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Post by dhafirah on Mar 9, 2014 8:12:02 GMT -8
In this moment I feel grateful: I am grateful for God's Mercy I am grateful that today I read posts in this forum that reminds me that I should be grateful, I am grateful that I am alive, I am grateful that my children are healthy and safe, I am grateful that I am learning about myself and how to live a healthier life, I am grateful for those who are tasting the sweet rewards of recovery and share their experiences and wisdom, I am grateful for those who are just entering recovery or are aware of the issue because this reminds me of the reality of my journey, I am grateful for my friends, I am grateful for my family, I am grateful that I know I am God's creation, I am grateful for the desire not to be envious or jealous of someone else's life because what God Willed for me will not miss me, I am grateful that I know I am okay even when I have self-doubt, I am grateful for the periods in my life when I felt like I was going to lose it because I realized that I never want to compromise my sanity again, And I am grateful to know that life will not be easy or satisfying all the time but as long as I believe in God, remain present and real with myself, and want the best for myself I will not lose.
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Post by Susan Peabody on May 28, 2016 7:25:43 GMT -8
I can't say this enough . . . Email to new member . . . " I am grateful. Grateful for what I have. Grateful for what I chose to walk away from ... HaveFaith God likes gratitude. I first heard about the importance of gratitude when I joined AA in 1982. I was told by my sponsor and at meetings that gratitude is not a feeling you have when things go your way, but an attitude you have about life. They called it an "attitude of gratitude." It is easy to be grateful when things are going your way, but it is much harder to be grateful in the middle of chaos. When I am in crisis I am not grateful for the problem, but I am grateful that I have friends, family, and God to help me through it. To what I learned in AA I want to add that gratitude is the cure for self-pity which is toxic. I was addicted to self-pity when I got to AA. I used gratitude to combat it and it worked. I told myself, "I am not a victim, I am a survivor." Well you get my point.
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