Daily Recovery Reading – January 26, 2012

Perspective!

I glanced toward the glass coffee-table top and saw in it the reflection of the ceiling ad the hanging lamp in my living room.  My mind wandered as I thought of the story I had been reading.  I looked at the glass once more and was startled to perceive that the ceiling now looked like a floor, and the hanging lamp resembled a standing floor lamp!  I wondered if my Higher Power was trying to tell me something.  Could my frequent feelings of hurt and anger toward my alcoholic husband be caused by my perceptions?

As these thoughts coursed through me, I started talking to God.  I told Him I was sorry for dwelling angrily on what I lack in my relationship with the alcoholic rather than expressing gratitude for what I do receive, such as insights like these to help me with the realities of my life. I asked Him to remind me that there is a spiritual reason for everything and to help me regard my alcoholic as a blessing rather than a curse, which is often how I view him.

After praying, I relaxed.  I heard the message God was trying to convey through the reflections in the glass:  My perceptions were distorted.  My husband possesses so many lovely qualities that are obscured by my view of his “dis-ease”. Then I thought of all my good qualities that are obscured by my “dis-ease”.  At that moment I knew in my heart that God had created my husband as His beautiful child, as He did me, and I was flooded with compassion for us both.

Thought for the Day

Everything about my recovery-my perceptions, attitudes and choices-begins and ends with me.

“And gratitude, a cornerstone of my …recovery, brings hidden loveliness clearly into view.” Courage to Change, pg. 67

Reading from: Hope for Today, pg. 26

Everything in life is about perception.  Being humans who can think about how and what we think about.  This is why stories differ so much even when two people have seen or heard the same thing.  Our estimation of the thing plays as much into our view as what actually happens.  With Alcoholism the dysfunction draws the focus and unfortunately many times we miss out on many good things.  We often begin to worry obsessively or put our lives on hold to clean up the messes made.  When this happens sometimes it is us, our own perspective that needs a tune up.

I don’t need to give alcohol or let it take any more time up out of my day than absolutely necessary.  It has taken enough!!!!!

Today if my perspective starts to skew I will get myself back on track.  Perspective changes everything!