Owner: frumstepper URL:http://frumstepper.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:28:38 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A Frum (Jewish) Twelve Stepper (12 steps) writes (using "meditation books" as an inspiration )about how she is continually reminded that "Hashem is driving the bus", and about her efforts to "let go and let G-d" in dealing wi Site statistics:Click here
Despair is the Absence of Faith 2008-05-06 06:11:00 From A Day At a Time, May 6 : " When we're troubled and can't see a way out, it's only because we imagine that all solutions depend on us. The Program teaches us to let go of overwhelming problems, and let G-d handle them for us..... May I know that I am never without the help of G-d, that I am never helpless when He is with me... Despair is the absence of faith."This is not so different from the last post I wrote, but it's a really important message, so I think I'll stick with it again today.When I feel despair- that horrible feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, it is only because my "faith switch" is not set to "on". Despair comes out of that scary place of thinking and feeling that it's all up to me, that things couldn't get worse, that I can't survive or stand the current situatio Read more:Faith
What is True Fear of G-d? 2008-05-12 23:24:00 "Love and fear of G-d are the particular concepts that bring a person nearer to his Creator and form a bond of attachment to Him. This refers to true love and fear, namely, love of G-d's Name and awe of His Greatness, rather than love of His rewards and fear of His punishments".- From Ramchal, Derech Hashem. Yesterday I was learning a bit about Love and Fear of G-d. I know that people often think
I'm on the right team! 2008-05-12 13:52:00 From The Big Book, Page 300:" AA gives us direction into a way of life without the need for alcohol. That life for me is lived One Day At a Time, letting the problems of the future rest with the future. When the time comes to solve them, G-d will give me strength for that day ".Yup. That sounds just about right. I tend to worry way too much about the future. Sometimes it seems like I am almost liv
Not Alone Anymore 2008-05-15 15:25:00 From A Day At a Time,, May 15:"Looking back at those last desperate days before I came to the Program, I remember more than anything the feelings of loneliness and isolation.... I thank G-d for the greatest single joy that has come to me outside of my sobriety- the feeling that I am no longer alone".There is absolutely no other experience that is the same as sitting at a 12 step meeting. When you Read more:Not Alone
Anonymity in The Program 2008-05-20 12:54:00 Anonymity is one of the traditions of the program.People who don't attend 12 step meetings have probably never experienced the type of anonymity that we have. Aside from being a word that some people can't pronounce properly, anonymity is the tradition that helps all 12 step members to be equal. This means that a famous movie star, or a millionaire is no different than anyone else at the meeting. Read more:Anonymity
, Program
The Magic Word Is Not 'Please' 2008-05-25 07:28:00 From 24 Hours a Day, May 25:" They must be convinced that they honestly want to stop drinking. They must see and admit that their life is unmanageable. They must face the fact that they must do something about their drinking. They must be absolutely honest with themselves and face themselves as they really are ".This is referring to a person whom a 12 Stepper tries to help. But it can apply to Read more:Magic
, Please
The Next Right Thing 2008-05-24 16:11:00 From 24 Hours a Day, May 23: I must prepare for the future by doing the right thing at the right time now. If a thing should be done, I should deal with that thing today and get it righted with G-d before I allow myself to undertake any new duty. I should look upon myself as performing G-d's errand and then coming back to Him to tell Him in quiet communion that the message has been delivered or t Read more:Right
, Thing
The Right Time and Place 2008-05-28 22:49:00 From Easy Does It, May 29 : "Preparing for the next day by examining the one we've just finished gives us a head start on tomorrow."I recently realized that much Psychology advice has appeared in the media these days about the importance of two things: One- gratitude and Two: Reviewing our Deeds and our soul- traits. I found something about this to be very interesting; First of all, these are both Read more:Right
, Place
It's None of My Business. 2008-05-28 16:12:00 From Seek Sobriety, Find Serenity: May 27: "How we react to criticism depends on our self image.... If we think well of ourselves, even insulting comments, while not pleasant can be shrugged off".In this example , Dr. Abe describes how a woman was very insulted by a comment made by someone whom she trusted. She believed his nasty remark, and so, it felt hurtful to her. However, she admitted, the v Read more:Business
Look Whose Been Here With Me All Along 2008-05-30 07:39:00 From Seek Sobriety, Find Serenity, May 30: : " No matter how difficult things get, it is foolish to assume that, after helping us along so far, G-d is going to abandon us now ".Even the things in my life that have not been wonderful, have been planned out for me.It took me a long time to realize this. I used to live in a 'victim mode'- "Why me? Why did I have to have all this stuff happen?" I felt
Remove my What? 2008-06-02 14:31:00 From AA, 12 and 12,Step 6 (for 6th month- June) : " Step 6: Were entirely ready to have G-d remove all these defects of character". .... "We shall need to raise our eyes toward perfection and be ready to walk in that direction ....".Recently I had a conversation with someone regarding the concept of praying for things to be removed from us. She said that she prayed for G-d to "remove my problems".
Soul Food Tastes Right 2008-06-08 07:16:00 From Twenty Four Hours A Day, June 8: "This life we live is not so much for the body as for the soul. We often choose the way of life that best suits the body, not the way that best suits the soul. G-d wants you to choose what suits the soul as well as the body. Accept this belief and a wonderful molding of character is the result ".I guess I have been as mixed up with this issue as anyone else. I Read more:Right
Rock Bottom 2008-06-09 17:24:00 From Twenty Four Hours a Day, June 9:" We finally came to the bottom.... We were spiritually bankrupt. We had a soul-sickness, a revulsion against ourselves and against our way of living.We had to end it all or do something about it ".This describes the "rock bottom" that most of us in a 12 step Program face. It's that moment when we don't want to look ourselves in the eye anymore; that moment whe Read more:Bottom
Down At The Bottom of the Pit 2008-06-17 21:50:00 From the Big Book, pg 322: "My behavior was textbook; stashing bottles all over the house, sneaking drinks, rationing the bottles I threw away so the trash bags wouldn't clink , refilling the bottles with water, and so on."I think the part that struck me here was how he/she was so busy covering up the addiction and lying to everyone else; how the addiction and serving it (as a slave) took first pr Read more:Bottom
Party Planner 2008-06-26 22:33:00 From Twenty Four Hours A Day, June 26: " There is a proper time for everything. I must learn not to do things at the wrong time, that is, before I am ready or before conditions are right".Yup, impulsivity is one of my problems. I tend to jump right in, and say or do things without thinking through them properly. This has gotten me into trouble more than once. I wish I could learn how to be more pa Read more:Party
Serendipity 2008-06-20 12:27:00 "Serendipity".People often use this word to describe how things "just happen" to work out. Sometimes events are admittedly remarkable in that the person we "need" to see, is the one whom we end up bumping into that day- or any number of other things just "happen" to fall into place.I once heard it said that "coincidence is G-d's way of remaining anonymous".For those who miss out on this opportunit
The two H's and a W. Honesty, humility and willingness 2008-07-10 15:01:00 I had planned to write on something from one of my books, but today, I've been thinking a lot about honesty , willingness and humility. I've been wondering how much of these things I really possess- how straight I am with myself and with others? How humble am I? How much vanity pops in when I am trying hard to be humble? Well, that little kid inside of me sometimes likes being given a compliment, Read more:Honesty
Freedom To Be Free 2008-07-08 15:22:00 Yesterday I watched a handicapped woman being lowered from her wheelchair into the swimming pool. As soon as she was in, she began swimming freely through the water, her arms and upper body propelling her swiftly. This gave me pause, and I began to think of how this is a metaphor for life in so many ways.Each of us has our own "handicaps", those things that prevent us from freely "swimming " thro Read more:Freedom
Justifying and Lying- A Rose by any other name 2008-07-07 16:51:00 From A Day AT A Time, July 7: " What wonderful things could happen in my life if I could get rid of my natural impulse to justify my actions... Am I becoming more aware that self-deception multiplies my problems?".It's interesting that the author of this quote calls this a "natural impulse". Is it really so natural? If G-d is all truth, and He created us in His image, should we not also be natural Read more:Lying
Stop the world! 2008-07-28 19:43:00 A lot has been going on and it's hard for me sometimes to remember to connect with my HP. The funny thing is that He is really the "grounding" that I need wherever I go and whatever I do; He is the one Constant in everything. Why do I forget to just slow down sometimes and acknowledge His presence? But, patient, He is, and I know that when I do get there, He will be waiting for me. What a waste i
Brownie Points 2008-07-26 15:02:00 From Twenty Four Hours a Day, July 26: "When we come to the end of our lives on earth, we will take no material thing with us... The only things that we may take are the things we have given away."Now, that's a sobering thought. Lately I've been hearing that message over and over, and it is quite eerie, to say the least. I guess it's important to remember this whenever I am tempted to buy some ne Read more:Brownie
, Points
Easy isn't always Easy 2008-07-25 07:37:00 From Seek Sobriety, Find Serenity, July 25 : "Easy does it' means that we do not let ourselves get into a dither about things".When I hear the words 'easy does it' I can go in two ways: The first feels kind of patronizing- like when someone is in the middle of a temper outburst, and a friend grabs him by the shoulders and says:"Hey, man, slow down". I can almost see the first guy freeze up and pus Read more:always
Ladders and Chutes 2008-07-24 15:20:00 Yes, I know, I haven't written lately. Life sometimes gets in the way, but that is no excuse. I told myself long ago that I need to fit my program into my life, but sometimes I wonder if I need to fit my life into my program, instead.What I do know, is that I have to be aware all the time of not falling into the old traps, the old "stink' thinkin'. I need to stay away from my 'drug of choice', as Read more:Ladders
Mud pits and Whirlpools 2008-08-11 08:23:00 From The Big Book of AA, pg. 349:"Gradually, the quantity increased and the occasions "to use" came more frequently; a hard day, worries and pressure, bad news, good news- there were more and more reasons for a drink ".I can't even think back to the time when my tolerance level began to grow; where at first I needed just a little, now I needed a lot to get to the same place; where once I only wa
Tisha' B'av 2008-08-10 08:17:00 Tisha B'av, 2008- I sit here , trying to relate to something that happened long ago. I listen to tapes and lectures reminding me that I should be feeling the loss of the Temple as if it had just burnt. I try to connect with this image, and to relate to their message. It's difficult for me, even though I have visited the Kotel, the last remaining wall from the Second Temple, many times.The part th
Stop- Go -combine them both 2008-08-08 08:32:00 From 24 Hours a Day, Aug. 8: " All of life is a fluctuation between effort and rest.... You need both every day.... A daily time of rest and meditation gives you the power neccesary to make your best effort... The successful life is a proper balance between the two".I know a lot of people who miss this point. They push themselves a whole day, and fill it with "musts" and "shoulds".... push-push- Read more:combine
It's Raining, It's Pouring 2008-08-07 11:58:00 From 24 Hours a Day, Aug. 7: " You should never doubt that G-d's spirit is always with you, wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. G-d's keeping power is never at fault, only your realization of it.... It is not a question of whether G-d can provide a shelter from the storm, but of whether or not you seek the security of that shelter ".Wow. Just today someone who I thought was a "belie Read more:Raining
Two Faces are worse than One 2008-08-27 07:24:00 From Seek Sobriety, Find Serenity, Aug. 27: " A radical change in our life can come about simply by changing our attitude.... We often bring inappropriate attitudes to addiction. If we change these when we become sober, our lives become much more livable ".I have tried over the years to change my attitude about many things. One of the first "good" expressions I heard after joining the 12 Step Prog
Nothing left behind 2008-08-26 12:10:00 From 24 HOurs a Day, August 26:" We cannot divide our lives into compartments and keep some for ourselves. We must give all the compartments to G-d ".This reminds me of my stubborness. I can really stick to things and not let go. I can be willing to turn over some of my stuff to my HP, and then be unwilling to let go of some other traits and negatively. This can be really self-defeatingm because e Read more:Nothing
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The Best Policy? 2008-08-24 03:55:00 It has been said that "honesty is the best policy". It has also been said about my 12 Step Program, that we need to be Honest, Open-Minded and WillingOkay, so I am going to be honest now. Something is up with me. I'll explain what I mean; I talk a lot about my G-d connection, and yes, I have to admit, that it is a good one. When it happens. But lately, it hasn't been happening all that much. And I Read more:Policy
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