For Today: May 8th

How seek the way which leadeth to our wishes? By renouncing our wishes. The crown of excellence is renunciation.

Hafiz Divan

How I struggle to get what I want! Where is that perfect friend, mate, child I so hoped for? What can I do to attain the prestige, power, money and success I feel I deserve? Here, too, the OA program shows me the answer: Though I may think I want all these things, what I really want is to be at peace with myself. No person, possession or acclaim can do that for me. OA’s suggestion is: Let go your wishes, turn them over to your Higher Power to grant or not as God sees fit.

An immediate result of renouncing my wishes is that I stop thinking about them. I live in the moment, giving the best thought I am capable of to each task that comes to hand.

For Today: I have complete faith that, as I turn over what I want, God will give me what I need.

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Again, the OA program shows me how to live. It gives me a code of conduct that insures me a peaceful lifestyle because I am no longer practicing behaviors that I am ashamed of.  This applies to many areas of life, not just food.

When I want to purchase something, I ask myself, “How will this improve your life?” If the answer is, “It will not improve your life in any way,” then I know I do not need to purchase the item.

I have a job which is not satisfying to me & the people I work with are difficult, to say the least. Do I ‘deserve’ a better job? No, I do not feel that way. I feel fortunate to have a decent paying job which helps put food on the table & enables me to pay the mortgage. 

“Prestige” and 3 dollars will buy me a cup of Starbucks.

Inner peace means I am happy with what I have, not looking for More More More.  

I lived in a mansion & I had a huge bank account. It didn't make me happy or bring me serenity. When I gave it all UP is when I started to find that happiness & serenity; through Recovery.

For today, I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. While my home is not a mansion, I recognize that living in a mansion will not improve my life. While my checkbook balance is not astronomical, I recognize that a larger checkbook will not improve my life, it will only show me a larger number. For today, I am grateful  to have NO power that isn’t bestowed upon me by my Higher Power.

For today, I am grateful FOR my powerlessness!