The Language of Letting Go: July 20th

Letting Go of Resistance

Do not be in such a hurry to move on.

Relax. Breathe deeply. Be. Be in harmony today.

Be open. There is beauty around and in us today. There is purpose and meaning in today.

There is importance in today - not so much in what happens to us, but in how we respond.

Let today happen. We learn our lessons, we work things out, we change in a simple fashion: by living our life fully today.

Do not worry about tomorrow's feelings, problems, or gifts. Do not worry about whether we can trust life, our Higher Power, or ourselves tomorrow.

Everything we need today shall be given to us. That is a promise - from God, from the Universe.

Feel today's feelings. Solve today's problems. Enjoy today's gifts. Trust yourself, life, and your Higher Power today.

Acquire the art of living fully today. Absorb the lessons, the healing, the beauty, the love available to us today.

Do not be in such a rush to move on. There is no hurry. We cannot escape, we only postpone. Let the feelings go, breathe in peace and healing.

Do not be in such a hurry to move on.

Today, I will not run from my circumstances, my feelings, or myself. I will be open to others, Higher Power, my life, and myself. I will trust that by facing today to the best of my ability, I will acquire the skills I need to face tomorrow.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation

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Escape is the hallmark of the addict..............where are we running off to today? What are we trying to avoid? Our feelings, most likely............or an unpleasant situation that we don't want to deal with head-on.  We escape into a sugar binge, our drug of choice, and purposely shut down and run away.  

Some of us take 'geographical cures'..........we move away frequently, thinking things will be 'better' or 'different' in the new location. Unfortunately, we take OURSELVES with us, wherever we go, and so, nothing changes.  We wake up in the new town one day, saying "Now what?"  Faced with the same problems, and even a few more, thanks to being in a strange location, we begin to feel hopeless, like things will NEVER change.

Things WON'T ever change unless WE decide to MAKE some changes, internally.  We come to a program like OA, on our knees, having reached rock bottom.  We may not believe the program 'works' because we've tried SO many different ways to lose weight and feel happy with ourselves.  But we're willing to try ANYTHING at this point.  This is when we open our minds and our hearts to new ideas.  We embrace the program and begin absorbing and using the program slogans.  These slogans are known as the handrails to the Steps.  When we use the slogan, "One day at a time", we realize we only HAVE today to worry about.  Yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn't here yet.  For 24 hours we can do ANYTHING. Some days, we may have to alter the slogan to "Five minutes at a time."  And so we shall.  As long as we know that our Higher Power WILL help us if we ask Him to, we're golden.

For today, I am in no hurry to see tomorrow, and I'm not interested in revisiting yesterday.  All I have is today and for the next 24 hours, I will remain present.