Lost and Found…Total Recovery
I’d like to explain the primary purpose of Lost and Found it is the story of my life and several chapters paint a picture of events that took place while I was a victim of alcohol abuse. For ten long years I let alcohol take complete control of my very existence. I lived in what I now call the Gray World just this side of Death. It took an act of God to turn my life around and give me the courage to return to the Real World. The world where sanity takes over and insanity is sometimes treated. I know what it takes to be reborn again and I want to share this knowledge with all the poor lost soles struggling to find their way back. I’ve made it my goal to help everyone who is willing to try to regain a life of total sobriety. That my friends is the purpose of "Total Recovery".
I’ve dedicated this chapter of my book to the hopeless and helpless individuals lost in the gray world, victims of the disease of alcohol abuse. I intend to deal with the whole person and not just the disease. There are three components critical to a sustained recovery; the body, the mind and the spirit, which combined, gives the addict back the control and stamina they need to sustain their alcohol or drug addiction rehabilitation and begin to live life to its fullest. By following my suggestions with and open mind using my techniques you will not only recover from your addiction, you will be in better physical and spiritual condition than you could possibly imagine
Here’s how the dictionary describes alcoholism: While the ingestion of alcohol is, by definition, necessary to develop alcoholism, the use of alcohol does not predict the development of alcoholism. The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. In common and historical usage, alcoholism typically refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite negative personal and social consequences.
There are several remarkable differences in my Total Recovery program and the fellowship of AA For example; AA claims that once an alcoholic always an alcoholic and complete abstinence is a must otherwise you’ll slip and relapse. Where as I teach controlled drinking with no fear of relapse (Changing the way you think). Repetition of your thought process allows a social drink, a glass of wine at dinner time or one can of beer to quench your thirst. Everything in moderation. A.A. encourages you to tell your sad story in front of a group of alcoholics to release your inhibitions and help others to understand and abstain. I don’t think this is wise, and I’ll tell you why. Most people exaggerate when they tell their life story. Believe me, I’ve listened to some of these stories and if I wasn’t a cured alcoholic they’d drive me to drink. The most important part of my method of recovery is mind over matter and as you continue you’ll find out why. Putting your knowledge to work and using your mind as a master key can be the answer to almost everything.
The AA organization is world wide and reaches an estimated 100,000 groups with over 2,000,000 members in 150 countries. I can only work with about "30" people in my "1" little part of the world. But I can guarantee that my success ratio is 95%.
AA serves one hell of a lot of people and I’m eternally grateful for there existence. Of these two million people over half will reached sobriety for a period of time but relapses are frequent and the percentage of total recoveries is so low the percentage is hardly worth mentioning but since the middle to late 30s AA has helped thousands of alcohol abusers lead productive and normal lives. (AA was founded by Bill W. in 1935) Alcoholic Anonymous hasn’t excepted my methods even though I’ve proven they work. I can only hope that someday a large rehabilitation organization will use my book as a text as part of their recovery program.
The meeting place for members of AA is called a fellowship hall and meetings are held several times each day everyday of the week. Each meeting starts with the Serenity Prayer and then a participant of the group reads the following statement from the AA book (The Big Book).
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety
There are speaker meetings, discussion meetings, and step meetings, all scheduled with one purpose in mind. To help the poor unfortunate people who suffer from the sickness of alcohol abuse. The most common meeting that most people are aware of is the Speaker Meeting where AA members “tell their stories.” They describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to AA., and how their lives have changed as a result of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The AA program, offers a Twelve Step Program that gives the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol.
As a recovered alcoholic I encourage the alcohol abuser to attend AA meetings and endorse the AA concept as a stepping stone to recovery. AA teaches that once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. However I go one step further and teach total recovery.
Responsibility for one's actions is the pathway to freedom from alcohol and drug addiction. I was never a member of the AA Fellowship but I used the Serenity Prayer and the 12 Steps as a powerful tool to find and maintain my recovery. Take action now. Memorize the Serenity Prayer and use it. Go to the step sessions at a fellowship hall long enough to cover all 12 steps then use them as a daily guide be responsible, take action and by all means change your way of thinking.
Imagine for a moment, that you could be well forever, not for just one miserable day after another. Imagine no more therapy, group counseling sessions or daily twelve step meetings. No more loneliness and depression. These are not idle dreams; they can be reality.
I have researched many so called miracle and magical treatment programs to insure my recovery and success. I have found that most all of them are good to a point, unfortunately, at least to my knowledge none that I researched offered total recovery. Alcoholism is a treatable disease and the most successful treatment is a strong desire to quit and the courage and willingness to endeavor where others have failed. It would be nice if there were a pill you could take to cure this disease, but no medical cure is available. Regardless of how someone is diagnosed as alcohol dependent or how they came to realize they have a serious drinking problem, the first step to treatment is a sincere desire to quit. Alcoholics who are pressured into treatment by social pressure or forced to quit by circumstances rarely succeed. It takes pure guts and determination as well as the power of positive thinking and a complete change of mental behavior to find success in any endeavor. Most alcoholics who seek help on their own volition have at least one relapse before they obtain long-term or total sobriety.
Regardless of how someone is diagnosed as alcohol dependent or how they came to realize they have a serious drinking problem, the first step to treatment is a sincere desire to quit. Alcoholics who are pressured into treatment by social pressure or forced to quit by circumstances rarely succeed. It takes pure guts and determination as well as the power of positive thinking and a complete change of mental behavior to find success in any endeavor. Most alcoholics who seek help on their own volition have at least one relapse before they obtain long-term or total sobriety.
Faith
It is my belief that there is a quiescent (inactive or dormant) part of your brain that when aroused will give you the potential to achieve heights beyond your imagination . All we have to do is use the right key to unlock that power. I have several keys that we can use. However first I want you to consider the primary purpose for which you are, presumably, reading Total Sobriety. Naturally, it must be to acquire the ability to cure yourself and stay free of those monsters that have invaded your life. By following my instructions on auto suggestion and the subconscious mind, as I have laid out for you in the section titled Auto Suggestion, you can convince your mind to receive that for which you ask. It will act upon your suggestion which your subconscious mind passes back to you in the form of faith. Faith is the state of mind which you may develop at will, after you have mastered all the steps in my text. . Because it is a state of mind which develops voluntarily, through applying and using these steps.
FAITH, LOVE and SEX, The most powerful of all human emotions. When faith is mixed with the vibration of thought the subconscious mind picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence, as in prayer. (To allow wisdom to flow in freely from God's infinite intelligence is wise. Wisdom is the inflowing of the divine spirit itself.)
Repetition, affirming instructions to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary developing faith. I’m sure you have heard the statement; “Faith can move mountains”. Well, put your trust in me and faith will help set you free.
TOTAL SOBRIETY WITH MY HELP
We all have our problems and we can all make excuses. When it gets right down to it, who do we blame and what do we blame for substance abuse?
If you have an answer then I wish you’d tell me. If you have the right answer you don’t need my help.
Unusual circumstances such as broken relationships, loss of a love one, losing your job, and many more traumatic experiences can be called the underlying causes of substance abuse.
Most alcohol treatment programs claim that if you can uncover the cause, the abusive problem will end. I’m here to tell you that is not the truth.
Open your mind and we will look at this a little closer. If circumstances are the cause, then how come the majority of people handle these problems then move on to live a normal life? Can you see where I’m leading you? Let me paint you a clear picture, finding the underlying cause is not the solution. Overhauling your mind and completely changing your way of thinking is the solution.
I’ve worked with alcohol and drug abusers for the past ten years and I’ve received hundreds of success stories that I could tell. My service is free because I’ve made it my goal to help those in need. I’ll work with you on a one to one basis and supply you with all the knowledge I have. My methods and techniques are not excepted by other rehabilitation programs, but I’ve got the proof that they work. I help my clients to cure themselves so they can remain drug and alcohol free for the rest of their lives.
With the proper tools and a true desire by you, I’ll guarantee that together we will find the solutions so that alcohol and drugs will never be a problem again.
A person's psychological condition is at least partially responsible for their addiction whether it be alcohol or drugs .
There may be traumatic memories that remain overwhelming which contribute to chronic self-medication.
Painful memories may be covered with layers of forgetfulness.
Bad memories can disturb you on a conscious even a subconscious level
You may be unable to cope with all of life’s circumstances. It takes someone who has lived in the gray world and recovered to assist you and help you discover your hidden pain or trauma . By working together we can formulate a treatment .
I offer you private one-on-one sessions that help you to identify these areas and to heal them. The most important thing that I can do for you is give you the keys to the vehicle that will give you the drive to cure yourself.
ALCOHOL IS UNIQUE
Submitted by the Counsel on National Alcohol Abuse
Among substances of abuse, alcohol is unique in a number of ways. It is a toxin that can cause damage to any tissue in the body. The resulting diseases range from certain kinds of cancer to liver and heart disease. Alcohol also is unique in the pervasiveness of its actions in the nervous system and the body’s command center, through which alcohol exerts its behavioral effects. Rather than affecting only one or a few neurotransmitter systems - that is, the crucial chemical systems through which components of the nervous system communicate with each other and with the outside world - alcohol affects every neurotransmitter system that has been researched to date.
Alcohol also affects parts of the membrane that surrounds nerve cells, the "point of entry" for substances of abuse, that illegal drugs do not appear to affect. These factors greatly complicate the search for alcohol's sites of action in the nervous system
Another of the ways in which alcohol is unique among substances of abuse is that it is a food, since it has caloric value. The brain regulates appetite for food through (neuropathies), pieces of protein. Evidence suggests that, to some extent, craving for alcohol might be driven by the same or similar biochemical pathways that drive appetite.
BEHAVIORS OF ALCOHOLISM
Some people can drink lightly and occasionally and never develop problems with alcohol, while at the opposite end of the spectrum of alcohol use, it takes over people's lives and they become physically dependent on it. Between these two scenarios lie varying degrees of use and misuse. What accounts for these differences in how people respond to alcohol, differences that may decide whether or not it destroys their lives?
Environmental factors -- family and peers, for example -- play a role, but variations in our nervous systems constitute the largest part of the differences in our behaviors toward alcohol. It is here that alcohol affects a multitude of biologic events that determine our propensity for drinking and our vulnerability to the biologic process of becoming dependent on alcohol. Before we have taken our first drink, the genetic and molecular make-up of our brains influences, largely, how we will respond to alcohol once we are exposed to it.
Substances ultimately stimulate the same major reward pathways of the brain. However, various substances first stimulate other, different biochemical pathways before they "light up" these major reward pathways. Thus, substances differ in the mechanisms, and in the complexity of those mechanisms, that lead to reward. The routes of alcohol's actions appear to be particularly pervasive.
Alcohol's effects on the nervous system vary throughout the life-span, from the uniquely devastating damage it causes in the fetus, to disruptions in development of the adolescent brain, to the patterns of biologic risk and damage we see in adults. Among substances of abuse, alcohol is, by far, the greatest inducer of neuralgic and other birth defects.
THE ANSWERS WE SEEK
Alcohol research seeks to answer these questions: What are the genetic and molecular factors in the brain that determine these differences in how we respond to alcohol? How does alcohol change "hardwired" functions of the brain to cause physical dependence? What role do environmental factors play in alcohol dependence? Can we design interventions that disrupt these biologic and environmental pathways, to prevent alcohol's harmful effects? In each of these areas and others, we are making advances.
THE ANSWER IS IN THE WAY YOU THINK
I suggest that you buy your own print copy of "Think and Grow Rich", a classic by Napoleon Hill, and constantly refer back to it. Believe me, it will change you’re your life forever. As you read through it, you will start altering your perceptions and radically change the view you have about yourself, your abilities and your potential.
The book teaches "The thirteen steps to riches" according to Napoleon Hill.
It offers many questionnaires and practical exercises in addition to all the text. It gives you clear guide lines in how to set goals, reach them and how to make clear plans to follow. You are shown how you can realise your highest potential, and succeed in anything you set your mind to.
It also teaches you not to give up, and see all your mistakes as learning opportunities.
Napoleon Hill teaches that successful people never consider temporary failure as a permanent defeat.
Think And Grow Rich was first published in 1937,Since that time it has been used as a roadmap to achievement by countless individuals. I use Think And Grow Rich as a bible for my clients. It has helped to fulfill my goal to help people move out of the gray world and into the real world.
Hundreds of my clients using the steps in this book as a guide line have found peace and serenity and have returned to a normal alcohol and drug free life. Some of them have even grown rich. As a matter of fact, over 95% of my clients are enjoying success with no fear of a relapse.
Let’s Get Started
The first thing we want to do is set up a goal and make a definite plan to achieve it. Clearly write down a description of your ultimate aim and post it where you’ll see it everyday, several times a day. Now say to yourself that you’ll never stop trying until you gain the self confidence needed for it’s attainment. Don’t let anything stand in your way. It’s a definite must to change your current way of thinking. The cure is in a behavioral thought process. You are your own healer and you can accomplish anything you set your mind on.
Now say to yourself , I know that I have the ability to achieve a definite purpose in life. Therefore I demand of myself persistence and continuous action towards it’s attainment. I give myself a solemn promise to render such an action. I realize the predominant thoughts in my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in an outward physical action and gradually transform themselves into a physical reality. Therefore I will consciously apply my thoughts thirty minutes each day picturing the person I want to be and that I intend to become. I also know that through the use of auto-suggestion any desire that I hold in my mind will eventually express itself and give in to the object of my intention. So I will demand of myself the self confidence by devoting thirty minutes a day feeding my mind with this thought. “ I will succeed regardless of set backs. I can accomplish anything I set my mind too”.
Procrastination is the tool of the devil. Stop and ask yourself a moment...just how much has procrastination cost you over the years? Has it cost you your self respect? Have you lost out on great opportunities, only to watched someone else take advantage of them? Besides the losses in pure dollars and cents (and make no mistake about it, being a procrastinator does make you poorer) the biggest cost to you is what procrastination does to you, to your self-image and to your fulfillment of life. Let’s face it, you are a substance abuser and if you keep procrastinating you’ll stay a substance abuser. So let’s change your way of thinking right now. By learning how to stop putting things off you’ll be more efficient, have more self confidence and have much less stress. You’ll also find it much easier to perform daily tasks and accomplish anything you set your mind too. Procrastination is only a state of mind - one that you can easily change. Take a few minutes each day and tell yourself you‘ll not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Eventually it will become a habit.
I want you to realize that no success or self cure will endure for any length of time unless it is built upon honesty and integrity. Engage in no transaction that doesn’t benefit all of those it affects. You will find success in your own forces plus gain the cooperation of others. You will, by serving others, induce others to serve you. By eliminating the traits that cause a negative attitude in others as well as yourself and developing a love for all humanity you will regain the trust of others finding total sobriety and a lifetime of success.
Now I want you to commit the previous four paragraphs to memory and repeat them several times each day.
You can be the Master of Your Destiny by following these few simple steps.
Auto Suggestion and Self Suggestion
The subconscious mind makes no distinctions between thought impulses whether they be constructive or destructive. It works on what ever material it’s fed. It will translate thoughts driven by fear just as readily as it translates thoughts driven by courage and faith. Those who go down in defeat and end their lives in drunkenness, poverty, and distress do so because of a negative application of the principle of auto suggestion ( All Impulses of Thought Have a Tendency to Clothe Themselves in Their Physical Equivalent ). The law of auto suggestion that allows a man to rise to heights of staggering imagination can best be understood in the following verse.
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win, but you think you can’t.
It’s all most certain you won’t
If you think you’ll loss, you’re lost
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellows will,
It’s all in the state of mind
If you think you are outclassed, you are
You’ve got to think high and rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man Who Thinks He Can !
Always be positive in the way that you think and feel and you’ll always get a positive reaction. I spent a life of “Hell” in the Gray World and by using the methods that I’m giving you from my heart, I was able to return to the Real World and now I’m living a happy and successful life.
Auto suggestion applies to all suggestion and all self administered thoughts and ideas that reach the mind through our senses. Auto suggestion and self suggestion are basically the same. Simply put, it is a way for the conscious mind to communicate with the subconscious mind. We have complete control over all the thought that reaches our subconscious mind, therefore it is the best way to change the way we think. We can completely change our life using a few simple steps. You can liken your subconscious mind to that of a fertile garden in which weeds will grow in abundance if the seeds are not desirable. Auto and self suggestion is the method which we use to feed our mind with creative thoughts and ideas. By neglect we permit thoughts and ideas of a destructive nature to find their way into the fertile garden of the mind.
One of the major weaknesses of the average person is the word impossible. We know all the things that will not work and we know all the things that cannot be done. I suggest that you take the word impossible out of your dictionary and replace it with the phrase “ All Things Are Possible. Those who succeed in life are success conscious and those who fail are failure conscious. What I am teaching you is the art of changing your mind from failure conscious to success conscious. Your abusive habits have steeped you in poverty, want, failure, misery and defeat. Now were going to change all of that and change your way of thinking to the valuable and rewarding things in life.
Our brains have become magnetized with the dominating thoughts that we hold in our minds. These magnetic thoughts attract us to the people and the circumstances of life which harmonize with nature and control our thoughts and ideas. I have outlined six definite and practical steps that will help you reach your goals. They are simple and easy to follow.
(1) Make yourself completely aware of what you are trying to achieve and make it a definite goal. Picture your life as you want it to be. Paint that picture permanently in your mind.
(2) Keep in mind that you don’t get something for nothing. What are you willing to give in return for this gift.
(3) Establish a date, time and place that this will happen. Will it be now?
(4) Establish a definite goal and make a plan for carrying it out. Begin at once whether you are ready or not. Take action.
(5)Write out your plan and be concise. Describe every detail. What you will do to achieve it. What you will give in return. When it will happen.
(6) Read your written word aloud, twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. As you read, see, feel and believe that you are all ready there.
It is important that you follow theses instructions. Especially the sixth step. The object is to want this more than anything and become so determined that you will have it, that it becomes an obsession.
This is one of the methods I use to exercise my mind and change my way of thinking. It's my way to meditate in a light hypnotic state. Make a list of the kind of suggestions that you want to present to your mind before you lie down and relax, otherwise it may interrupt your state of meditation.
Go to a comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed relax in any comfortable chair or lie down on your bed .
Close your eyes and try to rid your mind of any hostile feelings. At first, you will find it difficult not to think. Thoughts and Ideas will keep intruding. When this happens, don't try to force the thoughts out. Observe them , and let them slowly fade away.
Now let’s get rid of the tension in your body. Beginning with your toes, imagine the tension slowly falling away and vanishing. Imagine it freeing each body part one at a time starting with your toes and working its way up your body. Visualize each part of your body becoming lighter and lighter as the tension is removed. relax your toes, then your feet. Continue with your calves, thighs, hips, stomach and so on, until you've relaxed each portion, including your face and head.
Take slow, deep breaths. When you exhale, see the tension and negativity leaving in a dark cloud. As you inhale, see the air returning as a bright force filled with life and energy.
Appreciate the fact that you are now extremely relaxed. Imagine you are at the top of a flight of 10 stairs. Picture every detail of this scene from the top to the bottom. Tell yourself that you are going to descend the stairs, counting each step down, starting at 10. Picture each number in your mind. Imagine that each number you count is further down and one step closer to the bottom. After each number, you will feel yourself drifting further and further into deep relaxation. As you take each step, imagine the feel of the step under your feet. Keep counting and stepping down until you reach the bottom. Once you reach the bottom imagine that you are happy and relaxed.
At this point, you should begin to address the issue you're concerned about. Speak in the present tense. Your subconscious mind does not understand negatives in speech - avoid using statements with negative connotation such as "I don't want to be a miserable drunk." Instead, say, "I am calm and relaxed and alcohol isn‘t my problem." Examples of positive statements "I am strong and I won‘t surrender to weakness," "I am successful and positive," and, if you have pain, "I feel wonderful."
Repeat your statement(s) to yourself as many times as you wish.
When you are satisfied, say to yourself that you will now count upwards to 10 from 0, and when you reach the number 10, you will slowly rise back to normal consciousness and remain calm and relaxed. Proceed to count upwards, again picturing the numbers in detail.
Bare in mind this is only one of the many techniques that I use. Retention, repetition and memory are some of the others.
Meditation
Repetition and retention amplifies and intersects with sense. I use them both to help me memorize and write.
This is repetition of a negative kind, referring to men of crime; “When men first come into contact with crime, they abhor it. If the remain in contact with crime for a time, they become accustomed to it, and endure it. If they remain in contact with it a long enough, they finally embrace it, and become influence by it.” You could reword it just a little bit and it could apply to substance abuse or change it around to a positive nature and it could apply to recovery. This would be an interesting exercise. Why don’t you try it, and see what you can come up with.
Memories are constructions made in accordance with present needs, desires, influences, etc.
Memories are often accompanied by feelings and emotions.
Memory usually involves awareness of the memory. We may not be conscious of the fact but memories are claimed to be significant causal factors in shaping conscious thought and behavior. There is a great deal of supportive evidence for the claim that the more traumatic an experience, the more likely one is to remember it. There is also evidence that extreme traumatic experiences are forgotten and hid in our subconscious mind.
Anyway, I like to use different methods of meditation and again it is my educated opinion that meditation is a good way to get rid of stress, sleep better, eliminate anxiety, relieve depression, boost intelligence, creativity and confidence, slow ageing, increase energy, and create remarkable emotional changes at the deepest level? The experience of deep meditation is so powerful it immediately begins to create profound, positive changes in the structure of your nervous system and your life!
My techniques are all simple yet really effective in the way you change your way of thinking. Everyone has a threshold for what they can handle coming at them from the world. When that threshold is exceeded, we attempt to deal with being pushed over it with a variety of coping mechanisms, including anxiety, anger, depression, overwhelm, sadness, substance abuse, and many others. The main thing meditation does is provide a stimulus to the brain that pushes that threshold higher.
There are several exceptional CD’s that can help you change your way of thinking through meditation using audio suggestion. Preprogrammed suggestions by leading psychologists do wonders for your mind. However self induced suggestions pre recorded by you are the most effective. Buy yourself a small recorder and record the messages that you want to use to change your thinking and stimulate your mind. You can meditate while you're sleeping. Don't procrastinate, do it. This technique works faster than you can imagine. When you go to bed tonight use the steps I use to put my mind in a hypnotic state and set your recorder to play the suggestions while you sleep.
By using these two exercises I noticed that my mind is getting sharper, that mentally things seemed to flow better. As amazing as it sounds, and this is a fact, I find myself becoming more intelligent, more focused, more intuitive, and more creative. My memory is better and I seemed to easily find solutions to problems and situations that had given me trouble before.
There is no better way to control or completely eliminate abusive drinking from your life then the methods that I offer you. I've already stated that it is my opinion that Alcoholic Anonymous does a great job as far as they go. However 45% of the people who attend AA meetings never return after their first meeting and 95% never return after their first year. Based on Alcoholics Anonymous World Services' own statistics AA has only a 5% successful retention rate.
Those people who leave AA often look for solutions in other conventional alcohol rehabilitation program, yet 97% of the conventional alcohol treatment centers are “12-step” or AA based, thus individuals essentially have to rejoin AA to get help. They rejoin and drop right back out.
Conventional alcohol and drug rehab centers do not work for the majority of people seeking help. Many people will have a better chance of recovering without being exposed to conventional alcoholism and drug addiction treatment programs.
Reminiscing
Reminiscing is another tool that I use quite often. I like to do it in the middle of the night when I'm all alone at my computer. It has brought me strength and renewed the goals I once had. It has helped me tremendously and I know it can help you. Set aside a time when you feel at ease (At least once a week). If it does nothing else it will bring you countless hours of peace, relaxation, and joy.
Do you ever find yourself reminiscing? Reminiscence refers to recollections of memories from the past. It is familiar to us all and can be utilized for the benefit of others. For people who are afflicted with the disease of substance abuse encouraging the act of reminiscence can be highly beneficial to their inner self and their interpersonal skills. Reminiscence involves exchanging memories with the old and young, friends and relatives, with caregivers and professionals, passing on information, wisdom and skills. It is about giving the person in need a sense of value, importance, belonging, power and peace. We all use it to cope in times of stress, such as mourning, it can also help reduce injury to our self image and it can create a feeling of intimacy and give special meaning to contact time with others.
As I mentioned somewhere back in the contents of this chapter I love to write poetry and short stories. I'm encouraged by events of the past, these special events are brought to me when I reminisce. I love the magic of words and they give me a sense of power when I write. However through reminiscence you establishing identity with or without words and it's a good example of how we have to adapt, giving a valuable opportunity to acquire and use new skills of communication.
I can better explain how reminiscence works through the words of one of my poems;
As I sit here alone staring down at my keyboard
searching my mind for those magical words.
I look at the past and reminisce about all the good
things and good times that I’ve had.
I remember the time when the best was all mine.
My future was set and my goals were defined,
And everything was all going my way.. Everything
that I had seemed solid. .Every thing in my life seemed
so pure. I stare at my monitor and watch all of the
yesteryears fly bye. I look over at my printer and ask
myself why. Why oh why did these things pass me bye..
I miss my sweet spouse and the kids running round the
house. I miss my Blue Spruce and the yard that I groomed.
I miss the Bar B Q that I built and the family parties we had.
I miss it all, and my heart fills with tears as I think of
those years and the wonderful life I once had.
Then I say to myself "STOP" your life’s not over yet,
make the best of what you have left. You’ve got friends
galore and so many things to be thankful for. Your wiser
now so share what you know and give help to those
full of need. Show love and compassion to all of your
friends and to all others as well. Let your heart swell with
joy and get rid of those tears. There’s no room in your life
to feel sorry for yourself and the best in life is still yours. So
even though you felt lost now you’ve been found and it’s
time to set yourself free.
"If it’s gonna be it’s all up to me and that’s the way it has to be."
If you've read and absorbed what I've written I want you to know that I wrote it just for people like you, with a true desire to find relief (and find it the right way) and be reborn. I know for a fact by your reading this far you are well on your way to Absolute and Total Recovery. Strengthen your conviction and stay on the path that will take you where you want to be.
A Moment of Mine
Recollections from the Past
My Grandmother used to sing a song to me . . . It went something like this; . . . A story I’m going to tell of a women old and gray . . . Walking the streets in the cold and the sleets at the end of a winters day. Quite weary she sank in a chair in front of a building grand . . . when a youth inside with over bearing pride came and ordered her away from there. Next door there stood a newsboy who owned a little stand . . . He saw the poor old lady ordered from the building grand . . . He ran inside his humble store as if in childish glee . . . He brought a chair from out the place with a smile upon his face . . . As these kind words he said; ...Take a seat old lady for you are welcome here . . . You’ll find it here and waiting when you pass this way . . . In silence she sat for awhile . . . poor soul she could scarcely speak . . . At last she arose and said with lips that were trembling blue . . . I’ll remember you lad once I had a boy like you . . .Well, three years have come and gone since then . . .the same old place we see. . . the boy received a letter wondering from whom it could be . . . She had died without a kin , . . Left her millions all to him . . . Through these kind words he said . . . Take a seat old lady for you are welcome here . . . you’ll find it here and welcome when you pass this way.
It’s really something, the things you remember when reminiscing in the middle of your night My grandmother used to sing a lot of songs like this and they all seem to have so much meaning. These are things that I haven’t thought about in well over 50 years. Yet I can hear them now as if she were here in person singing to me. Listen here’s another one...Once there was a Dutchman who invented a terrible machine. It ground long tail rats and pussycats into sausages and things... Oh Mr. Dundenbeck how could you be so mean...For long tail rats and pussy cats nare more will be seen...Their grounded into sausages on that terrible machine. Now something got the matter with the machine it wouldn’t work... So Dundenbeck got inside to see what he could do...His wife she had a night mare was walking in her sleep... She gave the crank one hell of a yank now Dundenbeck is meat. That’s probably not exactly how it went but isn’t it funny how things come back in the middle of the night.
Times when I’m all alone when all the work is done. These are the times when I reminisce bringing back sweet memories of days gone bye. The mind is the key to the vehicle that travels the roads and byways of time. All these journeys and their detours that couldn’t be avoided come back in flashes. My mind takes me places that I had forgotten exist. The mystery is how the mind covers the hurts, disappointments, tragedies and heartbreaks with shadows so they vaguely appear. It seems like when I reminisce it’s of goodness and cheer and hardly ever of the bad things that bring up a tear.
Where am I going with this? I really don’t know. When I reminisce my mind rambles from here to there. I pick up bits and pieces of memories that are scattered all over my past. I sit at my keyboard typing things down at a steady rhythm not stopping until I’m through Times like this I come up with the thoughts and ideas of all that I write.. So what you’re getting now is just mental jabber that may or may not lead some place. Believe it or not my best ideas come from moments like this.
This is something that I normally wouldn’t put into print but I thought it would be fun to show you how my mind really works. My thoughts and ideas are stimulated and motivated by past experiences brought back in memory while reminiscing. I can touch, smell, and taste all the memories I embrace Everything comes back to me so vividly that it’s like reliving each magic moment. For instance, I can remember when I was just a young lad I had a goat named Billy who use to pull me around in a little red wagon. Then there was my first real love, a little red headed girl with all kinds of freckles, her name was Joy Jarmen. Each one of theses memories were simple and insignificant but they had a multitude of happy experiences attached to them. I could write a story about me and my Billy goat and another about my first attraction to the opposite sex.
It’s so wonderful, specially if you’re lonely at times, to relive the happy and what was to you the exciting memories of your past. There’s a story in each one of the experiences that you’ve had and literally hundreds unfold to you as you reminisce in the past. It’s said that when you’re about to die your whole life flashes through your mind in an instant. It’s remarkable how your mind can think about so many things things all at the same time. Memories are all the treasures stored in your mind the parable being a library with thousands of books each one being a different event of your life. Can you just imagine if you were the author of all these books how many books you would have written. Just think? All the wild adventures, the special events, the love stories, the mysteries, and the tragedies that would have all been written by you and stored in your own library. Mind boggling isn’t it? All of this . . . when you reminisce
Fitness and Nutrition
I‘m just assuming that the only exercise you have been getting is when you bend your elbow, am I right? May I suggest at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days to improve your health (working out every day is best!). The list of good things about working out is endless, and you'll feel better about yourself after some moving around. If you have a healthy body chances are you’ll have a healthy mind. There are many ways to stay in shape without participating in sports or working out at a gym. You can mow and rake your lawn, jog around the block, go swimming at a local pool, lift weights with a friend, take a long walk, you can even go dancing. I can’t stress enough the importance of staying active. Strive to become physically fit and make it a habit to stay that way. Believe me, if you are healthy and feel good about yourself everything else you do will be that much easier. So change your way of thinking and make it a habit to establish healthy habits.
Proper nutrition is also important in maintaining a healthy body and mind. There are six main classes of nutrients that the body needs: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is important to consume these six nutrients on a daily basis to build and maintain a healthy body . This isn’t hard to do if you combine your main dish with veggies, soup, and a salad topped off with a glass of water or juice. Eat small amounts and eat when you’re hungry. If you have been a substance abuser for a long time exercise and nutrition have been in the trunk, now is the time to take them out and put them back to work.
It is a fact that improving the awareness of nutritious meal choices and establishing long-term habits of healthy eating has a positive effect on memory capacity, potentially increasing your ability to process and retain critical information. It is also a fact that physical fitness has the same effect. Now you know why I’ve included this section in my text.
Spirituality
Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. What exactly is the spirit? It is hard to explain. It could be the fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character. On the other hand, in religion it is the deepest part of the soul of man and the transmitting organ by which human beings can contact God. My interpretation is a little of both, a persons character and the deepest part of their soul that links between human and God. The spirit is the foundation of one’s humanity and at life’s end the spirit leaves the body. Therefore the spirit and the soul are pretty much the same. You die and your spirit/soul moves on. However while you are alive you are the spirit. Now I’d say that’s pretty complicated. When I say I want to help heal your spirit basically I want to help heal the whole you, Body, “Mind, and Spirit.”
Success, whether measured in business, family or love, is often determined by the "right" attitude. Unfortunately, maintaining that proper frame of mind, a positive attitude, isn't always easy. Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, life just seems intent on bringing us down.
Inspiration, however, is rarely far away - if we are but willing to look for it. No one is ever born into life alone. Everyone has shared the bond of family, at least at birth, and for many people it is a bond that will follow them throughout life.
For many people it is the most important bond of all. No one person can ever experience all that life has to offer. It is only through sharing experiences, feelings and insights that we can hope to grow beyond our own meager lifetime.
My life has been drenched by the constant stream of people that come in leave their thoughts and ideas then quickly leave. People that deposit their love and understanding and a touch of their wisdom in my bank of memories. Of course I’ve had those who leave broken hearts and lay out the fragment of their shattered lives These people have given me insight and let me gaze upon the beauty and the ugly found in each day. All of these people have tattooed their footsteps right on my heart. To these people I owe the many values and structure that made me what I am today. I’m proud to be me and I thank all the people that made this a possibility. You are my ticket to peace and security. I’m not what you would call a religious man but I do believe there’s a power much greater then mine. My God is a God who loves people from all walks of life. He loves his creations no matter what their religion or beliefs. We are special to him and he’ll give us a helping hand and help us to understand. Yes.. my God lives in my heart and my soul and he’s always with me where ever I go. I don’t belong to any religion, I believe in all of them as far as they go. If you have a faith that you believe in and you live up to the doctrine that faith gives to you, you can’t help but find salvation. At least that’s the way my God feels. My God lives in a room built inside my heart so he’s always with me what ever I do and where ever I go. When I do wrong he scolds me, corrects me and then he forgives me. Each day I speak to my God and ask him to guide me from harms way. Since he knows what I’m thinking and sees all that I do there’s never a need to pray. My God knows what I need and he guides me and directs me and keeps the devil away. I love My God so I let him know and I thank him several times each day. No! I’m not a religious man and I don’t go to church. My God lives in my heart and when I found him that was the end of my search. I’m thankful that he still loves me in spite of my past and I know that he’ll be with me as long as eternity lasts. Today is the anniversary of my sobriety . I’m so glad and happy that My God found room in his busy life to give me this gift. I’ve found peace and serenity and the freedom to be me.........
This is what I sincerely believe and for no other reason then LOVE I want you to listen to me. I believe in what's solid and firm, something that's not a mystery and is easy to confirm. I believe in LOVE. I'm not sure that the Holy Bible was written under the influence of God and I don't know for sure that from here there's a here after. There's one thing for sure that I do know and that's the power of Love and how it can grow. Hate, disagreement and turmoil are a few of the things that cause war and destruction. Where as, true Love given is the quickest way to peace and serenity. Whether God sits somewhere above us on his throne to guide and direct us is still a mystery to me. I know for sure that if the foundation of our life is fortified with LOVE we will have a great destiny. There's a God in my heart and I call my GOD LOVE and my God's as strong and as powerful as anything that comes from above. Love is not something that you need blind faith just to know that it's there. If you open your eyes you'll see it everywhere. I believe in LOVE and that's what I wanted to share. You can have some of my LOVE it's from Big Daddy Cash." I really care."
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Now it doesn’t matter whether you are a believer or not I fully intend to help you cure yourself. But it will be a lot easier if we have God’s help. Who or whatever your God might be. We (You and I) have covered many of the methods I use to stay sober and clean. Methods I use everyday and will as long as I live. I don’t believe the AA program works as well as mine but I do believe that the 12 Steps can be one of the tools that will set you free.
The 12 Suggested Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
1) We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable.
2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12)Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
I picked up the following letters in an AA newsletter. I thought you might find them interesting.
'My Higher Power Had Gotten Through'
I had tried to get sober several times. I went to A.A., I went to N.A., I prayed, I detoxed, and still, I kept at it, dragging myself through the mud.
Finally, I went to rehab, got sober for six months, and the day I got out, I went staight to the bar. Hence, another 3yrs of misery.
Then one night, I sat in the clutches of my misery, sucking on a bottle of whiskey. I lit some candles, and there I sat in the dark of the night amongst the silence of the glimmering candlelight. Their waves of light flickered against the wall, and as I sat, the realization of what I was doing just glared at me in a sullen solemnity. And suddenly, I realized that my higher power was trying to reach out to me. I went to look in the mirror, and my face reflected the parlor of death - I was literally dying.
It was real, and I said to myself in the quiet of that night, that I was done, and it was like a sudden surge of power rushing into my soul - my higher power had gotten through.
The next day, I slammed one last spider-shot of whiskey, endured a final and painful round of detox, and I haven't looked back. It was the defining moment of a spiritual awakening like one I've never before, or since, experienced.
Love Poured over Me
I was crying hysterically, and then I just got down on my knees and prayed. I prayed from my heart, like never before. I begged God to heal me and to help me. I begged him to stop me from the insanity of what I was doing. I prayed never to do drugs again. Then I felt this tremendous amount of love pour over me. I felt such a sense of relief. I felt that God was right there with me. I was still crying, but crying tears of joy.
Peace and Serenity
All alcoholics and drug users suffer from chemical imbalances caused by the substance they abuse.." These imbalances can cause mood swings, stress, nervousness, a bad temper, excessive sleeping, insomnia, unexplainable outbursts, uncontrollable crying, sadness and frequent headaches. I can verify that this is a fact because all of the people that I’ve helped over the past ten years have had all or most of these symptoms. Personally I suffered every dam one of them. Since you are an abuser (admit it) I’m certain these symptoms have caused you to live in a life of “Hell”, a life in the Gray World. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have freedom from these miseries? A life of ATARAXIS (Peace). It’s not impossible and it can, and will happen if you are sincere. With just a little bit of my assistances and support and a strong and true desire (As Your Part) tranquility will be yours.
Here is something that I am sure that you’ve done when you’ve been completely inebriated (intoxicated) and out of control, taking your brain out of you head to examined it. All of us drunks and pot heads have done this (fortunately, I can‘t be included in that category anymore). I’ve learned how to do this when you are sober and in control, so can you. Using my methods you can replace all the bad with good in your brain (Mind) and find solutions that fix any problem or circumstance
Let’s talk about Peace, Serenity, and Tranquility. Can you remember the last time that you took a moment to gaze at the sky or look at the ocean and see all the beauty they bestow .How about watching the leaves on a tree dancing in the wind or lovely flowers glistening in the sun. When you allow yourself to soak in and appreciate these peaceful moments, you can experience instant peace and tranquility. I call these moments natures relievers. Good music, works of art, poetry and literature are also natures relievers and a tool for instant relief from misery and pain.
It’s easy to meditate using nature’s relievers experiencing the simple beauty that is everywhere around us. Close your eyes and inwardly embrace the magnificence of all the natural surroundings the Real World has to offer. I know in the Gray World you don’t have time for such nonsense. Abuse has robbed you of the joy you should be experiencing in life. When you feel anxious or stressful, take a moment and realize all the good things you’ve missed, then respond in a positive manner to the dynamic glories around you and rejuvenate yourself in rebirth.
I keep referring to Alcoholic Anonymous as a place where you can find some of the tools to maintain your success. AA has adopted the Serenity Prayer as major part of their program. When the serenity prayer was introduce to Bill W. (founder of AA) his comment was, and I quote “Never have we seen so much AA in so few words”. (By the way for the sake of anonymity I don’t think Bill W. ever revealed his last name) I agree with Bill W., that the Serenity Prayer is the whole concept off AA. I find the Serenity prayer beautiful, meaningful, and reverent. If you believe in God you should memorize it and use it often.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional and Everlasting
I love you as you are, as you seek to find your own special way to relate to the world. I honor your choices to learn in the way that you feel is right for you.
I know it is important that you are the person you want to be, and not someone that I or others think you should be. I realize that I cannot know what is best for you, although perhaps sometimes I think I do. I have not been where you have been, viewing life from the angle you have. I do not know what you have chosen to learn, how you have chosen to learn it, with whom or in what time period. I have not walked through life looking through your eyes, so how can I know what you need?
I allow you to be in the world without a thought or word of judgment from me about the deeds you undertake. I see no error in the things you say and do. In this place where I am, I see that there are many ways to perceive and experience the different facets of our world. I allow, without reservation, the choices you make in each moment. I make no judgment of this, for if I would deny your right to your evolution, then I would deny that right for myself and others.
To those who would choose a way I cannot walk, while I may not add my power and my energy to this way, I will never deny you the gift of love that God has bestowed within me for all creation. As I love you, so I shall be loved. As I sow, so shall I reap.
I allow you the universal right of free will to walk your own path, creating steps or to sit awhile if that is what is right for you. I will make no judgment that these steps are large or small, nor light or heavy, nor that they lead up or down, for this is just my viewpoint. I may see you do nothing and judge it to be unworthy, and yet it may be that you bring great healing as you stand blessed by the light of God. I cannot always see the higher picture of divine order.
For it is the inalienable right of all life to choose their own evolution, and with great love I acknowledge your right to determine your future. In humility, I bow to the realization that the way I see as best for me does not have to mean it is also right for you. I know that you are led as I am, following the inner excitement to know your own path.
I know that the many races, religions, customs, nationalities and beliefs within our world bring us great riches, and allow us the benefit and teachings of such diverseness. I know we each learn in our own unique way in order to bring that love and wisdom back to the Whole. I know that if there was only one way to do something, there would need be only one person....
I will not only love you if you behave in a way I think you should or believe in those things I believe in. I understand you are truly my brother or sister, though you may have been born in a different place and believe in another God than I.
The love I feel is for all God's world. I know that every living thing is a part of God, and I feel a love deep within for every person, animal, tree and flower, every bird, river and ocean, and for all the creatures in all the world.
I live my life in loving service, being the best me I can, becoming wiser in the perfection of Divine Truth, becoming happier in the joy of
My brother Jimmy was a confirmed alcoholic and drug abuser and because I wouldn’t allow him to bring drinks and drugs into my home I wrote him this letter.
Dear Jimmy, My love for you is unconditional as a blood brothers love should be. I've worried about you and prayed to my God asking him for an answer that would relieve all your miseries. I've meditated for hours upon hours trying to figure out a way to help put you back in command of your life. If there was anyway possible I'd step into your ora and straighten out all your problems for you, both you and I know that's impossible even though my intentions are sincere. Even though I really want to help you I can't allow myself to be misguided by compassion and shield you from the reality of your brunt errors. To do this would cause devastating results subsidizing failure. Let's face it Jim you are my brother and I don't want to see you fail.
Even though I'd gladly change places with you it wouldn't work because in my new role I'd find success and in your new role you'd fail. It's the hard truth that I'm telling you and I hope it's not to late for you to listen to me.
Through all my meditation and prayer it's become plain to me, that if you're ever going to find happiness, peace and serenity it's all up to you. You have to take complete control of your life and be the master of your own destiny. My doing this for you would only eliminate all your incentive and go against human nature. To give you love in the form of protection and comfort just might be the wrong thing to do.
You've been stumbling, falling and out of control for a very long time and I know you've sought help from a good many sources. Nothing has worked because you've been looking in all the wrong places. Motivation classes, treatment centers and all kinds of therapy are not the answer for you. The answer is so simple and I know you'll baulk when I give it to you. But listen to me anyway Jim, I've been there and I know.
The first thing you're are going to have to do, and I know you'll strongly resist, is re-except the God that you know. Once this is done then you can again become the master in control of your life. It's almost impossible to do this without God on your side and very improbable.
Being the master means you except responsibility for all things that have happened to you. Regardless of what has happened in your life except the fact that it was you that made it possible. No matter what our stance is in life, we are there because we were or we were not in command. I love you Jimmy but my unconditional love isn't enough, I have to be strong enough and relentless enough to give you strong and true love.
With a little common sense and a whole lot of faith all things are possible. Somewhere in the Bible there's a scripture that reads; "Be not deceived, God shall not be mocked, for what so ever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.’ And again it tutors, ‘in the furnace of affliction I shall refine thee." There's your answer Jimmy, you're a person with much more then average intelligence so you know dam well that I'm right. Love, Cash
Jimmy never received this letter because he had already died of a cause related to substance abuse. His untimely death caused me to dedicate my life to helping others succeed where he had failed. Thus I finally realized that God had saved my life so that I could save others.
Learning how to truly love a person or a people requires that we abandon schemes, which shield loved ones and collective society from every bruise, bump, storm, or roadblock along the road of life. For complete love is not blind and not stupid. Complete love accepts people as they are and administers to their needs with wisdom; a wisdom which dictates that sometimes the most compassionate answer to a plea for help is a firm and unflinching NO.
Anxiety and Depression
The substance abuser has a tendency to prevaricate (skirt the issue) when it relates to emotions.
While under the influence, they can go through many stages from over friendliness, to hostility, to fear, to depression, to sorrow and then want to be left alone, thus skirting awareness and occasionally blacking out. Refutation (denial) of the abuser can lead to attacks of anxiety, induced by the substance used, severe worry, fear and repeated panicky can result in suicidal intentions. Getting help for these anxiety problems is a lot easier said then done. There has always been a stigma attached to anxiety. The alcoholic won’t admit that he or she has a problem. They are ashamed and humiliated when confronted. Worries and fears show signs of weakness and the abuser slips deeper into denial. I’ve worked with clients who have schizophrenic disorders, bipolar disorders, and all kinds of anxiety disorders. Some are related to the cause of abuse but most are the result of the abuse. I may well be contradicted, but never the less it’s again my educated opinion based on successful results that all the problems that stem from abuse can be self cured by positive thinking and a complete change of ones thinking.
While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, the illness of depression can have enormous depth and staying power. The first step in fighting depression is to understand what it is, how it affects you and what causes it. Depression is not something you can just "snap out of". You need to nip it in the bud and alter your thoughts by changing your way of thinking. Many things cause depression. The cause we are dealing with is substance abuse. Ingestion of drugs into ones body causes a serious imbalance of brain chemicals causing a reaction that stimulates hostility, fear and depression. Withdrawal from any substance such as alcohol, medications and mind altering drugs, often triggers a deep and traumatic depression. If you have had deep depression or been close to someone who has, you know that it cannot be lifted at will or wished away. It has to be dealt with by eliminating the cause. Taking this step can make all the difference and I’m here to help show you the way. God has given me the tools, now I’m giving them to you so let’s use them.
There is no need for you to spend the rest of your life in the Gray World. My intentions to help you move to the Real World are deeply Imbedded and Sincere. If someone had just come to me and said they were a victim of alcohol or drug abuse, I would really want them to know that there is a way out and that they could be helped, that they would get better, that they should avail themselves with an open mind to all of the options, get plenty of exercise, eat well, surround themselves by supportive people and keep on keeping on.
There is a whole lot of research telling us that, not only do prevention programs have a minimal impact, they often backfire, causing more abuse and addiction! This is because such programs constantly emphasize the addictive power of drugs and alcohol, thus damaging the tendencies of those most vulnerable. You have in your grasp the capacity to belief in your own capabilities, Granted, a substance can be more powerful than then you are if you let it.
Christian Redemption
I don’t believe in any set religion but I am a Christian and I believe Jesus Christ was our Savior. He lived to teach the Christian concept and he died for our sins so that we could be reborn. I’m one of the lucky ones that was given a chance to be reborn here on earth so that I can be reborn again and enter Gods Kingdom. Nicodemus asked Jesus about rebirth in the book of John;. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. In the book of Acts Peter explains being born of water; Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I also believe that through redemption I was forgiven for my sins and given a new life here on earth with a mission. My mission is to help others in need, to be reborn and live a clean life, free of substance abuse. So I have dedicated the rest of my life to people like you who are sick and tired of being sick tired and want to move out of the Gray World into the Real World. I promise to help and support you all the way back.
You may not be a Christian and you may be total agnostic or atheistic that doesn’t matter to me, in my book your still one of Gods creations so I’ll help you no matter what. Regardless of your beliefs you still deserve a chance to live a normal and productive life. And who better then I for I have been there and I know what you are going through. I also Know what your family is going through. Your sickness has effected your entire family to some extent. They need you and they need you totally sober with no chance of relapse. Families who are entangled in active alcoholism and codependency either grow together or they grow apart.
The family that recovers together stays together.
To change the subject for a moment lets change the analogy. I’ve heard claims from therapists and counselors that it’s the alcohol content that makes abusive drinkers. Hog wash ! People way back in biblical times were getting drunk and abusive just as people get drunk and abusive today so who cares how much alcohol content there is in a drink? There are abusers looking to abuse. It's abuse that is the problem, not the alcohol content. You can sip whiskey, mix Rum with Coke, or whatever. As long as you don't get drunk and drink for the glory of God, you are cool. That’s horse shit ! The argument for alcohol content, in my opinion, is a bit of a red herring. It is off topic. My stand remains, and is sufficient. It doesn’t matter what we buy whether it be can of Coors or a jug of Seagrams 7. it‘s all the same. No matter how you look at it getting drunk in the first place is an abusive behavior. Staying drunk for long periods of time is a serious abusive problem. I don’t know what brought this to mind, but I think it’s rather interesting, don’t you?
Anyway the reason that I included this section in my book is because even though my beliefs and your beliefs may differ I still respect your right to believe what ever you wish as long as it doesn’t interfere with your cure.
Summary
(1) AA as a source has given us two very efficient tools to aid in Total Recovery. The 12 Steps and The Serenity Prayer. I love to write and I read a lot and it’s through books and written material that I find the secrets to success. You may scoff when I suggest Napoleon Hills “Think and Grow Rich” as a bible that will definitely aid in the complete cure of alcoholism, but let me assure you it works and so does “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. By understanding and applying the thirteen simple steps that constitute Hill's formula, you can: achieve your goals, change your life, and join the ranks of total sobriety. Who knows you might even become rich and successful in the process. I would consider that a bonus Napoleon Hill uncovers the secret to great wealth based on the notion that if you can learn to think like the rich, you can start to behave like them. It is my educated opinion that if you can think like the non alcoholic you can live a successful alcohol free lifestyle.
(2) Do a complete overhaul of your mind and change your way of thinking. With me as a passenger you’re in the drivers seat and you can and will cure yourself by using the exercises in my text.
(3) Open your mind, get a clear picture of your problem, find the solution, and stick to your guns. You now have the keys that will start the vehicle that will drive you to the cure. Remember I’ve been there, suffered the same that you’ve suffered, felt the same pain, and I can help. Don’t hesitate to ask!
(4) Set your goals a make a definite plan to achieve them. Write them down and post them where you can review them daily. Again, take positive action don’t let anything or anyone change your direction.
(5) Schedule a time to use auto and self suggestion, everyday. Don’t put off what you can do today. In 21 days by constantly reminding yourself and taking care of things up front you will create new habits. Make sure non-procrastination is one of them.
(6) You can become the Master of Your Destiny if you use honesty and integrity as a guide line. Don’t blame others for your weaknesses and failures. Everything that has happened to you has happened at your own accord. It was your decision to become an abuser no one else’s. It’s time to stand on your own two feet and be responsible for your actions.
(7) Use the relaxation steps I outlined for you to put yourself in a hypnotic state to use auto and self suggestion. Make sure you are completely relaxed before you start feeding your mind. It may take several times before it becomes effective but don’t give up it really works.
(8) Use repetition and retention to amplify your senses. Learn to meditate at least once a week, more if so desired. Meditation will renew old goals and aspirations, it will also recapture old strengths and moral beliefs.
(9) Keep yourself physically fit by taking long walks, working in your yard, participating in a sport, working out in a gym and anything that keeps you moving. Keep yourself nutritionally fit by eating the right foods, taking vitamins, drinking several glasses of water or juice and eat small amounts several times daily. Keep everything in moderation.
(10) Again, make good use of the 12 Steps and the Serenity Prayer. They are both real good guide lines for daily living.
(11) Practice unconditional love. Join in community events. Schedule everything we’ve covered and keep it up on a daily bases. Constantly work on changing your way of thinking. Remember there’s no such thing as impossible, everything is possible.
(12) Review, review, and keep reviewing. Contact me for support and encouragement
(13) This is a highly condensed version of my text. However I’ve covered all the important issues and if you follow my outline you will enjoy the freedom of Total Sobriety.
We live daily in the midst of all manner of thoughts and ideas. Impulses that are reaching our subconscious mind. Some of these impulses are positive, some are negative, if we don’t feed our mind daily with positive thoughts then negative thoughts will reach our subconscious mind with out our knowledge. All this time, (with written word) without your knowledge, I presume, I have been feeding your mind with positive thoughts and ideas. I know I have you reading my text but until you have excepted my methods and actually put them to practice, I want to eliminate as many negative impulses as possible. I have several hidden messages through out my written word which are primarily meant to reach your subconscious mind.
I’ll end this chapter with a poem.
TODAY I SMILED
Today I smiled, and all at once
Things didn't look so bad.
Today I shared with someone else,
A bit of hope I had.
Today I sang a little song,
And felt my heart grow light,
And walked a happy little mile,
With not a cloud in sight.
Today I worked with what I had
And longed for nothing more,
And what had seemed like only weeds,
Were flowers at my door.
Today I loved a little more
And complained a little less,
And in the giving of myself,
I forgot my weariness.