THE ADDICT AS OPTIMIST

The Russian optimist says: "Things cannot get any worse."

The addict optimist says: "Yes they can!"

     It is said a grateful addict never uses. When feeling down, sponsors will often suggest making a gratitude list. In one or two previous posts on this blog I've written on how to do a gratitude list. It is a good first step in pulling oneself out of the self-pity chasm.

     The disease knows if my attitude goes down and stays down long enough, I'll use. There is nothing I can gain from using, not even a temporary relief from pain. If I think it through, I remember all of the pain I was enduring as an active addict. I didn't get clean because everything was going great in my life. So, what's the alternative?

     When you are feeling down there are a great many alternatives to using: gratitude lists, meetings, telephone another addict, talk to your sponsor (and if you don't have one, get one!), help someone else, get into program service work, read program literature, work on your Steps with your sponsor, or begin your day over.

     One thing is to live in the solution rather than living in the problem. What does that mean?

     Living in the problem: "Look at what happened to me!"

     Living in the solution: "Okay, what am I going to do about it?"

     Your attitude, how you feel, is your choice as long as you remain clean and in recovery. The moment you pick up you zero out your choices.

      Thanks for looking in and pick a great day for yourself.