Acceptance is the answer...

“And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.”

-The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, 4^th ed.

Have you ever given any real thought to the above statement? As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous tells us, acceptance is the answer to all of our problems today. Not some of our problems - not just our drinking or drug problems, or our problems with food, sex, gambling, or the internet, but all of our problems. Do you not think this is true? Think about this: are you where you want to be in your life at this moment? Are you living the kind of life you really want to be living? Are your relationships exactly how you want them to be? Do you like your job? How are your finances? What about your health? Do you need to lose a few pounds, quit smoking, or start exercising? My guess is that you are not exactly where you want to be in life, and this is why: you are fighting. You are fighting the fact that you dislike your job. You are angry at your spouse, parents, friends, or co-workers. You are broke, or you do not feel that you are earning enough money to meet your financial obligations. Maybe you have gotten a little thick around the middle in the last year. It is not your current reality which needs to change, but your level of acceptance. As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says, “When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation – some fact of my life – unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.” Referring to your lists of THINGS I CAN CHANGE and THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, take a close look at the areas of your life you are truly powerless to do anything about, THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE. Part of your unhappiness, depression, discouragement, and hopelessness is that you have been focusing your energy on things you cannot do anything about. THE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOU MUST LEARN TO ACCEPT. Accepting the things you cannot change does not mean you have to agree with these things. It does not mean you have to like these things or believe that these things are fair. The goal is to move towards an attitude of acceptance - that is the crux of the whole idea behind acceptance, the key to happiness and serenity, and a stepping stone to a new way of life. Refer to your list of THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE again. Each morning, afternoon, or evening – better yet, all throughout the day – begin to pray for acceptance of these things. Ask God or your Higher Power to help you accept these things. If you are not quite there yet, ask your Higher Power for the willingness to accept these things. And remember, attempting to pray is praying. Expect immediate results if you are sincerely asking for help with acceptance. Keep this practice up for the rest of the day, tomorrow, and whenever you begin to struggle with acceptance of the things you cannot change. Get ready and roll up your sleeves, because the real work of changing your life begins on the next page.

I hope you have enjoyed the reading from my book:

Chopping Wood & Carrying Water: One Day at at Time

You can view more of the book, or download it for a minimal cost by clicking on the following address:
http://freedomthroughchange.com//

As always, thank you for reading. Keep chopping wood & carrying water...just for today.