Recovery Connections Network : Monday Thoughts 04/08/2019

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Monday Thoughts 04/08/2019

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” ~~Maya Angelou

“Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see. Judge yourself and you see judges everywhere. But if you listen to the sound of your own voice, you can rise about doubt and judgment. And you can see forever.” ~~Nancy Lopez

“Have you recently been through a challenge, disappointment, break up or disloyalty with somebody in your life? If so, it’s important after you’ve been hurt, to take some time to think like a lion tamer about your pain, so you can tame the possibility of more negativity coming back to bite you again!” ~~Karen Salmansohn

Statement #2

Negative thoughts destroy only myself.

My first conscious sober act is to reduce negativity in my life.

Statement #2 can sound impossible to put into action when feelings of doubt, sorrow or emotional turmoil appear but the WFS New Life Program can help relinquish negativity, embrace balance and growth while laying a foundation for a sense of contentment.

Our WFS Program Booklet states “Our overcoming is in exact proportion to our becoming.” How this is achieved is different for every woman, since each of us have different life experiences but the outcome is the same; overcoming equals becoming.

Identifying negativity is the first action towards employing Statement #2. Being able to recognize how, where, when and why negativity appears provides an avenue to overcome it. Notice there is no “who” in the previous list. While there may be a “who” factoring in the negativity, (he/she said/did/didn’t) the responsibility belongs where? My first conscious sober act is to reduce negativity in my life.

What does negativity feel like in your life? Fear? Doubt? Anger? Guilt?

What small actions can you take today to reduce negativity?

Hugzzz

Karen

Hi 4C Women,

Negativity usually appears as anger or frustration for me. When I experience or see an injustice, I am angry. When I feel invisible, I feel angry. The difference is I have learned to be as proactive as possible so rather than staying in negativity, I work on creating an action plan. I also feel a huge difference between the foundation of negativity that I previously built my life on and the awareness now that deep negativity hurts myself, damages what could be healthy relationships and changes nothing unless I change my response and attitude.

It's important to note that the statement says to "reduce" negativity. It's an ongoing process as we learn about ourselves, change and grow. I don't know if any of you have watched the show, Hoarders, but the one thing I have learned from that show is that the only way to change our thinking or behavior is to work through it ourselves, to take responsibility. If someone else does it, we still have the same thinking and behavior and will need to be rescued again. I use the word rescue because that is how I viewed my "blame everyone else" life. As long as they were all responsible for my miserable lot in life, I just sat back and waited for them to take care of me. That belief left no space or opportunity to grow and take charge. I am not talking about supporting, caring or helping others because we all that need at times. Goodness knows I have been blessed to have that kind of loving support. I am talking about being so negative that no life lesson has a chance to break down the wall of negativity.

I am grateful to have discovered that blaming others, which I became very good at doing, damaged me more than anything. This doesn't mean that others don't impact our lives, hurt us and cause pain. For me, it means I have to learn how to react differently and let go of toxic people. I just don't want me to be one of those toxic people that others want to let go of! Thank goodness for this life-changing Statement. It certainly became one that has made the biggest change/impact on my thinking, attitude and behavior.

Bonded together in building a positive, healthy outlook on our 4C life,

A beautiful 4C woman

WFS Annual Weekend Conference 2019

Don't miss this workshop at this year's conference!

Dynamic Gentle Chair Yoga

Dynamic Gentle Chair Yoga meets you where you are! It includes purposely using the breath along with delicious slow movement for stress relief and increased flexibility. Yoga practice with the support of a chair can be surprisingly deep and effective. Used as a prop, the chair supports the body in seated and standing postures to find safe alignment as we journey towards better flexibility, stamina, posture, strength and peace of mind.

Dynamic Gentle Chair Yoga is for women who may not be able – or who may not want to get down to the floor. All are invited to this workshop! In fact, just sitting in a chair and being in the room with us is all you need to reap many of the benefits of the class. Yoga is for Everyone and I can prove this to you! Come one, come all.

Mary B (DoodleMom), Peer Presenter

Mary became a Certified Yoga Instructor two years ago, fulfilling a life long dream, all due to her new life. With continuing personal, physical alignment issues due to osteo arthritis Mary has taken her Basic Gentle Yoga teaching techniques – to the chair! She has participated in several workshops & is studying towards an additional certification in a Program entitled Dynamic Gentle Chair Yoga!