Life as a mirror"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."-- C.G. Jung We get clues about our unconscious programming if we watch our reactions, responses, feelings and thoughts about other people and events. Ask yourself: How do I judge or stereotype people? What pushes my buttons? What makes me angry or fearful or sad? The outer incidents that trigger these reactions in me simply MIRROR my own nature. If I didn't have beliefs around the issues that upset me, where would my reactions come from? If I didn't have some internal reference, I wouldn't react at all. When outer events spark a reaction, we need to look inside to explore what’s going on."We discover in ourselves what others hide from us and we recognize in others what we hide from ourselves."-- Vauvenargues (Source: Getting Past Gambling)

Fits into gambling relapse also:"Relapse begins a long time before you pick up that first drink or drug."I'm a three meeting minimum a week kind of guy. Anything below that and I begin feeling, well, kind of vulnerable. Oh, not that I'm going to pick up and use, but vulnerable to what my head tells me, and vulnerable to feeling more irritable, restless and discontented. I'm quicker to judge, and I begin storing resentments.After a few weeks of that, it begins to get harder to make even two meetings a week. Soon I'm not answering my phone very much and calling my sponsor doesn't even occur to me. Work pressures mount, and on the way home you're not driving fast enough, and the parking lot is full, and Blockbuster doesn't have the movie I want. Suddenly the world is out of whack, and the idea of a drink seems not only natural, but completely reasonable as well.I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people who relapse tell a story similar to the one above. It always scares the heck out of me because there have been times when I've begun to go down that same path. Thank God for my commitments, a strong support group, regular meetings I look forward to, and sponsees who continue to call me.Today I have four meetings a week I go to - whether I need them or not - because I want to keep the distance between me a relapse as far apart as possible. ___________________________________ Want to subscribe? Visit: http://www.theWisdomoftheRooms.com to sign up for FREE. (Source: Getting Past Gambling)

"Men are more accountable for their motives, than for anything else ...."-- Archibald Alexander Why are you doing what you are doing? Throughout the day, continually ask yourself about your underlying motivation. Are you doing what you are doing for selfish, manipulative or fearful reasons, or in honest service? Maybe you will see that much of your activity lacks purpose. This is a great way to become more conscious. Your intention and motives are fundamental to the results you receive. Set high intentions and your life will blossom."A good intention clothes itself with power."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (Source: Getting Past Gambling)

"The program does for us slowly what (gambling) alcohol and drugs did for us quickly."I can clearly remember what I felt like before recovery. I was anxious, on edge, so uncomfortable with my life that I wanted and needed to escape. I can also remember the immediate sense of ease and comfort that came from the first hit of my drugs or alcohol. Suddenly, everything was OK, and the future actually had some hope in it. This was my solution for a long time, and when it stopped working, I was truly at a jumping off point. In the beginning of my recovery, meetings and fellowship offered me temporary relief from the near constant dread and anxiety I felt. The problem was how to get by in between meetings, and I'll tell you, it was rough going for quite a while.And that's when I heard someone share that"we go to meetings for relief, but we work the steps for recovery."As I worked my program, I found this to be true. The relief and sense of ease and comfort I used to get through using now began to be part of my everyday experience. After a while, I actually had peace and serenity and most of the time felt comfortable in my own skin.One day I realized that the program had done for me slowly what drugs and alcohol had done for me quickly.Visit:http://www.theWisdomoftheRooms.com (Source: Getting Past Gambling)

"The program does for us slowly what (gambling) alcohol and drugs did for us quickly."I can clearly remember what I felt like before recovery. I was anxious, on edge, so uncomfortable with my life that I wanted and needed to escape. I can also remember the immediate sense of ease and comfort that came from the first hit of my drugs or alcohol. Suddenly, everything was OK, and the future actually had some hope in it. This was my solution for a long time, and when it stopped working, I was truly at a jumping off point. In the beginning of my recovery, meetings and fellowship offered me temporary relief from the near constant dread and anxiety I felt. The problem was how to get by in between meetings, and I'll tell you, it was rough going for quite a while.And that's when I heard someone share that"we go to meetings for relief, but we work the steps for recovery."As I worked my program, I found this to be true. The relief and sense of ease and comfort I used to get through using now began to be part of my everyday experience. After a while, I actually had peace and serenity and most of the time felt comfortable in my own skin.One day I realized that the program had done for me slowly what drugs and alcohol had done for me quickly.Visit:http://www.theWisdomoftheRooms.com (Source: Getting Past Gambling)

My courage must come each day, as does my desire to avoid a single bet, a single addictive act. It must be a continuing courage, without deviations and procrastination, without rashness, and without fear of obstacles. this would seem like a large order indeed, were it not for the fact that it is confined to this one day, and that within this day much power is given to me. Do I extend the Serenity Prayer to my entire life? Today I Pray May each new morning offer me a supply of courage to last me during the day. If my courage is renewed each day and I know that I need just a day's worth, that courage will always be fresh and the supply will not run out. May I realize, as days pass, that what I feared during the earliest days of my recovery I no longer fear, that my daily courage is now helping me cope with bigger problems. Today I Will Remember God give me courage - just for today. (Source: Getting Past Gambling)