Grey Book Reflection
Many have found that our sick mental processes change very slowly through repeated practice of new unfamiliar principles.
Gray Book, p. 121 (Chapter Seven, Lines 19-23)
It takes quite a bit of relearning how to Live Life as a part of society after we stop using. We come into the Program after months, years, or decades of surviving on a level that is not fit for a healthy person. After we realize that not only are we powerless over our addiction, but we are not very good at coping with Life either. We have little or no experience at Living Life on life's terms.
Our old habits will die hard, and only through repeated effort on our part. We are told to attend daily Meetings, make daily phone calls, daily writing, and daily Prayer. These simple acts that we do in the course of a day will help us to relearn new healthy habits and replace the old ones like isolating and acting out. After practicing these new habits for a while, we will notice our thinking patterns begin to change. No longer do we feel that we need to be in control of everything and everyone. Some of our actions are that we begin Living the Spiritual Principles found in the Steps and Traditions. Talking and working with our Sponsors are also an essential part of getting us on the right track.
That's when the Restoration to Sanity that is mentioned in the Second Step will become a Reality for us. We have to become Willing to work the Program to the best of our ability. We Accept that our way of thinking needs to change in order to stay Clean.
This is a Lifelong Process. We can change to become healthy and productive members of society, as long as we work for it.
We will replace old habits with new ones that are suggested to us. We will reach out and let someone know what we're thinking. Remember, we only Recover A Day At A Time.