We entertained the thought that staying clean was not paying off, and the old thinking stirred up self-pity, resentment, and anger.

Basic Text, p. 102

=

There are days when some of us wallow in self-pity.  Its easy to do.  We may have expectations about how our lives should be in recovery, expectations that arent always met.  Maybe weve tried unsuccessfully to control someone, or we think our circumstances should be different.  Perhaps weve compared ourselves with other recovering addicts and found ourselves lacking.  The more we try to make our life conform to our expectations, the more uncomfortable we feel.  Self-pity can arise from living in our expectations instead of in the world as it actually is.

When the world doesnt measure up to our expectations, its often our expectations that need adjusting, not the world.  We can start by comparing our lives today with the way they used to be, developing gratitude for our recovery.  We can extend this exercise in gratitude by counting the good things in our lives, becoming thankful that the world does not conform to our expectations but exceeds them.  And if we continue working the Twelve Steps, further cultivating gratitude and acceptance, what we can expect in the future is more growth, more happiness, and more peace of mind.

Weve been given much in recovery; staying clean has paid off.  Acceptance of our lives, just for today, frees us from our self-pity.

=

Just for today:  I will accept my life, gratefully, just as it is.