TOOLS FOR RECOVERY

The Serenity Prayer

Slogans

Just for Today

Dealing with Detachment

The Serenity Prayer

Al-Anon suggests the words of the Serenity prayer can help us gain perspective, sort out what we can and can not do, and know when to act and when to let go.

God grant me the Serenity
to Accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can
and Wisdom to know the difference.

One Day at a Time
Think
Let Go and Let God
Easy Does It
Listen and Learn
First Things First
Live and Let Live
Keep It Simple

Love, Learn and Grow
Progress, Not Perfection
How Important Is It?
Mind My Own Business
Keep An Open Mind
But for the Grace of God
Let It Begin With Me
Just For Today

Together We Can Make It
Principles Above Personalities

Al-Anon uses slogans to assist members to recover during difficult periods:

Slogans

JUST FOR TODAY I will try to live through this day

only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt

that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be happy. This assumes to be

true what Abraham Lincoln said, that "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

JUST FOR TODAY I will adjust myself to what is, and

not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.

JUST FOR TODAY I will try to strengthen my mind. I

I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY I will exercise my soul in three ways:

I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do - just for exercise. I will not show anyonethat my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for Today...

This conference-approved literature in bookmark form provides meditations and a prayer to help us stay focused on what we can do, “Just For Today.”

JUST FOR TODAY I will be agreeable. I will look as

well as I can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous, criticize not one bit. I won't find fault with anything, nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have a program. I may

not follow it exactly but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have a quiet half hour all

by myself and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective on my life.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be unafraid. Especially I

will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

ALCOHOLISM

is a family disease

In Al-Anon We Learn :

Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other people;
Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the interest of another’s recovery;
Not to do for others what they could do for themselves;
Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed, get up, pay bills, not drink;
Not to cover up for anyone’s mistakes or misdeeds;
Not to create a crisis;
Not to prevent a crisis if it is in the natural course of events.

Dealing with DETACHMENT

Living with the effects of someone else’s drinking is too devastating for most people to bear without help.

In Al-Anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it.
We let go of our obsession with another’s behavior and begin to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than ourselves.In Al-Anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it.

Detachment is neither kind nor unkind. It does not imply judgment or condemnation of the person or situation from which we are detaching. It is simply a means that allows us to separate ourselves from the adverse effects that another person’s alcoholism can have upon our lives. Detachment helps families look at their situations realistically and objectively, thereby making intelligent decisions possible.