How? Honesty - Open-mindedness - Willingness
It does not take much effort to get into a positive form of recovery. All it takes is the willingness to let go of all our old ideas. This seems to be a great stumbling block for most who get into drug, alcohol or co-Dependant recovery.
Here's what was pointed out to me in regards to taking what I need and leaving the rest.
Think of the exploration of information as a big supermarket. I am walking along with my shopping trolley collecting items that I want and need. Everything else I leave on the shelf.
In recovery, we must take exactly same position. Certain information will come up at the exact time we need it. It is up to us to take the required information and combine the information with action.
Just because a speaker or author provides certain information which conflicts with our existing belief systems is not a good reason to reject any or all information provided by that speaker. All we need do is take what will serve us and leave the rest.
This is the secret of Open-Mindedness. The ability to withdraw the ego from the judgment process. After all, it is the ego who is being deflated. The cunning ego will provide any number of "good" reasons to ignore information which will dis empower it.
That is why most newcomers usually don't like people at 12 Step Meetings. The ego is telling the patient to dislike others in the fellowship in order to maintain power over the will. If we hear information which is empowering for the spirit, it is dis empowering for the ego.
The ego knows that time is running out. It wants to run the show. That is why it is difficult to accept new information. The ego seems willing to try every trick in the book in a vain attempt to continue being the boss.
First Things First
The timing of the your Higher Power is perfect. We will receive the right information at exactly the time we require it. We can take action on empowering information. It is up to us to act on the information in order to move through the journey. If we do not move-on, we will feel stuck and discontent.
In my case, I followed the First Things First philosophy. What I am meant to be dealing with today, I will deal with today. What I am meant to be dealing with ten years down the track, does not receive any major attention today. Today I will just do today.
We can become Willing to be Open Minded enough to admit that we do not know everything. After that, recovery can be a fun and interesting journey of self exploration.
