Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Life Principles

I have been meditating on a few simple principles that I have learned to live by. I trying to discern them simply so that they are always accessible and communicable.

Put First Things First - Prioritize what is truly important. The inner life is always more important than the external. Change the man and the world will follow.

Live and Let Live - Allow people to be imperfect because they will be anyway. Handle expectations loosely, love the sinner hate the sin.

Be Proactive - Develop life skills based on proven principles not by selfish impulses. Develop a principle-based decision making process not a re-active process. Control of the self is the foremost life skill from which all others eminate.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

A Twelfth Step Well Done?

I read about a twelfth step well done from the Twelve and Twelve today and I asked myself how I measure whether I have performed the step well.

Did I try? - Did i think to practice the principles in my affairs? Or, do I just act impulsively? Or, do I just talk about practicing principles in meetings and just imagine that I do. Did I try to carry the message? Or, do I just aimlessly share?

Did I execute? - Did I actually apply the principles (inventory, God-reliance, amends) in my affairs? Or, do I just intend to and hope that I did? Did the message I carried focus on the principles? Or, did I share my story, troubles, advice, religion, or opinion?

Did I get results? - Did I stay sober? Or, did I base my success on whether the other guy did or did not get sober? Was I restored to sanity? Or did I put my expectations on a turn of fortune or someone else changing?

Mission

This is a blog about one man's experiences in 12 step recovery and the spiritual life. ~