July 2

PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 2: “Patience is not the ability to wait. Patience is to be calm no matter what happens, constantly take action to turn it to positive growth opportunities, and have faith to believe that it will all work out in the end while you are waiting.” ― Roy T. Bennett

If we have worked Step 3 and fully incorporated our powerlessness into our lives, we will become patient. We have stopped running things in our lives and the Universe and are coming into acceptance of life and making peace with how things are unfolding.

If this is true, we will have little trouble with Step 7, because we have stopped using most of the character defects we needed when we were running the show. As the 12×12 states, most of our character defects are based on self-centered fear. We are no longer living in that paradigm in recovery. We are letting the Universal Power that runs the entire universe do things the way that they are designed to be. This means I get the hell out of the way and allow it to unfold in its own time and fashion.

I am not concerned with only myself, but am busy doing whatever is in front of me. This lessens the need for ME to run the show. This lessens anxiety and depression, because I am no longer trying to figure shit out and get a plan. I let that Power do things as they are meant to be. Okay.

That means I don’t need to lie, cheat, steal, or run amok in my own and others’ life. I am doing what is right in front of me and the world is spinning on its perfect axis just fine without my input. Wow!

There is a great deal of life to deal with in life. A lot of coming and going, living and dying, breathing in and out and moving from one place to another, a lot of work, a lot of happiness and sorrow. I will be required to grieve and rejoice, be healthy and sick, be alone and with others, play and work, sleep and be awake. In other words, Life will happen. Until I am done with it.

There will be sunny days, rainy days, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons, hot weather, cold weather, summer and winter, spring and fall. There will be days and nights and afternoons; mornings and evenings. There will be birth and death, marriage and divorce (or not!), and there will be ups and downs. Most of us believe that life will stop being life when we get into recovery. That there will be no loss or sadness or grief. Some of us believe in that punishing God concept and that all death, sickness, job loss or change is a punishment; focused solely on them. Geez! Get over yourself, that is just more self-centered fear.

Keep asking for these things to be removed. Keep focusing on what is in front of you and let the rest unfold as it will. This Universe is none of your business. What IS your business? Being nice to other people, no matter how you feel or what you think. Taking care of your health and wellbeing. Doing your laundry, cleaning your living space, tending your garden, keeping up with your health, getting good exercise and eating right. Getting sleep enough to rest your mind and body, reading and writing, going to meetings, working with a sponsor!, helping others, going to work, paying your way, paying your bills, taking care of what is yours (car, home, clothing, etc.), and doing the next indicated right thing. If you have relationships with others, it is learning how to be better at them.

Leave the rest of it to the One who is in charge. It ain’t you. There will be much less 7^th Step work to do if you get busy on these things and keep your nose to what is yours. There is plenty to do, so get on with it!