Walk in Dry Places
April 22
Faking it, and then making it.
Finding the Spirit of the Thing.
We’re sometimes advised to “fake it until you make it.” But how can anything false really lead us to recovery? Aren’t we told that this is an honest program? We’re not being dishonest by pushing ourselves to become actively involved in AA. The self-help movements have told us for years that we have to form an image of what we want to be in order to reach our goals. We are forming an image that corresponds to the sober people we want to be. We are actually rehearsing sober living and working to accept a picture of sobriety in our heart of hearts. There’s also much to be said for “faking it” enough to attend meetings and try to benefit from association with people….. even those we don’t like. This puts us in line for the change we really need. A lot of members say that they “white-knuckled it” during the first months or years of sobriety. If this worked to bring recovery, it had to be the right approach.
Even if there is rebellion within, today I’ll talk and act like the sober person I want to be!
– I AM THAT PERSON TODAY….ARE YOU? Prayers still for our friends, Albert, Tom, Doc…and all who are part of This24!! HUGS
THIS24 
I used to struggle with the phrase “fake it til you make it” for the same reasons this24 stated! Then, I tried the solution as the reflection said. It worked! A big part of it was being open and willing to see myself in a new light. My survival of staying sober, slowly became reality. For me, the obsession left pretty soon after I was able to live by those principles. Whether that happens quickly or slowly, stay until the miracle happens!
Maggie, grateful recovered alcoholic and binge ( but everyday) ice cream eater!! Haha! May your day be filled with serenity and miracles!
Love to Tom, Harry, and Albert!
People talk about how quitting smoking is more difficult than quitting drinking. No experience with smoking, but I speak with certainty here: quitting ice cream is more difficult than quitting drinking. But I’ve never been locked up for DUIBJCFB.
My ma eat’s more damned ice cream and cake or cookies than she ever ate before she was diagnosed with sugar. I got the gene from both of my parents but I am grateful I no longer obsess altering my mind or eating sugar for that matter. I’m also grateful I can have sugar if I wanna.
I’m pretty sure I faked it. I faked believing in God or trusting others untill I did a 4th and 5th and it was then that God smacked me. It was then that I found I was a fear driven self-centered creature who could really use the help of God to get me through my fears of people and living life on life’s terms. If I ask God for help to get me through those fears, I somehow miraculously find a way.
Morning guys and good morning to Harry, who I trust is well.
Put me as a firm believer in Dan’s (3D) camp.
When I stopped thinking so much, reading between the lines of the Big Book, quit thinking the Steps and Program were an a la carte menu, or that I was different…and simply did what you suggested to me…then things began to change. Not totally and immediately, but slowly and thoroughly.
Today, I have a fulfilling life when I choose to practice these principles, seeking His will for me today and, as directed, helping other people.
Our book says…We shouldn’t be shy about this matter of prayer…so I won’t.
I don’t fret too much about long winded explanations about exactly what I pray to; I know it isn’t me, and that I am praying for the Grace to do what you all suggest works for you.
Blessings on us all.
My sponsor used to say “Bring the a*s, the mind will follow”.
I’m a firm believer in “Act as if”.
When I was a young man, I had a pretty good golf game. From my early teens through my mid-20’s, boy did I practice. The manifestation of that practice was periodic, very periodic perfection. After marriage, kids, work the many hours a week dedicated to practicing my golf game became a few, then fewer still. I still played ok for 10 years or so afterwards, but now, with my 8 or 10 rounds a year, I’m your garden variety hasbeen.
What has that to do with my recovery? Lots. I’ve settled into a routine of practice that includes the normal litany of prayer, meetings, communion with others seeking similar objectives, yielding to the same HP. Periodic perfection is experienced as joy, and truthfully, it’s fleeting, ephemeral. But that’s ok, for those moments of joy stick to my soul. Any of you that have ever stuck a 245 yd 3 iron to a back right pin on a green guarded by water know what I’m talking about.
Top of the morning family,
In the early path of sobriety/recovery, I had on so masks, I didn’t know the difference between apple butter or poop. Between treatment at the V.A. and AA meetings, I was total lost and confused beyond mention. “Fake it to make It” topic has total meaning for me. Besides, wasn’t I already leading my life by this creed. Treatment advised me to not make any major changes or make any major decisions within a year. AA suggested that if I want to change I must change everything about me. No major decisions, well apparently, my counselor didn’t know about Step 3. “Made a decison to turn my will and life over,”. AA suggested that I don’t judge people. Then an elder statesmen,”alcosaurus” told me to stick with the winners. By that time, I was at the corner of walk and don’t walk. Treatment advised that I had drinking triggers. AA and Dr Silkworth suggested that I had a craving beyond my mental control. Today, and for only today, I have a chance. One day at a time, one step at a time, and one foot in front of the other. Stay the trudging path my friends.
Last night whle watching some TV, a Home Depot commercail spoke to me:
You can do it, We can help. AA, the fellowshiop, and my creator are with me.
It’s a good day to have a good day. It’s a good day to grip it and rip it on the links.
. We must have many quiet times when we not so much ask to be shown and led by God, as to feel and realize His presence..
So many good shares, prayers to Harry, Albert, Tom and others that might be physically and or emotionally in pain.
There are people in the program that says it takes what it takes, and that is the joy of it because we can share our experience, strength and hope, however when I was going and still do to some degree trudge through the muck, I have not been ever so joyful. But I am better than I used to be and I have not had to drink today, yesterday, and several years before. Hopefully if I do what I need to w my hp I will continue one day at a time and not go into the dispair of muck of self gratification.
Lots of people have a lot of problems believing that everyone does the best they can with what they have to work with at the time.
Just give it a little consideration.
The qualifier in this wisdom is “what they have to work with at a time”.
Everyone is on their own spiritual journey and not everyone is at the same level of accomplishment in fact no one is at the same level of accomplishment.
Some even feel they are faking it when they are simply following the admonition of Paul the great apostle who instructed his neophytes to “imitate me” which may seem to be a trembling, grumbling and mumbling entrance into a new way of thinking and acting but for countless thousands perhaps millions it works. It’s much like we were as babies when we without any conscious thought perhaps just simply started acting as our parents and peers were acting.
Walk in Dry Places
April 22
Faking it, and then making it.
Finding the Spirit of the Thing.
As I gradually and seemingly instantaneously at the same time begin to grasp the spirit of sobriety my gratitude response was heartfelt and penetrating and yes…….. lasting.
Today I am more grateful for a clear thinking mind than I ever imagined.
It is well said that our earnest desires are our most honest prayers.
Lot I didn’t know; lots I don’t know but I am confident, “More will be revealed”.
I can honestly say that I did a lot of “faking it” during my Son’s hospitalization until he passed away. I was always asked that if I was OK and if there was anything someone could do for me. I always replied that I was OK and I did not need anything. Sometimes, I just wanted to wake up from the nightmare or maybe take a few drinks to get away from reality. What kept me from drinking was saying the Serenity Prayer, and the support from the AA membership like This24. This is when I “made it”. I had to control my thinking to stay in reality. I am still dealing with losing my Son, but now I do not have to fake anything. I have accepted that before he died, he made his peace with God, family and friends. Thank God that I have accepted that I am an alcoholic and can not take that first drink. I have to live my life in reality.
Thanks for all of your prayers. You talked to your HP, and my HP (God) talked to me to do the next right thing.
Thanks for sharing Albert. I also think we get through things sober by having our hp ( God) be with us. Continued prayers for you and your family. Kt