July 12

It’s not that I think too highly or too lowly of myself. It’s that I think ONLY of myself. In most situations, we human beings tend to think mainly about ourselves. The ego is a powerful second self that stands in front of all of us and makes us think things about ourselves in exaggeration (or bald-faced lies in ourselves). As “they” say, my ego is not my amigo! But we want to believe that it is. Ask anyone breaking the law or causing harm. Their ego is the first to speak up in their defense about why they do what they do, justifying any number of things. And we tend to believe it. The ego is there to protect us and give us courage when needed, but sometimes, it gets distorted and unwieldy along the way. At some point, the ego was fit for purpose, but after years of drinking and drugging, it must be learned to be questioned daily.

Reflections

Is my ego my amigo today?

Daily Challenge

Look in the mirror before you leave the house today. Say, “I love you, ___insert your name here____.”

July 11

Hey! You! Yes, you! Don’t let the past anchor you into a life you’ve already lived. You don’t need to be that person today. Everything you have ever done has led you to this moment and contains all the possibilities you will ever need to move forward. Each new moment is waiting for you to step up and into it. Are you ready yet? What the fuck are you waiting for? Can you not see that everything is already here that you need to achieve your goals? Every moment you delay, the Universe sighs another sigh and throws its hands in the air. The word on the tip of your tongue today should be transcendence:

tran·scend·ence

/tran(t)ˈsendəns/

Existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level.

Reflections

Are you ready to move on? Away from the past and into your future?

Daily Challenge

Take the time today to think about what you have overcome and how much more you can achieve.

July 10

All the world is anew. Your world is new today. Can you feel it? I got that pink cloud feeling! That get-up-and-go-conquer-the-world feeling! It can be exhilarating to think about what possibilities can come next! But don’t let those feelings get away from you. Don’t get too caught up. We addicts and alcoholics can have our heads in the clouds, but our feet must be firmly planted on terra firma (the earth). When we lose touch with our foundation, and our expectations or hopes get too high, we can set ourselves up for failure. Having a good friend, spouse, or sponsor will help us to check our reality and keep us “right-sized,” as they say.

Reflections

Are you excited and grounded about today?

Daily Challenge

Do today what you didn’t do yesterday.

July 9

I once read Emmet Fox’s book “The Sermon on The Mount”* Though I personally did not go all in on the Christian beliefs it discussed, I understood what Emmet was getting at. He suggested that we have a “’Secret Place,’ as Jesus calls it, where our thoughts are moulding our destiny for good or evil, and experience is the outer expression of inner thought.” This is pretty deep stuff, but stay with me. One thing that reading this book allowed me to have and consider was a constant conversation with my Higher Power throughout the day. And to have a “Secret Place” where my thoughts can reside and come from. This was a real beginning of a relationship with a Higher Power. I utilize and continue this “Secret Place” throughout the day. This was the beginning of “conscious contact with a power greater than myself.”

Reflections

Do you have an ongoing conversation with a power greater than yourself? Where does that inner voice come from? Who are you talking to?

Daily Challenge

Memorize this quote: “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” – Herbert Spencer or William Paley

July 8

Are you the type of person that always needs to go, go, go? You don’t always have to be going. You can slow the fuck down. There doesn't need to be anything wrong. There doesn’t always need to be something happening. Life can be easy today. There doesn't need to be drama or chaos. No, really. Sometimes, we are so used to having problems that we don’t know how to not have something to focus on: something that disturbs us or makes us angry. It’s as if we feed on the excitement and drama of what comes next. But this attitude and behavior can have a deep flaw. It forces us to miss out on what is happening right now. It clouds our vision of what is happening right in front of us. We miss the forest for the trees.*

Reflections

What is standing in your way today? What blocks you from seeing the larger situation and appreciating the moment?

Daily Challenge

List what is in your way today. What can you do without?

*idiom. The US.: to not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it.

July 7

Nobody is coming to save you. How many times have you heard that already? It’s ridiculous how much we stand around in hopes that someone will swoop us up and take control of our lives and clean up the mess we have made. This learned helplessness can keep us frozen and looking outward for solutions to our problems. This mentality can keep us dependent on others and cause us to listen to bad advice. Take the wrong actions that are ultimately unhealthy for ourselves and others. So, let’s get this straight. NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE YOU! YOU ARE IT! This is not to say that others are not there to help. This is to say that it is ultimately up to you to get the things that you need. Ask the questions. Seek your answers and devour the knowledge and wisdom that others are willing to provide to you. Don’t hesitate. Your actual rescue starts today.

Reflections

Are you doing all you can for your recovery today?

Daily Challenge

Start reading a book (physical, Kindle, or other).

July 6 - Visit SoberPod.com

You don’t ever have to do this again. You won’t have to get sober again if you don’t pick up that first drink or drug. You won’t have to feel the pain of detoxing. The strong obsession to use that was there when you first stopped. You won’t have to do that again unless you fail to change who you are now. So, having had time to recover, what have you done with it? What have you done to ensure you are prepared to remain sober today? It’s not hard to imagine that if we remain who we were and act the same way, we will pick up the drug or drink again. What are you actively doing today to make sure that doesn’t happen? Remember: Stay active! Stay sober.

Reflections

Are you staying active?

Daily Challenge

Take a moment to look back today. The process of recovery can be something to admire. You’ve come a long way. So, give yourself a pat on the back.

July 5

Unity, Recovery, and Service. These are known as the three legacies of A.A. and appear on the triangle around the chips' days or years. Each side represents one of the three legacies. Each one of these legacies cannot stand alone as they build off one another.

Unity: This is where the Twelve Traditions come in. The whole society, fellowship, and meetings are grounded in these principles.

Recovery: The program of recovery that can be found in the principles of the 12 Steps and A.A. Big Book.

Service: There are 12 spiritual principles associated with this legacy as well. These are known as the 12 Concepts and can be found in the “Service” manual of A.A.

Each legacy has 12 guiding spiritual principles for a total of 36 guiding principles.

Reflections

Is your recovery based on these 36 spiritual principles?

Daily Challenge

Memorize all 36 principles.

July 4 - ⁠Buy the book! - Listen to Sober Pod Recovery Podcast⁠!

July 3 - ⁠Buy the book! - Listen to Sober Pod Recovery Podcast⁠!