Thought for today:

A member shares:

“I used to think material well-being was the answer, and if people only behaved as I wished and gave me what I felt I deserved, I would be happy.  I’m surprised I got by on that thinking as long as I did.

“My thinking was warped by self-centered fear.  I assumed if my needs weren’t met, I was losing at life.  My employees, my friends, my family all felt my conditional

“In DA I learned about real happiness. I needed to  my own business and live right in order to be happy.  The idea was to be useful and “grow where I was planted”.

“Helping others, contributing to peace in the world, and working for justice also brings a measure of happiness.  The truth is, I have abundant opportunities for happiness, if I choose to look.

“I achieve only serenity indirectly, by doing the work that DA has set out, and by giving back to others what has been so freely given to me in the fellowship.  Happiness truly is “a byproduct of a life well-lived”.*

Do I mind my business, and “change the things I can”?

Meditation for today:

Imagine your happiness is a bunch of leaves blowing in a gentle whirlwind. The circular motion carries the leaves up and gently places them on the ground again.

Happiness blows through us and gathers us up in its wings and gently lays us on top of new ground.  We find simple happiness by going with the force of its wind.  Some trees bend, and don’t fight the wind, while others lose a branch.

Happiness has a short attention span.  Let go and happiness will find it’s way into your life in its own good time.

Affirmation for today:

As I let go of results and simply focus on the next right thing, I feel happy.

Today I will focus on ______, which needs my attention.

Prayer for today:

I pray that I live life as a loose garment. I pray that I take my role seriously enough to get the job done, but not so seriously that happiness doesn’t stay a while.

* Extra Credit reading:

The theme of happiness being a byproduct of a life well lived runs through Twenty Four Hours a Day:

Since 1954, Twenty Four Hours a Day has helped in the recovery of many alcoholics throughout the world. With over nine million copies in print, this handy, pocket-sized volume offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for living a clean and sober life.  A spiritual resource with practical applications to fit our daily lives.

Learn about the disease of compulsive debting and how the Twelve Step program of Debtors Anonymous works:

The first publication by the Debtors Anonymous 12 Step Fellowship, A Currency of Hopedescribes the basics of the D.A. recovery program.  It includes the basic tool kit of the fellowship – the Tools, the Steps, the Traditions, and includes 38 success stories of D.A. members. It offers experience, strength, and hope to help other compulsive debtors and all those who want to stop incurring unsecured debt, such as credit cards, unsecured loans, personal loans, unpaid taxes, and more.

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