From those that I have spent time with on-on-one, most people don’t really think too much about how they learn. I’m not talking about formal education, but how they learn how to live in relationships. They just subconsciously adopt ways to think and act around others. Generally, you may think that learning comes naturally. You…Read more Teachable
He said softly, “How did I get here?” I was not sure if he was speaking to me or if it was just a sigh that had turned into a question, but I didn’t respond. His head lifted and then he looked me straight in the eye. This time his voice was clear and the…Read more I’m trying to change. I really am…
All to often, what a person considers as “the truth” is only how they have processed the information that they have. When emotions are involved, the “facts” get adjusted to support what we want to believe. What I mean by that is when I feel that I have been done wrong, I will seek out…Read more The quality of a person’s life can be determined by the quality of their relationships
Not sure if I want to describe myself as a Christian due to the often negative connotations that go with wearing that label. I am student of Jesus; that means using his teaching in a practical and pragmatic way to live daily. I consider that Scripture is less a set of fixed and final propositional…Read more Christianity is not an outside issue
Based upon being a student of the 12 Steps for over 10 years, I have come to believe that there are some things that need to be worked on by an addict or alcoholic who is seeking to turn their life around. These three areas need to be worked on at the same time and…Read more A few simple things
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Mathew 7:7
A Attitude of Gratitude is an alternative life recovery program for those who consider traditional 12 Step groups not to be a good fit at this time. What we offer is an established method that empowers a person to have the freedom needed to have a new life that’s filled with meaning and purpose. A Attitude…Read more Freedom To Have a New Life
Many think that an alcoholic is someone who as lost everything. Although that does tragically happen, that is not always the case. In fact, many alcoholics continue on with their self-abusive lifestyle because they still have a marriage, a career, a house, or something that can convince them that they are still fine. Just because…Read more What is a High-Functioning Alcoholic?
If you have read any of our blog posts, you should realize that A Attitude of Gratitude endorses the 12 Steps of Recovery. If you are not family with what that is, a twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems.…Read more Our Journey Home
If you are struggling with faith in God, in yourself, or both, don’t think that you are the only one. Faith is just a confident belief, and not everyone is confident in these areas. However, everyone has faith in something. “He travels with whoever looks for Him, and having taken the seeker by the hand,…Read more Everyone Has Faith In Something
It is only when you act on faith that you actually have it. For better or worse, every struggle and every success in your past has shaped you into the person you are today. And despite all the positive aspects of character we each possess, most of us still have one or more challenging inner…Read more When You Act On Faith
A Attitude of Gratitude appreciates the opportunity to work with David Zailer, the Executive Director of Operation Integrity and author of two books on addiction recovery and other spiritual and inspirational topics. We recognize David’s wisdom, especially when it comes to the all too often overlooked addiction to sex. You can see for yourself if…Read more When Lost Men Come Home
What triggers you? In place of an annual New Year’s Resolution, I want to suggest that you try simply stopping the behavior you’re most sick of within yourself for just one week. No matter what, don’t do it. Go ahead and feel free to embrace it for all its joyous, horrible worth on day 8.…Read more Triggers
As difficult as it may be today, do your best to enjoy each moment like a little kid. But please remember that there is a difference between being child-like and being childish. “For me, life is better because my soul has been able to wake up from the hypnotized mind and shed off the human…Read more Enjoy
Have you ever flown in an airplane during a storm and the pilot increases the altitude above the clouds? You get up higher than the clouds and you see that it’s calm blue skies around you. And you feel the turbulence go away. The calm blue skies have always been there, you just needed to…Read more Truth
Some people have a problem with prayer in recovery, especially those who are struggling with the whole God concept. I have heard many who dislike it because there is too much God and some declare that there is not enough. Frankly, I have been on both sides of this fence but am now neutral on…Read more Prayer In Recovery
What is the precious quality required for a chance of becoming truly happy? What is the perspective which places character-building and spiritual values above all? What is necessary in times of adversity to enable one to summon the faith that can meet any emergency? The desire to seek and do God’s Will requires what basic…Read more The Foundational Principle of Attitude of Gratitude
We are being guided, but God will not assist us without our cooperation. Ten years from now, make sure that you can say you have chosen your life; not just settled on it. Be skeptical but always listen. Take the position of a student. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. God…Read more The Future Depends On What You Do Today
I want to repeat that this process is about placing you on a journey of self discovery. And if you continue with this path, you will eventually find yourself returning to where you began but with a completely new introspective wisdom that can only be gained experientially. This 12 Step process is like the classic…Read more Hero’s Journey
Recovery is quite simply being the best person we can be each and every day. Striving for a life that we have always had available, but have chosen to deny. Recovery is hope, instead of desperation Recovery is faith, instead of despair Recovery is courage, instead of fear Recovery is peace of mind, instead of…Read more What Does Recovery Look Like?
We all seem to have one thing in common; no one likes to be wrong. Some more than others, but no one is ever really happy when they are mistaken. And probably the only thing worse than being wrong is being told that we’re wrong. I hope you can see that when this happens, it…Read more Step 1: Powerless Over Pride
(Below is part of a conversation between two friends, sent via email. Although the previous communications do have value, just the following paragraphs are placed here in the interest of keeping your attention focused on the point we would like to emphasis.) Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:47 AM So sorry to have taken this long…Read more Step 2: I Just Don’t Want You To Give Up
My bottom was not when I came into AA and stopped drinking. Frankly, at the time entered into AA, my desire wasn’t so much to stop getting drunk ever night but to stop being miserable. And it worked for a while. I was proud that I could do this. Never before had I managed to…Read more Step 3: Can You Just Let God Love You?
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry isn’t very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs a better laundry soap.” Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor…Read more Step 4: Shine A Light On It
What is the difference between hope and an expectation? Expectation is founded in ego and Hope is a product of Humility. Long ago, without even knowing it, I started building my masks as a matter of survival. It was a result of me having the ability to read people, and situations, and then showing you…Read more Step 5: Hope Versus Expectation