So true. I'm always trying to think my way out of the problem or to think my way back into control of the situation. The problem with thinking is that sometimes it smells, and as an addict, it tends to happen a lot more often than just sometimes. There are some situations in which it's relatively safe for me to say "I've been thinking", but I need to be careful about when and where I start thinking...
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When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom
I think I understand what this means in the context of the program (hehe), but I'm not sure I can accept it as a blanket statement about life.
Thinking affects what we do as well--one of the big problems with gaming was my wrong thinking. Thinking that it would help me in anything other than the shortest term, thinking that my life was mine to waste on games if I wanted, and even not thinking was a problem--I would often just game on impulse.
And for me, I often think a lot before acting. It hinders my progress sometimes, but makes me more sure of my action.
The place where I see the truth of it, though, is that it's very easy to just think and never act. And that is an error for sure.
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I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.
This statement--started in AA--is usually told to newcomers, fresh off the alcoholic binges, trying to figure out how to live and stay sober at the same time.
Our "thinking" capacity when new is often the same thoughts we used to keep on gaming.
Our "stinking thinking" when new--or with a bit of time on our hands--can talk us into bad choices, lukewarm choices, going back to gaming again, or worrying ourselves to death about something we're not sure about.
Through time, with the help of others and the program, I've made progress with better ideas about how to live life in a healthy way. When wracked with emotional pain about my husband (lots of thinking there), I "acted" by being present in my husband's life and doing the things I knew to be the best for both of us. My "thinking" however, sometimes went back and forth to thoughts of gaming (get lost in the game and escape from the world), but I acted the way I really want to live.
To me, thinking is best used as a tool when I need to plan something out. But my brain can also get caught up in emotional loop-tapes: the drunken monkeys come out to play. What I've learned to do when that happens, is stop and meditate, or concentrate on something good in my life (action). Or have a chat with HP.
The longer I've been sober, my "thinking" becomes better, at least some of the times. I can still get caught in "stinkin thinkin" and that's usually when I talk to a program buddy.
Nothing wrong with informed, calmed thinking. And when agitated I try to "act" in a program way to straighten that thinking out.
Interesting Pat. I used to subscribe to a saying "fake it until you make it" which is very similar to what you describe. Once one keeps trying, that practice then becomes reality. Every day I'm not on SL, I'm practicing not to be there ever. It's like "practicing medicine", LOL! Sorry I had to put that in there because I've always found that such a funny saying.
I do not have experience with other addictions but I know that my gamer brain balks at the idea of just sitting quietly and smelling the roses. Or going somewhere and meeting people in person, being social with words, hugs, eye contact.
I'm a thinker. Always a thinker.
I used to be a member of the crowds watching the parade go by.
Lately I've been joining the parade.
This isn't easy for me; I'd rather think my way out of anything. Or into anything.
But AA taught me if want to do anything different or feel different, I would need to "act" different first, then the feelings would catch up.
So true. I'm always trying to think my way out of the problem or to think my way back into control of the situation. The problem with thinking is that sometimes it smells, and as an addict, it tends to happen a lot more often than just sometimes. There are some situations in which it's relatively safe for me to say "I've been thinking", but I need to be careful about when and where I start thinking...
When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom
I think I understand what this means in the context of the program (hehe), but I'm not sure I can accept it as a blanket statement about life.
Thinking affects what we do as well--one of the big problems with gaming was my wrong thinking. Thinking that it would help me in anything other than the shortest term, thinking that my life was mine to waste on games if I wanted, and even not thinking was a problem--I would often just game on impulse.
And for me, I often think a lot before acting. It hinders my progress sometimes, but makes me more sure of my action.
The place where I see the truth of it, though, is that it's very easy to just think and never act. And that is an error for sure.
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.
This statement--started in AA--is usually told to newcomers, fresh off the alcoholic binges, trying to figure out how to live and stay sober at the same time.
Our "thinking" capacity when new is often the same thoughts we used to keep on gaming.
Our "stinking thinking" when new--or with a bit of time on our hands--can talk us into bad choices, lukewarm choices, going back to gaming again, or worrying ourselves to death about something we're not sure about.
Through time, with the help of others and the program, I've made progress with better ideas about how to live life in a healthy way. When wracked with emotional pain about my husband (lots of thinking there), I "acted" by being present in my husband's life and doing the things I knew to be the best for both of us. My "thinking" however, sometimes went back and forth to thoughts of gaming (get lost in the game and escape from the world), but I acted the way I really want to live.
To me, thinking is best used as a tool when I need to plan something out. But my brain can also get caught up in emotional loop-tapes: the drunken monkeys come out to play. What I've learned to do when that happens, is stop and meditate, or concentrate on something good in my life (action). Or have a chat with HP.
The longer I've been sober, my "thinking" becomes better, at least some of the times. I can still get caught in "stinkin thinkin" and that's usually when I talk to a program buddy.
Nothing wrong with informed, calmed thinking. And when agitated I try to "act" in a program way to straighten that thinking out.
Interesting Pat. I used to subscribe to a saying "fake it until you make it" which is very similar to what you describe. Once one keeps trying, that practice then becomes reality. Every day I'm not on SL, I'm practicing not to be there ever. It's like "practicing medicine", LOL! Sorry I had to put that in there because I've always found that such a funny saying.
:)
I do not have experience with other addictions but I know that my gamer brain balks at the idea of just sitting quietly and smelling the roses. Or going somewhere and meeting people in person, being social with words, hugs, eye contact.
But it's prolly what I need to do.. most often.