“When a newcomer to Al-Anon tells his or her sponsor about the alcoholic conflict in the home, we must realize this is only one side of the story. At first these reports of our grievances are highly colored and dramatized by our confusions. A small incident may be blown up out of all proportion to its reality; constant tension, anger and frustration have deprived us of a rational perspective.” (ODAT, 10 June)
I don’t believe any stories I am told.
When I am disturbed, I should not believe my own story.
The problem is, I do.
When I am restored to sanity (non-disturbance), I realise the story was false.
False how:
- The ‘facts’ I can see are a fragment of The Facts
- Those ‘facts’ I can see, themselves, are distortions
- The way those ‘facts’ are assembled into a picture is false
- The analysis of the picture is incorrect
- The principles against which the analysis is measured are the wrong ones
- The measurement itself is flawed
- The overall conclusions are flawed
- The resultant action plan is also based on incorrect principles
- The formulation of the plan is also flawed
Hence: the flawed application of incorrect principles to arrive flawed conclusions.
Instead:
- Steps
- God
- Let go
- Do the dishes or make a pie
I’m safe with that.