Related Posts
What's next after healthcare for you all?
Additional Posts in Addiction & Sobriety
Pause. Breathe. Proceed.
⏸ 🌬 ▶️
I messed ups no need help. Idk where to turn.
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.






Considering I almost died - I think of how lucky and grateful I am that I’m still living and breathing. It makes me appreciate everything a little more. Pissed someone cut me off in traffic? At least I’m here to even react to it. Sad that things aren’t going my way? At least I am able to be sad about something.
Gratitude to be is understanding that things won’t go our way, but being appreciative that things are not worse
My simple one is changing my sentence to "I get to..." instead of "I have to..." (changing tense as appropriate). It forces me to think about something good about what's going on. I get to wait in line at customer service at the airport because I have the opportunity to travel at all. I get to drive my mom to the doctor because I'm lucky to still have her around and to be able to spend time with her.
I’ve been doing this too
I happen to be in a bit of a valley myself currently, having been RIF'ed from IBM recently, and having zero prospects for employment on the horizon (rejection after rejection), I am genuinely concerned about where the mortgage payment will be coming from.
For me, my ability to find gratitude is directly related to the level of faith that I have at a given moment. When I have faith that it will all work out for the best without having selfish desires about what that it supposed to look like, gratitude is all but automatic because I do have so much to be grateful for that I don't take credit for any longer.
When I am in a lower spot spiritually, I pray for more faith rather than gratitude.
Bowl Leader
I didn’t mean for that to be depressing! I was hoping it would plant a seed a hope that you never know where the next job will come from!
I carry this laminated wallet card. I actually bought several and like to give them out after mtgs to ppl who sound like they are struggling. I find it to be a helpful tool for quick, on the spot inventories of my feelings.
On the beam/Off the beam:
https://www.my12stepstore.com/On-the-Beam-Off-the-Beam-Wallet-Card.html
Bowl Leader
I always thought of “on/off the beam” as being like a balance beam. Then I googled it one day and learned:
"On the beam" originates from navigation, where "the beam" is a radio signal or line of position that aircraft and ships use to stay on course.
My first sponsor made me do unsolicted anonymous acts of kindness that i couldnt be repaid for. I couldnt tell anyone but him I was doing them. The thought process was that I couldnt get recognition that would feed my ego.
That was 20 years ago. When I am in my head I still employ the same strategies. My go twos are 1. Bringing all the shopping carts in the parking lot back into the grocery store and 2). Reracking and organizing all free weights at the gym.
Bowl Leader
Love this! My sponsor told me this many years ago too and had sort of forgotten about it. Seeing your comment has brought it back to being top of mind. :)