Insanity
Over and Over Again
20/Jun/08
Here's something you'll hear repeated quite often
at recovery meetings: Insanity is doing
something the same way over and over again
expecting a different result. My life was
unmanageable, and I kept trying the same things
to control it. I kept trying. I kept trying. It
was an insane way to live.
Then I decided to turn my will and my life over to the care of God. It was a tough decision, but it should have been a no-brainer. My will had let me down every time. I was nuts to continue to rely on it. Choosing my way was choosing insanity. Eventually, I decided that if God could restore my sanity, I ought to let Him. I admitted defeat and turned to the source of genuine help.
Then I decided to turn my will and my life over to the care of God. It was a tough decision, but it should have been a no-brainer. My will had let me down every time. I was nuts to continue to rely on it. Choosing my way was choosing insanity. Eventually, I decided that if God could restore my sanity, I ought to let Him. I admitted defeat and turned to the source of genuine help.
—John
Cursing the Darkness
29/Apr/08
Having lived through more trouble than we thought
we deserved, some of us turned our backs on God.
We tried to live our lives our way, solving
problems through our own power. We were a bit
like a someone who walks into a dark room
refusing to turn on the light. When he stumbles,
he has only himself to blame.
When we are perplexed by the complications of our recovery but stubbornly refuse the help God offers, whose fault is it if things become worse rather than better?
We've tried it on our own. It didn't work. Trying the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result is insane, but there is a Power greater than ourselves who can restore us to sanity. His name is Jesus.
When we are perplexed by the complications of our recovery but stubbornly refuse the help God offers, whose fault is it if things become worse rather than better?
We've tried it on our own. It didn't work. Trying the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result is insane, but there is a Power greater than ourselves who can restore us to sanity. His name is Jesus.
—Anonymous
Frustration
04/Apr/08
I'm not an addict or an alcoholic. I'm a
codependent. I have to deal with the maddening
frustration of trying to communicate with the
people bringing chaos into my life. If they
would just listen to reason—but, of course,
they won't. And I can't control them. They'll do
as they please.
It's foolish to try to communicate with them when they are off in their fog. It's like trying to speak English in a foreign land. Sometimes I can get though, but often not.
So why do I keep trying? Do I expect a different result? But if insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result, am I not acting insanely if I continue trying to tell these people how to bring the chaos under control?
The Second Step tells me that there is a Power who can restore my sanity, and the Third Step tells me that He'll do it if I turn my will and my life over to Him. It's time to let go and let God.
It's foolish to try to communicate with them when they are off in their fog. It's like trying to speak English in a foreign land. Sometimes I can get though, but often not.
So why do I keep trying? Do I expect a different result? But if insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result, am I not acting insanely if I continue trying to tell these people how to bring the chaos under control?
The Second Step tells me that there is a Power who can restore my sanity, and the Third Step tells me that He'll do it if I turn my will and my life over to Him. It's time to let go and let God.
—Anonymous