11:11 Angels Message Board

i have a few goals that i am working on. every day is a battle. one of them is alcohol. the longest i have gone without is a mere 12 days. i wouldn't call myself an alcoholic or dependent on it yet i am around it every day with little say in the matter. i've consumed more then my share growing up, have almost died because of it at a relatively young age and still to this day find its numbing effects a comfort when my mind wants to relax. plenty of my friends drink and since it's become quite a norm for any social event and something i enjoy it's difficult for me to opt out when going out to have fun with the group. so why am i writing this? well, i've been writing these goals down every morning for the last 5 or 6 months and still get derailed. i believe i am being tested or at least, i've set it up this way. sometimes i don't even realize it's a test and i lose consciousness of my greater desires. i wonder, how many of us get distracted from our goals? there's so much that happens in a day and sometimes we let comfort rationalize our decision to fail(yes i'm saying we will intentionally fail in the name of comfort). it's a vicious cycle. sometimes i feel like my daily writings are losing their potential... like writing down "i won't do this" and the same day do the opposite. i guess i just want to break the pattern of being too disciplined? it's easy to get bored but there's got to be more creative outlets to keep me entertained. well, i'm far from giving up. just thinking aloud, wondering. i was tested last night and couldn't see it for what it was and it made me think of these things on a larger scale...
how easy it is for us to be distracted. we live in a time where critical thinking and listening skills are slowly fading. we have information overload at our fingertips and become easily absorbed in a much faster pace of life, distracting us from our greater desires and simpler realities. i understand the importance of meditating and believe it takes a constant reminder to keep conscious of ones goals... whether it's alcohol or just trying to be more present- whatever it may be we set these test up for ourselves and don't immediately recognize that's what's happening...
i've talked about this with Sandy before and understand that life is full of ups and downs.the lesson here is to never give up. the spirit of continuance, of trying. so we fall down from time to time, fine. i am just unimpressed by how narrow minded i can be at times. it's wild to think how easy it is to slip up but i believe our phones and social media's contribute to these distractions. there's actually a lot i wish to quit and i'm sure many of us feel similar. sometimes this journey becomes enjoyable, like i look forward to fighting another day. i think writing it out helps solidify the direction i want to go... so maybe these are appropriate steps for anyone trying to quit or achieve something they've always wanted. write it out, don't be afraid to talk about it to your peers- even if they don't agree, don't be afraid to take a stance on something publicly. but it isn't enough to just feel good about something just to slip up again. don't get too comfortable... meditate or pray to stay focused, read. turn your phone off at night. how damaging is our phone? i really feel like i've become more addicted to this, "smart phone" over the course of a year- we do everything on our phones and keep it by our sides constantly. i think it interferes with our thinking abilities. alright, that's all i got for now... had to share, there's a bit of a spiritual pursuit here and i was hoping to get others opinions if you find any talking points in my post, please let me know what you think.
peace

Hi Eric,
I was nodding my head in understanding as I began reading your post. While alcohol is not my vice...comfort food is...I smile again as I sound like you a little in admitting I don't have a huge problem with it... but I do "worry" over it more then is probably healthy. So, as I wrote this, I am wondering if "worry" is undermining our efforts a bit. I know how badly I want to eat healthy and I can for days at a time but then....the lure of pastry beckons to me... I adore doughnuts, cakes.... and since sugar can form a powerful addiction... well, it feeds the whole problem and it starts the cravings all over again...

When I successfully kicked it years ago...I was in a mode to relax with life, go with the flow knowing the universe has my back. I quit worrying and I naturally gravitated to good food, amounts that were right for my size and body's needs and I quit worrying. I think I felt and knew that I was not alone in facing all that life brings... and I quit using food to comfort me when I felt nervous or alone. I felt good and this made it even easier to continue in a healthy regime

But, after G's heart failure and a huge upset at that time, I have never allowed myself that kind of feeling of safety again. I resist somehow and embraced my "worry gene" a bit. My excuse was sort of like, "the words to the old pop song, "You would cry (worry) too if it happened to you. B So I allowed a little bit of worry, thinking it wouldn't derail me. Still I know I am doing the best I can right now and also know with each day comes the potential to become all I dream of... So I am sure as time goes on, little by little as I allow myself to feel safe again in this benevolent universe that I will derive my comfort from less transitory things. working on it as we speak.

Anyway... this jumped out at me in your writing, my dear...

"well, i've been writing these goals down every morning for the last 5 or 6 months and still get derailed.

" it's a vicious cycle. sometimes i feel like my daily writings are losing their potential... like writing down "i won't do this" and the same day do the opposite. "

Try writing in the positive...instead of writing " I won't do..." reverse it and write what you will do relating to the affirmation. For instance, something like, " I really love to drink iced tea!" (can you tell I'm a southern gal? ) or whatever else you are substituting for the alcohol. (helps to to really feel and taste it in your mind as you say it envisaging as many senses as you can to help make it real to you.) Early childhood educators do this with little ones. We speak to them asking them to do things in the positive...Like "let's use our inside voices and our walking feet." Always turning things into the positive and congratulating them for their successes works wonders too! So think about it, aren't we just big children? right? Our brains will still respond to positive encouragement just as the "littlies". Top this off by telling yourself over and over what a good, no what a GREAT job you are doing. If you have a slip up...go easy on yourself and say, "no worries, not the end of the world. It will still be okay." Or, "That's okay, we've come a long way and still doing better ever day." Reward yourself in positive ways...hey...can't hurt right?

Okay enough out of me.
hugs,
Sandy

You know...I just had a thought. In reality, for me it isn't the food that really is the addiction. It is the "worry". The worry is underpinning everything else. ai yi yi

Hi Sandy,
Thank you for your reply and for giving me a lot to think on. I’m not looking to blame but can’t help and feel that our society encourages failure, electronic devices interfere with our abilities and many legal activities taint the spirit. Recognizing these things and finding ways to keep yourself conscious and creative for me is an every day battle. At least it’s one I am taking a little more seriously now, maybe it comes easy for others.
I think it’s wonderful you know yourself to the point where you can admit your worry gene, the excuse you made and the battle you take to live Healthy and go back to a more trusting way of thinking you mentioned used to be a part of you. I hope you get back there but more I believe you will get back to an even greater understanding then before.
I most always pride myself on the fact that I have another day to battle- another chance to be victorious.. when you look at it that way it relieves the worry in the moment and helps get you back on track. Will power however, must be trained continually. And now I’m thinking of the saying, “if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.” Something like that...
well anyways I’m on day 2 and haven’t written down what I won’t do. I will try to write down what I do like and want to do... have been actually and will catch you up soon! thank you (hugs)

Dear Eric. I resonate totally with your situation, and have a few similiar issues. One suggestion is to call upon our God-fragment, Divine Mother and Divine Father whenever we are bothered by a particular temptation, to strengthen us spiritually to choose better. Easier said than done, but faith may conquer. My main issue is that when certain vices become socialised (i.e. junk food, alcohol and movies) they become far more irresistible, and a sense of social coercion may ensue. I've been here many times. I guess something Christ Michael said to me a long time ago is relevant: let go of the herd mentality! I am still working on this and regularly fail. God bless and good luck! Dylan.

Dear Dylan,

Hi. I really like what Christ Michael relayed to you. How true, Let go of the herd mentality!
Yes, easier said than done. I believe you're right, with Faith we can cultivate our greater desires into reality. I suppose patience is important and letting go of the worry as Sandy mentioned. I believe one must put into practice though in order to strengthen Will-which I'm taught is one of the ultimate forms of authority. Would creation exist without Will? I think a part of the challenge is finding more creative and engaging activities to replacing old patterns with new ones. It's hard to break ones conditioning when our mind translates drinking or smoking as fun or relaxing and our peers/society encourage these definitions. I can go on the straight and narrow and find my mind wonders from boredom, creating logical excuses why it's okay for me to indulge. You know I HAVE gone out with the friends to bars and even ordered tea while they drink, it isn't so bad!

I really appreciate you sharing your channeling and wanted to reciprocate something I believe may have been channeled down for me, this is how I've come to experience these things and I understand it may not apply to everyone:

Alcohol, false nobility lived through a jesters smile.
Weed, insight given without a will to procure its fulfillment.
Sound, truth in movement.
Nature is a mystery to the 21st century man, who knows not of the ingenuity provided by his ancestor.
Love, a conscious phenomenon and an attachment to time.


Peace & Blessings!

Thanks Eric. I tend to find alcohol leads me spiritually downhill. It doesn't add much at all. Re: the herd mentality. I tend to find the greatest form of resistance to change is loneliness, which means spending time with friends rather than prioritizing my spiritual work. I guess that would be changed with a wife or husband who was on the same page. But ultimately we need to get used to the company of spirit, to get important work done, which may mean a diminishment of the social arena. I find it a difficult problem, and do recognise a need to spend time with friends and family for soul restoration. I guess we need to learn that the company of spirit (particularly our God-fragment) is excellent. Take care! Dylan.