What It Means to Live: “Life on Life’s Terms” – Step 11

A seedling emerging from a parched earth landscape with sfz title

LIFE’S PARADOX OF THE IDEAL –

“While the circum-
stances of our lives
may not change, the
way we deal with those
circumstances does.” “[W]e
cease to struggle against life
on life’s terms.
Striving to
maintain and build on our
surrender, we are better
able to live and enjoy
life in the moment.”
(It Works, How &
Why, p. 23)

 ~~~

What does “living life on life’s terms” mean in your life today?

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OR

When things don’t go your way, how do you stay calm?

~~~

Whitney Houston Tribute at the 2012 Grammy Awards (3:09)

Thoreau Bio (1:43)

Bhagavad Gita Reincarnation Meditation (6:36)

Analysis: The Art of Sacred Surrender

The post focuses on accepting reality as it is. It Works, How & Why explains that our perspective changes. We stop fighting against the flow of existence. Surrender allows us to enjoy the present moment. This shift creates a path toward lasting peace.

The Big Book encourages us to seek intuitive thoughts. We relax and allow a Higher Power to guide us. Henry David Thoreau valued this same sense of wholesome reality (Thoreau, 1854). He believed nature provides a necessary ballast for the soul. True health requires us to let go of control.

Wellbriety teachings connect us back to the Earth’s rhythm. “The path of recovery is the path of the heart” (White Bison, 2002, p. 21). This heart-centered life avoids the noise of the ego. Consequently, we find clarity in the silence of nature. Acceptance transforms our daily struggles into a spiritual dance. We finally learn to breathe with the world.

References

Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden. Ticknor and Fields.

White Bison. (2002). The Red Road to Wellbriety. White Bison, Inc.

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Traducción al Español

Citas, Títulos y Referencias

LO QUE SIGNIFICA VIVIR: “LA VIDA EN LOS TÉRMINOS DE LA VIDA” – PASO 11

LA PARADOJA DE LO IDEAL –

“Si bien las circunstancias de nuestras vidas pueden no cambiar, la forma en que lidiamos con esas circunstancias sí cambia”. “Dejamos de luchar contra la vida en los términos de la vida. Esforzándonos por mantener y construir sobre nuestra rendición, somos más capaces de vivir y disfrutar la vida en el momento”. (Funciona: cómo y por qué, p. 23)

RENDIRSE PUEDE LLEVAR A DEJAR ENTRAR LA INSPIRACIÓN –

“…le pedimos a Dios [o a nuestro Poder Superior] inspiración, un pensamiento o decisión intuitiva. Nos relajamos y nos lo tomamos con calma. No luchamos”. (El Libro Grande, p. 86)

“[Uno] debe estar lo suficientemente al aire libre para obtener experiencia de la realidad saludable, como un lastre para el pensamiento y el sentimiento. La salud requiere esta relajación, esta vida sin rumbo”.

– Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862), poeta / novelista estadounidense


Análisis

El análisis se centra en aceptar la realidad tal como es. Funciona: cómo y por qué explica que nuestra perspectiva cambia. Dejamos de luchar contra el flujo de la existencia. La rendición nos permite disfrutar el momento presente. Este cambio crea un camino hacia la paz duradera.

El Libro Grande nos anima a buscar pensamientos intuitivos. Nos relajamos y permitimos que un Poder Superior nos guíe. Henry David Thoreau valoró este mismo sentido de realidad saludable (Thoreau, 1854). Él creía que la naturaleza proporciona un lastre necesario para el alma. La verdadera salud requiere que soltemos el control.

Las enseñanzas de Wellbriety nos conectan de nuevo con el ritmo de la Tierra. “El camino de la recuperación es el camino del corazón” (White Bison, 2002, p. 21). Esta vida centrada en el corazón evita el ruido del ego. Por consiguiente, encontramos claridad en el silencio de la naturaleza. La aceptación transforma nuestras luchas diarias en una danza espiritual. Finalmente aprendemos a respirar con el mundo.


Pregunta Concluyente

Cuando las cosas no salen como tú quieres, ¿cómo mantienes la calma?

Zonr logo on life's journey

Comments

10 responses to “What It Means to Live: “Life on Life’s Terms” – Step 11”

  1. VLeigh Avatar
    VLeigh

    In order to stay calm when things don’t go my way, I remind myself that my Higher Power may have other things in mind for me. I cannot always be in control of every aspect of my life, there are mysterious works at play.

  2. Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱 Avatar
    Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱

    Lately, living life on life’s terms has meant protecting myself instead of taking more proactive action. I don’t believe that there is intrinsic ‘fairness’ or that people necessarily ‘get what they deserve’. I do believe, however, that those facts make it even more important for me to act well.

  3. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    Living life on life’s terms in the program means you got to accept reality the way it is. No more hiding behind alcohol and dope…. you’ve got to face everything head on which is painful at times… sometimes i just have to stop and sit down and take long slow breaths, and talk to my higher power, I tell him what’s going on how I feel and to help me with the solution… it’s been working so far… as long as I remember to do the first part

  4. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    When things don’t go my way, I think deep breaths, but also realizing that a lot in life won’t go my way and just learning not to be controlling. The only thing we can control is ourselves and even that is hard as an addict.

  5. Mink Avatar
    Mink

    I love the serenity prayer when things don’t go my way. Reciting it helps calm me down, and I can start to think about how I can respond constructively to a situation. Can I change it? If yes, then I can work to change it. Is it out of my control? Well then, I just need to work to accept it. This is how I get direction in life when things feel overwhelming.

  6. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    For me, staying calm is to not take things personally. Additionally, I am reminded of this from a conversation yesterday, it is best not to commiserate on a shared issue. Often, if something may bother me and I find another who shared the situation, talking about it in a downward spiral is not helpful. Staying calm is to not take things personally, don’t sweat the small stuff, knowing it is all small stuff, and be mindful of where my thoughts and attention go.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful

  7. Jim Brown Avatar
    Jim Brown

    I like what Margot had to say. I think that for me living life on Life’s terms is in line with what I have been saying all along….pay attention to my ecology, and let that dictate my actions. Instead of fighting against Life, I collaborate with it.

    1. Jim Brown Avatar
      Jim Brown

      5

  8. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    At dinner with friends last light, the topic of Higher Power came up and how HP always shows up in our lives when needed. I replied that HP was not always about giving us what we want and need; for example, I have been looking for an apartment for many months, using the God Box, etc. and nothing! Nada, nein, nil, zilch! Everyone spoke at once: a Friend in Program was trying to reach me to offer me a small house in her backyard. It sounds perfect. I don’t know if it will work out as I want, but HP just did a big, old ITYS! (I told you so!)

    1. JB jr. Avatar
      JB jr.

      That’s beautiful. I hope it does work out. Never loose faith. Never. That seems to be lesson we learn over and over again. That and just because it doesn’t happen today doesn’t mean it will never happen or that its supposed to happen at all.

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