April 9

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The word surrender was never a part of my vocabulary. It meant weakness or quitting or being cowardly. It frightened me when I heard people at meetings say, "You have to surrender." I had to unlearn what had been instilled in me since childhood. I had to get rid of the old "never give up" adage that was so much a part of my life. It was extremely difficult to change that part of my background. But what a relief to not have to be responsible for the whole world and all its inhabitants anymore. What a great comfort to be able to let go.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to surrender my whole being to You daily.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Surrender is serenity.

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April 8

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
There seems to be a lot of contention about the concept of a Higher Power. Many easily accept the idea. Others find difficulty with it and blame their inability to acknowledge a Higher Power on what they perceive as logic. When we apply this to Step Two, we can see that no matter how we try to define our understanding of our Higher Power, we will come to a point where our concept does not make any sense. This we cannot change. Can I accept my Higher Power on its own terms, even though my Higher Power eludes logic?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
To You whom I call my Higher Power, help me to believe You can restore balance to my life. Help me to avoid shading my understanding of You by molding You to my own ability to perceive.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The concept of a Higher Power is profound and may elude logic.

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April 7

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
All I have are these twenty-four hours. Each second, minute, and hour I have a choice. Do I realize how many choices I do make each day, however, small they are? I am responsible when I am making decisions. Each choice I make helps me to grow. Some decisions I make might be right, some might be wrong, but I grow from all of them. I gain more confidence with each decision I make.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Give me the courage to make decisions.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The worst choice may be to make no choice, but even that is a choice.

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April 6

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I am complex. My emotions do not have to make sense - they just are. As I accept them, contradictions an all, I can choose how I want to act. When I deny their existence or try to force them into my current understandings of my pattern, they control my actions. I become angry when there is no reason; I become depressed over nothing. As I accept myself, I find things make a lot more sense. This understanding usually comes without my exerting an intense effort. It most often "occurs" to me. This comes because, as I can accept all of me, I am open.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to remember my future growth is unlimited.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Today I can accept.

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April 5

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I continue to take personal inventory as suggested in the Tenth Step. As time passes, I become more aware of my wrongdoings as they occur. My being aware of these wrongs (gossip, irritability, selfishness, false pride, etc) will not erase them from my life. Admitting and accepting them is a beginning. Realizing how they alienate me from myself, as well as others, can give me the incentive to give them up.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I ask for help from my Higher Power in handling each of my shortcomings.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will not only take my personal inventory, but also ask God to help me today to turn my defects into positive actions.

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April 4

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Often we do not risk asking for something we want or need. We do not like being open about what is really important and possibly feeling rejected. If someone says no, it hurts; it may feel like rejection. It may be necessary to think differently about our response to someone who says no. That person may not be rejecting us, after all, but is simply unable to give what we are asking. I will think of several things I want and risk asking for them. I will be aware that if the person cannot give what I ask, it does not mean I am unworthy of my request.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, remind me if I ask for ten things and receive only two, I have at least gained something.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Risk nothing, gain nothing.

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April 3

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Perfectionism is one of my character defects. When I work hard and honestly on my Fourth Step, I was anticipating a feeling of happiness and accomplishment. I had already made plans to share it with my Fifth-Step person. The day came and my strong feelings were: "It's not good enough. It doesn't mean anything. The work was less than adequate." I reviewed my Fourth Step and realized not only was I looking for perfection, I was also fearful of rejection. Only with trust in my Higher Power, and knowledge that I had honestly tried to do a good job, could I overcome the fear and share my Fourth Step.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Thank You for the strength and love and courage You give me whenever I ask for
it.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
My Higher Power is always there for me.

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April 2

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
One of the toughest things I ever have to do is get myself going after a setback. The fear of ridicule and the heartbreak of disappointment sap me of the drive and energy needed to start up again. First I need to ask my Higher Power for a bold dash of enthusiasm to set up a spark of hope, which is a driving force that enables me to try again. Upsets, setbacks, and unsuccessful attempts can become ways for me to strengthen my emotional stability by reexamining my priorities. If my method did not work, why not? I have to take a new look at the problem by viewing it from someone else's standpoint and by detaching myself. Maybe I cannot see the forest for the trees. I can try again with the help of my Higher Power grasping one hand, and the EA program and friends clinging tightly to the other.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Give me back my enthusiasm and hope when at first I do not succeed.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
My success is measured by my willingness to keep trying.

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April 1

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Guilt comes from a violation of our value system. Guilt says, "I made a mistake; I can ask forgiveness." Shame comes from an attitude of falling short, of being inadequate, worthless, and helpless. We can recognize shame by such thoughts as: "How can anyone like me? I am sicker than others. I am a bad person." Shame is our biggest obstacle to growth because it is tied to who we are. Certainly we cannot rid ourselves of who we are by asking forgiveness. Shame can be overcome when we realize that although we make mistakes, we are not bad people. As we are able to distinguish between guilt and shame, our growth can continue.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Let me be aware today of how I speak to myself. Remind me that I am loveable.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Guilt says, "I made a mistake." Shame says, "I am a mistake."

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March 20

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
One of the features of emotional illness is repression and suppression of emotions. Feelings are considered bad or wrong, and willpower is used to deny and avoid these feelings. This leads to an increasing load of emotional pain and confusion. Identifying and releasing feelings is one of the essential first steps to recovery of emotional health. Feelings are neither good nor bad and not to be judged and condemned. They are to be appropriately experienced and expressed. I need not feel guilty about the way I feel. I am responsible for making the decision to accept my feelings and manage them appropriately. Will I be a friend to my feelings today?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, please help me to let You guide me and strengthen me as I live a new emotional way of life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Acceptance, experience, and expression - not condemnation, repression, and suppression.

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March 17

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
This day is often spent in celebrations of all kinds by those people of Irish heritage and many others we are Irish for the day. My memories evoke many boisterous parties that ended disastrously. Anger and bitterness spilled over many friends and relatives. Like other holidays, when spent alone, it can be traumatic. Since working on my life with the Twelve Steps, I have found it is possible to celebrate sanely - to be with loving, understanding friends and to have fun without the emotional upheavals of the past. I have to be willing to reach out to all caring people of all races and say, "Let's be Irish together today."

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me remember that holidays can be good days if I celebrate wisely as the program teaches me. Do not ever let me dread another "special" day.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I cannot be a parade by myself.

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March 16

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Just as it takes me time to think out the right decision to make and the right course of action to take using EA principles, I must learn to allow others time to make the right decisions too. I am not going to react to life anymore, I am going to act - maturely, kindly, considerately. The slights I feel can very often be explained away by looking at things from another view - the other person's. Sometimes, if I just wait patiently, people may want to change their minds or maybe ask questions.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Remind me that things are not always black and white - more often they're grey.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The best decisions for me are not always to walk away from people or problems.

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March 13

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The God of my understanding - how it has changed through the years. When I was a child, He was a man with a beard who patted me on the head when I was good. In my teens, He disapproved of most things I thought were fun, so He probably did not exist. In my twenties, I had children, so I thought I better teach them about God in case He did exist. Now I am past forty; God is not a man. My Creator is a force for good, a loving friend, a support when I call, the one who accepts me when I cannot, and the one who always wants what is best for me. How grateful I am for this beautiful force.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to not forgot how accepting and loving You are.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
God loves me!


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March 12

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I have done myself a lot of harm, but I want to make amends to myself now. One of the best ways to do this is to continually speak well of myself. Why do I think I am entitled to run myself down, saying harsh things about myself such as, "I am not good, I cannot do it, I am so weak, nobody cares about me, etc."? Without dishonesty or conceit I can always speak positively and hopefully about myself. Today I want to be my own best friend.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I remember there are people who love and cherish me, and it hurts them, as it hurts me, when I say negative things about myself.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am not perfect, but in some ways I am great.

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March 11

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
After one year of working my own program, I came to realize that one thing I was not hearing or seeing, but definitely needed to cultivate within myself, was acceptance. It is one thing to accept the first three steps, which address the problem. It is another to take that Fourth and Fifth Step and accept those things intrinsic to one's personality. Accepting major personality factors does not mean to qualify them as good, bad, or defective. However, the admission I make in Step Five opens the dike I have built between myself and reality. It starts like the fable- the small hole which day by day grows larger. It give me an increasing awareness of the goodness within myself, which I had refused to accept. Am I working a three-step or a twelve-step program?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Please, God, do not allow me to bog down in my program. Let it be. Your will that I continue in the steps and grow strong and able to accept myself and what is to come.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
God doesn't make anything that isn't good.

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March 10

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I used to view success as outward achievements and material gains. Today success looks much different. Real success is not external, but internal. Each time I risk and challenge something, I learn more about myself, and I feel successful. By facing myself, I gain more and more understanding and acceptance of both my strengths and my weaknesses. This understanding creates compassion. To gain compassion for one's self is to achieve success. Only by being compassionate with ourselves will we keep the door open to continued growth.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Because I understand how imperative having compassion for myself is to my continued growth, I pray for the ability to talk kindly to myself instead of being self-rejecting.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
If we have not learned to live with ourselves, what benefit are achievements and material gains?

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March 9

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Could I go a whole day, a whole twenty-four hours, without "trying to improve or regulate anybody except myself?" It does not seem like a difficult task. After all, I am the only one I can change. Yet why do I expend so much of my energy on trying to change others? How do I know what is good for another person? Most of the time I don't know what is good for me. Today I will try extremely hard to accept other people, regardless of their behavior. Today I will concentrate on my qualities, bad or good, and let the other person be an individual with human foibles. If this dedication to myself only works five hours today, maybe it will last six hours tomorrow, and I will have taken another giant step on my path toward serenity.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to let You make all the improvements on the human race.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
During this day I will accept others as they are- human, just like me, and entitled to their humanity.

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March 8

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If there is no joy or enthusiasm in my life, it can seem to be a pretty bleak and depressing world I live in. Where there is no color in my life, there is no rainbow either. By bringing enthusiasm into my everyday work, I add color and spice. Today I will be enthusiastic in doing whatever I have to do. I will speak and act enthusiastically. This can uplift me all day. And it rubs off on others! When I am joyful, people around me feel better. Only I can do this for me. The good feelings it gives others are a bonus which I receive for being good to myself. And the amount of work accomplished is incredible -- another bonus.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me put rainbows in to my life by granting me the strength for enthusiasm.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The pot of gold at the end of my rainbow is joy.

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March 7

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Anger can get me into trouble, and pride can keep me there. Admitting I am wrong is hard as I want to be perfect, keep my world all intact, and not lose control. I am not alone in the world any more. I am a human being living a life which is the best I know, and I do not have to be perfect. I can make mistakes and then correct the error without being a failure.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have more patience and tolerance, which will lead to improved relations with You and others.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Honesty is a powerful tool to eliminate false pride.

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March 6

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Nothing is scarier than the unknown, so naturally, letting go of symptoms and old behavior was frightening. Even though I was miserable, I wondered what would replace this void. Recognizing that the energy I had put into keeping my symptoms alive was energy I could also use to develop my creativity gave me a great deal of hope for the positive direction my life could take. When the fear of returning to the pain of my self-defeating behavior became greater than my fear of the unknown, it was easier to face that fear. Little by little I let go of my old ways.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I continue to use my energy to grow, to be responsible, and to be creative. May I no longer let fear control my life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
By giving up self-defeating behavior, I will not become just an empty vessel.

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March 5

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
For many years of my life I thought I was lacking in talent. Because I had focused on others' abilities, I could not see my own. Of course this created a feeling of jealousy. I realize now I no longer have to be jealous of someone else's ability. God's talent to one person does not limit another's abilities. We each are given more than enough to make our lives full and rewarding. If we are willing to take the risk and follow where we are being led, we will discover abilities we did not know we possessed.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have the courage to follow my dream with action.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Courage is a choice!

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March 4

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We may talk about love, define love, read books about love, and see movies about love but still not be loving. One way to start being loving is to love what bothers you. Is there a person who irritates and angers you? Think, "I love you and God bless you." Is there someone you resent? Think, I love you and God bless you." Do you fear a person who seems to stand in the way of your good? Let love eliminate the fear. Think, "I love you and God bless you." You may at first be thinking, "I love you" with tight lips and clenched fists. As it get to be habit, love takes over and the words truly become meaningful.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I become more loving and only see Your gift of love in the people I meet today.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Love erases fear, anger, and resentments.

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March 3

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
As I think about the day that lies ahead of me, what do I visualize? Do I think only about negative things such as gloomy weather, hard work, and confrontations? If I expect good, good will come my way. I know I will rejoice in good happenings. I will feel love and give love to others this day. Delightful surprises will come my way. I will be blessed with vigor and good health. In moments of quiet and prayer, I will fee peace and know my Higher Power is with me.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Thank You for the gift of another joyful day.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Great expectations bring a great day.

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March 2

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Today, God, I may need a little extra special help. I know I have asked You to step in and take care of this problem which is bothering me. Please help me to understand that You may solve it differently from the way I expected. That way I will know, even if adversities come while You are working Your solution, they will not throw me into thinking that You have deserted me.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I have turned my life over to Your care, God, and I need extra attention today.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am worthy of special help.

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March 1

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Our incessant analyzing could mean our failure to get well and eventually cost us our lives. It is as if we were standing in burning fire, trying to understand the principles of oxidation and how or why to fire might have started, before we make plans for escape. What we need to do is get out of the fire first and try to understand later. For a long time we will stand on the edge of our old lives and think about going back. Have I made a clear choice?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I learn how to relate to You rather than to my analytical mind.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Stop analyzing. Act!

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February 28

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It seems so easy to pull up stakes, move to a different house, job, or town and believe miracles will happen, and that our lives will change for the better simply because of the move. We tend to forget that wherever we go, we take us. We take our emotions, our feelings, and everything we are made of. The only thing which will make our lives better is to change us - inside. We are the only ones who can do this, with God's help. We must do away with the negative attitudes and change to positive thinking. No external thing can make us happy.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to change my attitudes so serenity gets easier to find.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Geographic changes alone will not enhance my life.

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February 27

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When I am lost in Me-ness, thinking only of myself, what I am really doing is demanding the powers and privileges of a Higher Power. I expect all my plans to turn out just as I want them to; I demand that all my desires be satisfied, that I be perfect in all I do, that others do what I want them to do. In short, I demand that my will be done. Never am I more irrational, more grandiose, and more out of touch with my humanness.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I learn to embrace my own humanness instead of futilely trying to transcend it. May I become an accepting person rather than a frustrated, would-be God. May Thy will be done instead of mine.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I deserve to be human - no more, no less.

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February 26

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
"You are not alone." This slogan is so important, yet I often defeat it by my attitude. I cultivate loneliness by refusing to make a telephone call, by avoiding conversation at the EA meeting, or by failing to tell even my best friend how I feel. I say I have no friends. The truth is, I have many friends, but I treat them as strangers. When I am angry, I do not want other people in my life, and yet I blame them for not being there.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have the humility to risk inviting others to come a little closer into my life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will not nourish my own loneliness by withdrawing from others.

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February 25

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If I have been working my program so long I think my bad times are over and I can control my life and my emotions, then I am probably close to a slip. None of us is immune to slipping. If I think I no longer need help, I may already be in trouble. I will always be powerless over my emotions. But as long as I take good care of myself and deal with my negative attitudes, I can have serenity.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I take joy and pride in my emotional stability, but may my Higher Power also protect me from smugness.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am powerless over my emotions.

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February 24

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

Am I identifying life as depression, anxiety, or another symptom? Am I afraid that if this unpleasantness were taken from me there would be nothing left? Am I truly willing to have my misery taken away? Have I embraced a new way of life? Have I stopped picturing myself as an emotional cripple with the implication that I can never hope to recover? Do I acknowledge God? Or do I worship and hold on to my self-pity and fear to change?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May my eyes be opened to the difference between believing that I cannot and should not ever change, or accepting myself as I am today and being able to change. Help me to know I am, and have a choice to be, more than my pain.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will have the courage to accept the peace of the program.

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February 23

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
How many times have we all made statements like the following? "I'll save the good crystal and china for when special company comes." "When I get a bigger house, my life will be better." "When I get enough money and can retire, I will be happy." We are projecting happiness into the future and forgetting that today is the day to be happy. Today is our day that God has given us to live and enjoy. The present moment is an opportunity for us to make use of our assets and enter into life with vim, vigor, and vitality.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I always remember to live in and enjoy each of life's precious moments.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Live for the now!

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February 22

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Maybe my fear comes from thinking that someone is "out to get me" because of what they said or did. The only way I am going to calm that fear is by talking to the person and telling them how I feel. I have been amazed to find that usually the other person is surprised I interpreted the words or actions the way I did because that had not been what was meant. My fear was groundless, but I never would have known if I had not asked.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I remember that most of my fears come from my own negative thinking. I ask for the courage to seek clarification.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Ask.

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February 19

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
How painful it is at times to make choices. We want the best of both worlds. Yet most of the time this simply cannot be. We need to give up one thing to gain something else. As we seek guidance from our Higher Power and from our friends, we are helped to see the choice which will bring us our greatest good. The feeling of loss is also real and we need to acknowledge this pain. By facing our pain we are able to let go of the loss and go on once again.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have the courage to get off the fence and make a choice.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
As I focus on the growth my loss created, the pain of the loss will dissipate.

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Febuary 18

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
As I attempt to live the twelve-step program, I find my focus redirected from the crippling effects of negative feelings and begin to see myself as part of a larger world. No longer must I exaggerate my self-importance or diminish my self-worth in my relationships with others. I am growing in my ability to recognize reality, and I am beginning to feel good about my part in the real world.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Remind me that my program offers me a blueprint for positive action.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Life can be a prison if I lock myself away from others and dwell on my own negativity.

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Febuary 17

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We are not here to judge each other, but to accept each other. God is our only judge and so much kinder to us than we are to ourselves. Many times in the past we judged others. But were we equipped to make these judgments? Do we know what brought another to take a certain action? We judge others because we are so harsh with ourselves. The more we can accept our own failures and weaknesses, the more likely we will cease to judge others.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I realize that if I am judging another, it is only a sign of my own self-rejection.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
As I begin to talk kindly to myself, I will experience an inner peace and calmness. It will show in how I treat others.

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February 16

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
".... We aim for an atmosphere of love and acceptance." This helpful concept tells me how to behave toward the newcomer to my group who is almost certainly hurting and who may be behaving in a way I do not like. But isn't this concept important in my other relationships too? If I threaten to reject people in an attempt to get them to change their behavior, I am not loving, I am manipulating. Only by giving my love freely can I create the atmosphere in which I wish to live.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to love others and to wish them their highest good, even when this conflicts with my own plans or wishes.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The love I give without strings attached mysteriously returns to me.

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February 15

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
No matter what my problem is today, no matter my mood, and no matter the weather, I can find something to be happy about if I put my mind to it. I can search for and find something to be thankful for, if it is only that I got out of bed this morning. It is not God who need to be thanked, but I who need to be grateful. This gratitude fills my heart and gives me a new spirit. I give myself a fantastic reward - a thankful heart which fills a great need.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Fill me with a spirit of thankfulness.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Thank and be thankful.

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February 14

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Today is a special day celebrated by lovers in the United States. The heart is a symbol which has been seen in stores for weeks. Sweethearts send each other cards, flowers, candy. We call friends and relatives to say, "Hi, I am thinking of you." We care for each other to be nice to friends and strangers alike. In short, the day is dedicated to love. Why only one day of the year? I can strive for two days and then three and so on. In the past I was afraid to show love for fear of rejection. It is not as hard as it used to be. I have seen how necessary love is to me.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to not be fearful of sharing my love and friendship all year long.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Lack of love will pain me much more than lots of love.

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February 13

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When I came to the program, Step Three was confusing to me. Now I have learned that even though I may not totally understand God, or the meaning of God's will, I can still make a decision to surrender. I have already proved to myself that I alone cannot manage my life. What image I have of a Higher Power is not important. It is best that I just make a decision on whether I want God in my life or not. What have I got to lose?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
If I cannot manage to say anything else, then just let me be able to say, "Help me."

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Stop analyzing - start accepting!

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

February 12

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
What am I struggling with today? Do I still have some characteristics I wish to be rid of? I must be patient. God will give me all the strength I need to deal with my problems, one day at a time. The solutions may not come immediately. If I get too anxious and try to take back control, I will only meet with frustration and self-hate due to what I feel is my personal failure. One small step forward, firmly planted, will be better than making two giant strides, only to trip and fall backward three steps.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I pray that You will show me which roads to go down first and that each step I take will be firmly planted with trust.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
If all else fails, try a little patience!

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February 9

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I have some secret goals, some things I long to do, and yet fear often holds me back. It can be fear of failure or fear of success. I keep saying, "I can't," to myself. Saying or thinking "I can't" certainly limits me. That is the time to start saying, "I want to, and with my Higher Power's help, I can!" Nothing is impossible with the help of my Higher Power. I can get all the strength I need, all the ability I need, and all the confidence I need. I can be free, happy, healthy, loving, and successful. I can be all I was created to be.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Thanks for all the help You give to me when I ask and when I do not. Remind me never to take that help for granted.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I want to and I can!

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

February 8

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I am a "caretaker." I thought I knew what was best for everyone. They would be fine if they would only follow my advice. When they did not, I became frustrated and angry and felt rejected. The program teaches me that God is in charge, not me. I resent other people trying to control me; why shouldn't other people resent my trying to control them? I am not God. I am powerless to change anyone but myself. When I get too busy in other people's lives, it is because I am running away from myself.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I remember that if I quit running the world, control will revert to the Power who is, and should be, in control - You.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am not in charge. God is.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

February 7

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Today I am happy. I am happy because I am me. I am happy because my life is filled with wonders: people, places, and things. I am happy because I know I have much to give and much to receive. Today is an extraordinary day. I am happy because wonderful things are going to happen to me today. I will have new, satisfying, productive ideas and I will have new, satisfying, productive ideas and experiences. I will meet loving people who will share themselves with me. Someone will give me a hug or a warm touch and a smile. There will be laughter, sunshine, and serenity - even if it rains.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I give thanks for this day and bless every moment of it.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am happy!

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

February 6

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I decide on a daily basis to surrender my will and my life (my thoughts and my actions) to God. This step is one of total surrender. I am saying, "My life is Yours, God. I am willing to do Your will for me." My job is to pay attention, for God does let me know what is wanted from me as I go through my day. Much of the time it is taking care of ordinary activities. I call it putting one foot in front of the other.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have the willingness to surrender all aspects of my life to my loving Higher Power.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Surrender!

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February 3

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Intimacy is not referring only to sexual relationships. Intimacy is being very close to someone: someone we trust, someone with whom we can share our deepest thoughts and feelings. We all need an intimate relationship, even those who might vehemently express they do not. To have someone truly know us, and still accept us, gives us the human bonding we need to find our existence meaningful. We are loveable. We do count. We are worthwhile. Yet we will never come to this realization unless we leave the door to our heart open.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I have the humility to be myself and let someone close know something I have been hiding.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Each time we risk being vulnerable and are accepted, we feel love. We also discover a greater awareness of our value.

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February 2

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
In the northern part of the United States we honor a kind of silly tradition called Groundhog Day on this date. As the legend goes, this small animal comes out of hibernation to see if he can see his shadow. If the sun is shining, he runs back into his hole and that is supposed to mean six more weeks of winter, which no one wants. The groundhog reminds me of myself in my pre-program days - afraid of my own shadow. I was afraid of my past, my present, and my future. I believed the remainder of my life would be all winter. There was no love to warm me or any hope to kindle a spark of energy to set my inner furnace working. I have learned I have nothing to be afraid of because I have a Higher Power to turn to. My life has grown to include all four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me realize the seasons come from my heart and mind.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Life is fuller with all four seasons.

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February 1

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We are afraid of failure and also afraid of success. With success comes a responsibility to self and to others. We can best handle success by turning to our Higher Power with gratitude. We may also be afraid of falling on our faces again. What will people think? We may feel we need to live up to some image, but we do not. Even if we do stumble and fall, and ultimately we will, we will be given the strength to once again pick ourselves up. We will gain more humility, we will learn from our falling, and we will become stronger and more capable.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I realize You are with me to help me handle success, too.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
An attitude of gratitude will keep our success in perspective.

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January 31

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Self-acceptance is one of the important parts of the EA program for me. I am learning to love and accept myself through the Twelve Steps. I am learning I do not have to be perfect - only human. I have assets as well as defects, as everyone does. I am reminded of the story of the three-legged stool. One leg is our love and acceptance of ourselves. The second leg is God's love and acceptance. And the third leg is our love and acceptance of other people. What a wonderful life I have when I can experience all three of the "legs." I am learning about acceptance. When I feel God's love and acceptance, I am able to love and accept myself. What follows is a love and acceptance of others.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, help me to feel Your love and acceptance. May I be the kind of person You want me to be. May I learn what Your will is for me and accept it.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
My daily spiritual reading and interchange with others is important in helping me feel the presence of God.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 30

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When I see greeting cards that say, "Happy birthday from your secret pal," or "Best wishes from your secret pal," I have to chuckle to myself. I have a secret pal - one who does not send cards on special occasions but one who makes every day special if I only remember to ask and to surrender my problems. My secret pal is my Higher Power, and everyone else can have the same friend I do. The key for me is to start each day by turning my life over and asking for serenity and acceptance for the day. If, in my haste to get along in the morning, I do not take the time for my surrender, it is not long before I realize the day is not going well. It is then time for action.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I not forget it is never too late in the day to turn my life over to You.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Greeting cards are always special, but successful days are my Secret Pal's specialty.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 29

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Sometimes I feel real joy, like today. It is sunny and very cold, the kind of day I enjoy very much, and I would much rather be outside in it instead of inside looking out my window. Somehow, the brightness of the day says to me that part of emotional healing lies in knowledge and awareness. If I am to solve the problems I have, I feel I can best do it in the bright light of accurate knowledge. Since I do want to solve my problems, awareness will help.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to seek the bright light of awareness and the knowledge of what and where I am.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Only through self-acceptance can I bear to take a true look inside myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 28

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is possible to get rid of that "poor little ol' me" feeling if I make up my mind to do so. When that "feel-sorry-for-myself-for-no-reason" syndrome comes my way, I do have the ability to change my attitude. First I take a few moments to concentrate on what is bothering me. If I cannot come up with a legitimate reason for the "blues," it is time to take action. I tell myself I have ten minutes to really wallow in self-pity and set the clock to ring at that time. I play sad records and dwell on the injustices of life. When the alarm goes off, I ask my Higher Power for help to concentrate on positive thoughts which lead to my feeling better about myself. The key here is, I can change my moods with my Higher Power's help and some concentrated effort on my part.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Thank You for the ability to switch from negative to positive thinking.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I can mope when I want to, but only for ten minutes.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 27

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Sometimes I feel real joy, like today. It is sunny and very cold, the kind of day I enjoy very much, and I would rather be outside in it instead of inside looking out my window. Somehow, the brightness of the day say to me that part of the emotional healing lies in knowledge and awareness. If I am to solve the problems I have, I feel I can best do it in the bright light of accurate knowledge. Since I do want to solve my problems, awareness will help.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to seek the bright light of awareness and the knowledge of what and where I am.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Only through self-acceptance can I bear to take a true look inside myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 26

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Too often we have been hesitant to express ourselves. Fearing rejection, our own or another's, we withdrew. The more we closed off, the more lonely and fearful we became. Before we were willing to risk sharing ourselves, many of us needed to hear over and over again that expressing our feelings is a sign of being healthy. When we are finally able to tell someone what we are feeling, we experience relief and often jubilation. Someone's acceptance gives us the courage to risk once again.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I be willing to risk sharing who I am with someone today.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Only through self-disclosure do we discover the beauty of self.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 25

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Before EA, I took on the responsibility of feeling loved ones' pain when they were hurting. For days I would obsessively try to think of the magic sentence or idea which would solve their problems immediately. Now I realize I do not have the power and knowledge, so I immediately turn another's tough situation over to God. My attitude now is: If God wants me to be helpful in a situation, it will flow naturally, with no obsessiveness or self-will on my part. Most times it is love and compassion which God wills me to give to the one in pain, not a direct solution to their problems.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Please help me to let go of any situation I have been tightly hanging on to.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Emotional releasing of a problem is the first step towards a situation in which I feel powerless.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 24

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Sex is a topic which is not often talked about with sincerity and honesty. Those of us who have come to EA often find as part of our recovery a need to deal with some unhealthy attitudes about sex. Many people's attitudes about sex seem to go from one extreme to the other - either it is dirty, or it is an obsession. Sharing our sexual struggles may lead to healthier outlooks.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, when I am unable to share with the group, may I have the courage to confide in a trustworthy member or a Fifth-Step person. That can be a beginning.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
As I continue to face myself, I continue to become more whole.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 23

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Today I will take care of myself. For me that was a totally new concept. I have discovered I am important enough that I do not have to please anybody but me. If I try to please everybody, there is no guarantee anybody will be pleased. If I please myself, at least one person will be happy.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I reflect on the value of the EA program which taught me my worth as a person. May I thank You daily for me.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I do not need to be a people-pleaser, but I shall try to remember it is a pleasure to be around people who are pleasant.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 22

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Storm clouds are often ominously black on the bottom. They suggest rain, lightning, thunder, and what is generally considered "bad" weather. They also suggest eventual rainbows, fresh air, and healthy crops. Our problems are much the same. They are ominous to face. But, if we can detach ourselves from them, they do not engender fear. Just as we can enjoy a thunderstorm by anticipating the peace and sense of well-being which is to follow, we can approach the problems we face with hope in our hearts. Sometimes we may need to take shelter during our storms. It makes no more sense to seek trouble than it does to go into a raging storm when it is not necessary.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Be my rain gear to get me through the storms I face.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
"This too shall pass," can be my weather report. I may not see the rainbow
until after the storm.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 21

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I once overheard it said that the way you can tell a spiritual thing from something material is in sharing. When you share something materiel, the more you share it, the smaller portion each person gets. On the other hand, when you share something spiritual, its value is simply multiplied by the number of persons with whom you share. They may in turn share it, thus increasing it as thousandfold. The principles of this program are spiritual, and to persevere in "giving it away to keep it" sooner or later makes the promises come true of having a new and better way of life.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I focus on one of the steps today and share it with someone.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I can't give it if I don't have it.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 20

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
By being a kind, considerate and generous people-pleaser, I was looking for acceptance. I put the responsibility on the other person to make me feel good about myself, instead of on my own shoulders where it belonged. I am not saying I should never do anything for another, but I need to continually be aware of my motives. Does what I am doing violate my values? Do I have strings attached? Am I expecting something back? Am I doing it only because I want someone to like me?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Let me be more aware of my motives for doing what I choose to do. I no longer want to lose myself for I am all I really have.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
If I continue to exist for others, I will not gain: instead, I will lose the most precious gift God has given me - myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 19

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
There are some days when I do not feel capable of meeting any challenges. There are some days when I do not feel confident and wish I had more abilities. Those are the days when I have to remind myself often that I can meet challenges and can accomplish whatever I have to do, that I do have the ability to make good decisions. I need to remind myself that my Higher Power and I are greater than any challenge. When we are working together, I am capable of using my God-given talents and abilities, and nothing can interfere with my success.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to remember that You and I can handle anything.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
To begin each day with a positive attitude because I know I can rely on my
Partner.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 18

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
"My problem is not powerlessness, but too much power over my emotions," I said. Then I learned that controlled emotions control me. "Of all emotions, I relate to anger least, " I said. Then I learned that my large choices in life, no less than my idlest snap judgments of people, were ruled by unadmitted angers and fears. "How inappropriate theirs angers are," I said of my near ones. But my own poor strategies of living had gone to produce the emotional climate I complain against. I learned detachment and forgiveness.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May my love for others continue to grow as I learn to acknowledge my true feelings and to accept the consequences of my feelings in the real world.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will listen to my feelings and direct them toward recovery.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 17

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Has my life become more manageable since I came into this program? Even if it has not, I have an ingredient which I did not have before: hope. Hope alone is something I never used to have. even though I am still powerless on my own, I have learned there is a power I can reach out to. If other people in the group have been able to find new life, then I can hope to find it too. I am now able to look forward to better things ahead.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I count every small victory as a big step in my life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I have hope for today.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 16

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God gives us the changing seasons to remind us that all of life will be filled with constant change. I will never be the same person that I was yesterday, and tomorrow I will change some more from what I am today. The snows of winter give way to flowers in the spring. So it will be with life. If I stay close to God, the drab winters of my life will eventually give way to beautiful flowers. Neither the flowers nor the trees fear the coming of winter. They follow the dictates of God and trust that their changes will evolve into new beauty and life.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I pray that I may take lessons from nature and not worry about the wintry days, nor fear any changes in my life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Spring always follows winter.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 15

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Step Twelve is a hard step for me to do deliberately. I think I do it best when I allow myself to be just myself. It is much easier for me now to share myself with others. I have to be able to Twelfth-Step myself before I can carry the message. By practicing the principles of the program in all my affairs, I become a living example of a better life. When I share my experiences, strengths, and hope with newcomers, I, in turn, give them hope. Hope gives us all a reason to live, and with that comes strength to go on.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I always be the best possible example to others. May my past experiences and future goals give them and me the willingness to work harder to achieve and maintain emotional health.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I cannot keep it unless I give it away.


Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 14

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
God has become a bigger and bigger part of my life - not because I am so devoted, but because I am seeing God in more and more places. I began by talking to and asking God questions, sort of getting acquainted. I don't need to worry about proper words and flowery phrases. This new friend of mine understands what I am saying and even what I am not saying. I believe God lovingly watches over me. I believe this Higher Power of mine is my friend, my partner, and my constant companion. These beliefs come to me because of working Step Eleven.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I keep seeking, as suggested in Step Eleven, to improve my conscious contact with You.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Not my will, but Thine.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 13

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
By now I can safely assume I am going to make mistakes as long as I live. They are a nuisance, but they have become an increasingly familiar nuisance. I think I would miss them now if they suddenly vanished. When I admit my mistakes, it is like welcoming my inlaws - they are a pain in the rear, but they are a part of me and I have learned to love them (a little). As Step Ten suggests, if I continue to take personal inventory, I can catch the mistakes almost as soon as I make them and then promptly admit them - to myself and others.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I remember to regularly work Step Ten to guard against old behavior patterns creeping into my life. Help me to take responsibility for my mistakes and to face the consequences which are the result.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The biggest mistake I can make is to not search out my mistakes.


Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 12

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I became more mannerly and stopped thinking it was all right to hurt people around me. It became easier to say things such as, "Excuse me. I didn't mean to bump into you." I became aware that there were others around me as sensitive as I was. As Step Nine suggest, I began to make direct amends to people I had harmed whenever it was possible. Fear and pride made it difficult at first, and I had to be willing to risk. It became easier as my apologies were accepted. Some people had died and others had moved away, so I asked God to help with those amends. Making amends releases guilt feelings.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, please grant me the courage, honesty, and good sense to enable me to sincerely and lovingly apologize, including to myself.


TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Everybody can be hurt, including me.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 11

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I became aware that in my struggles I had elbowed a lot of people in the ribs. Many of them I had hammered in the heart as well. I realized that in order to live in peace with everyone, I had to make an honest and accurate list of all those I had harmed, as suggested in Step Eight. It was hard to face the fact that my behavior had affected so many others. It was easier when a friend suggested my own name be at the top of my list. As I gathered the names together, I asked God to help me become willing to make amends to all, including me.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May You continue to give me the honesty, courage, and humility necessary for me to take responsibility for my actions so I am always willing to make amends.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I cannot do good or bad to others without doing good or bad to myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 10

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I began to exercise patience. I told myself, "My Higher Power is working on me as fast as possible." Telling God I was willing to wait made the waiting easier somehow. As Step Seven suggests, I asked for God's help through grace. When I asked for my short-coming to be removed, I found I was not giving anything up, but eliminating things which could again lead to my downfall. I was cleaning house and sending the unnecessary items to the dump - not just dusting them off and putting them back. I could not do this alone.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I take action, not just pray and wait, by using the EA tools which have so graciously been given to me.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will clean my mental house from the inside out and ask God to be my "trashman."

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 9

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I came to believe that God has a sense of humor and did not hold my defects against me. We could both laugh at the fix I was in. Like a kitten tangled in yarn, if I stopped struggling, God would gradually get me untangled. I needed to stop struggling, which would become "entirely ready," as the Sixth Step suggests. Even as I prayed that all my defects of character be removed, I found myself thinking I was not yet able to be rid of certain ones. What would I do without this bad habit? How would I spend my time? That was the time to surrender - over and over.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, please help me to deal with the character defects which brought me to my bottom.
Remind me to continuously work the steps with enthusiastic effort, which is the way to become ready.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
God has the power to change my life.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 8

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Holding on to my secrets became intolerable; sharing them was unthinkable. I shared them anyway and survived. Without working suggested Step Five, I could not have survived. I would have "slipped" out of the program. I needed to get rid of all the awfulness of my past. The only way to release the sordidness, the shame, the dishonesties, and the guilt was to take a complete moral inventory of myself and to honestly admit it to God, to myself, and to another human being. I learned that burying or stuffing my attributes or failings will only do me harm. The human being I worked with was a Fifth-Step person.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
God, help me continue to be as honest and open with others as I was at my first Fifth Step.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
A Fifth Step once a year is like spring cleaning; everything gets shiny and bright.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 7

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I knew my secrets were hurting me a lot. As I was being hurt, I was hurting others. I finally decided to call a secret a secret, and I itemized them as suggested in Step Four. I faced them with the one weapon that could get rid of them - honesty. Being honest with myself made it easier to be honest with others. Through looking at past mistakes, I found I could forgive myself for being human. Isn't that what I am supposed to be? While going through this self-inventory, I found I really had some strong points. This led to a new sense of confidence. Now when I take my inventory I know I have to have done at least one good thing today - even if it was only getting up on time. There were days in the past when I did not get up at all.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I continue to take moral inventories of myself, never holding anything back out of shame or pride. Help me to be willing to recognize my assets.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I need to accept that I have assets.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 6

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
I started giving God a chance to control the outcome of things as suggested in Step Three. I discovered when I did that, I was freer to do what had to be done. When I remember I cannot control the universe (not even my own little universe), I can relax and let my Higher Power take over the worries of my world. It is such marvelous freedom to not be in control. The energy I save when I turn my life over to God as I understand God can be spent enjoying all the good things: love, smiles, family, friends, hugs, or nature. I have to make that conscious decision of surrender every day of my life. What a relief!

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I pray I continue to have the sense to turn my life and my will over to You each morning as I awaken.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Worry is worthless; surrender is serenity.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 5

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
When I lose my balance, I instinctively reach out for something to grab on to. I am learning to pay more attention to this basic instinct and have come to see myself as a life-long toddler losing my balance in many relationships. Step Two suggests there is a power I can reach out to - one who will help me maintain my balance. It is great to know I have support. I am no longer on my own, stumbling and falling. The belief in this power gives me the stability I need in my life.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I am not afraid to stumble any more; Your support brings balance to my life.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Believing in a Higher Power makes my life sane.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 4

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It was a relief to stop blaming myself for failing to do the impossible. It felt good to say, "I can't." Admitting I was powerless, as Step One suggests, released me from the painful chore of being responsible for the world and everyone in it. I do have a power, a Higher Power, who supports me as I make changes to better my life and become a better person, and who gives me directions for the way to remain powerless over things and other people.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to realize Your will, for me and others, is wiser than mine.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 3

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
No machine can last forever without periodic maintenance. Some of this can be done with the machine is in operating - oiling, tuning, cleaning. Other types of maintenance require "down time." In working the program, some steps are "operating" steps and some are more likely to be "down time" steps. Steps One through Three, Ten and Twelve are important in our operating maintenance. Steps Four through Nine may require down time. Step Eleven is a sort of bridge between and helps us know when down time is needed.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I keep on top of what is happening enough to know when I need down time. May I plan some down time in the near future to do some preventive maintenance work on my program.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I cannot afford not to take periodic down time.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 2

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Twelve Steps make up a whole. Each is good separately, but unless we apply all of them to our lives, we will regress. It is easy to enter the program, get excited, work only a few of the steps, and feel better for having done as much as we did. If we do not consciously make a choice to change our way of life permanently to include all of the steps, we may lose what we have gained. At the least, we will not continue to progress and will lose out on the serenity promised as a result of working the steps. It is very tempting to be satisfied with lowering the pain level to manageable proportions. If we do step there, the person we will hurt most is ourselves, although we may also hurt others. The difference between working the whole program and only part is the difference between serenity and existing.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May You always remind me that, "Just for today," I have a program.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
This program is not a menu from which to choose what I want, but a way of life. To get the full benefits, I must live it all.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

January 1

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is the first day of a new year. Another beginning of my new life. As I reflect upon last year, I can see many changes in me. It is not the big changes in me that are so interesting; it is the infinitesimal changes in me which count and will build the firm foundation for my future. Just as it takes many little bricks to build a firm foundation for a large building, so it is with my life. I will lay bricks one day at a time and continue to cement them with faith in my Higher Power. I shall enter into this new year in peace knowing I am never alone and am in partnership with the Master Builder.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I trust You have a wonderful design for my life already drawn up.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
The construction of my life will go as planned, just so long as I am willing to be crew and do not play architect.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 16

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The verb "resent" comes from the Latin, meaning "to feel again." When I resent someone, I recycle old anger, hurt, shame and humiliation. This is just like sticking a knife and twisting it. I toss and turn all night while the person I resent is home sleeping like a baby. The EA program shows me the way out of this futile and agonizing self-torture. Powerlessness was my dilemma; today I have the power, through God, to forgive those whom I have allowed to hurt me. I can release myself from these burning resentments.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I realize that the more I resent someone, the more I hurt myself.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
To pray for those I resent, even if it is hard to do at first.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 15

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Today I will accept my past. I will try to learn what I can from those experiences which cause me the most pain. I will be kind to myself, giving me credit for the things I have accomplished and not dwell on the things I have not done. With what I learn from my experiences and the will and strength of my Higher Power, I will try to make a better today and look forward to tomorrow.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to accept and learn from my past so I can continue with me emotional and spiritual growth.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Painful experiences are not shameful, but rather a way I can better come to know myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 14

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Not only am I powerless over some of the things which make my life unmanageable, but also over some things which make it manageable. For example, I am unable to alter, even in the slightest, my self-worth. My value as a human being is determined and fixed by God who has made me a worthwhile person, and there is nothing I can do to change that. Nothing. However, my feelings about me and my worth do change from day to day, from moment to moment, because that is the way it is with feelings: they change. I am powerless over my emotions, including the emotions of self-esteem.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to accept myself today as I am, even if my self-esteem is not as high as I would like it to be.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
My value comes from God, not from anything I do or fail to do.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 13

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Second Step tells us we came to believe a power greater than ourselves could return us to sanity. In order to return to a place, one must have already been there. In each of us there is a place, perhaps even beyond our earliest memories, where we knew the perfect harmony of mind, body and spirit. Each of us is wonderfully made, designed to experience a vast range of emotions. Like high and low notes on a piano, like light and dark colors in a rainbow, it is the infinite range of possible variations which makes them beautiful and ever new. So, too, we need to experience all our emotions - high and low, light and dark. We then need to seek out in ourselves the place of harmony for each of them in our own unique range of self-expression. In EA that range is constantly widening, enabling us to "hear more music" and "see more colors" in our lives.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I accept every emotion gratefully. May I acknowledge it, bless it, and allow You to help me interpret it.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I am wonderfully made! As Shakespeare marveled, "What a piece of work is Man!" (Woman, too!)

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 12

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The program is like a seed or young plant in the ground. If I am upset, I can't even think straight. It is important for me to quiet down, to be receptive to what is being said to me. First things first! To earth - pliable, open, willing, and honest. Later on I have to weed out attitudes which can choke out sanity like anxiety and temper. For many, the promise of sanity is snatched away from time almost immediately by personalities taking over before principles have even had a chance to grow. Am I allowing the roots of my program to go down deep? Am I "feeding" my program with the spiritual nourishment provided by the steps and program literature?

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to absorb the sunshine of the fellowship.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will relax and watch my seeds grow.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 11

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If I am powerless, my only reasonable course is to live and let live. I must learn, with God's help, to live my own life more fully and to let other people live their own. If I spend my time and effort learning to manage my own life, I will not have any time or energy left over to manage anyone else's. My reward is a feeling of freedom as my burden is lightened when I let go of what does not belong to me. I need not worry - God will take care of others.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I remember that my progress comes from detaching from the idea that I alone can control other people or solve their problems.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Mind my own business.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 10

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
My tears have always been a source of shame. When I was growing up I was told they were a sign of weakness, self-pity, and foolishness. Consequently, I grew up fighting and repressing them. In the past several years I have slowly learned to accept them as an emotional release, and most importantly, as source of healing. When a grain of sand invades an oyster shell, it causes irritation. Immediately the oyster secretes a liquid much like a tear. This liquid hardens and forms a globe protecting the oyster
from pain. The tear or liquid is called a pearl. So my tears, too, are a beautiful and wonderful function of healing.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me remember my tears are an expression of my inner feelings and they are okay.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
My tears are pearls.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 9

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
So much of my grief is brought about by my own unrealistic expectations. Before the program, I did not have guidelines or a Higher Power to help me find balance between unrealistic and realistic expectations. High expectations of myself result in high expectations of others. When I fail to meet my own expectations, I feel I have failed. When others fail to measure up, I am angry or hurt. Low expectations of myself are just as damaging and are reflected in my expectations of others as well. Both myself and others are weakened if my expectations are too low.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to see that a well-balanced outlook on what I expect of others and of myself will do much to eliminate my struggles with living comfortably and having meaningful, healthy relationships.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I will strive for realistic expectations.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 8

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
As we grow, we experience our worth and it feels terrific. We gain feelings of self-esteem and are grateful. Another period of growth comes along and we feel insecure and inadequate once again. We question and doubt if we have ever gained any self-worth. It is imperative to recognize that personal growth, even after many years of growing, always produces feelings of instability. This instability can even border for moments of despair. Our willingness to embrace the struggle and to learn what we need to about ourselves will eventually produce an even greater realization of our worth.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I be reminded that as I grow, self-worth will fluctuate and each new growth experience will grant me a deeper level of self-acceptance.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I look forward to my next growth experience with hope.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 7

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If the weather is unpleasant, I will try not to let it ruin my day. When it is foggy and gloomy I will look for beauty in the difference of the scenery when objects are indistinct. When it is rainy or snowy, I will be glad I can stay inside or let it challenge me to dress appropriately and be comfortable in it. When the roads are bad, I will try to perfect my driving skills or see how I can plan less traveled routes.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I look for positive things in whatever weather there is, accepting what I cannot change.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Look for the good, even in the weather.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 6

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
My defects of character cannot be removed by my willpower. I have spent the better part of my life trying to combat these shortcomings. I have grown frustrated and anxious in the process. Step Seven says, "You have done your work in Steps Four and Five; now let go and let God. Just humbly ask for your shortcomings to be removed." As the steps suggest, relax. I can now start to live a less anxious life. I can also start being more spontaneous and put my worries and emotional problems into the hands of the Higher Power.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May the faith I have obtained in the first steps of the program stay with me and help me to now complete Steps Six and Seven.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Today I will relax my mind and body and truly accept that my Higher Power will remove my shortcomings at the right time.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 5

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
In working the Fourth Step, I found one emotion constantly appearing - fear. Fear denied me the chance of enjoying my present surroundings and relationships. Fear led me to believe that upsetting experiences from my past would recur, so I had to try and control the future. Fear limited my thoughts and actions like a chain attached to my body, dragging me down with its weight. Fear, in effect, stood boldly between me and my goal of serenity and peace of mind. I am learning to replace fear as the controlling force of my life with faith in a loving Higher Power.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I let go of behavior and habits which I have clung to in order to handle fearful situations.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Faith is action.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 4

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is so much easier for me to forgive others than it is for me to forgive myself. I may have done something I believe is wrong, or failed to do something which should have been done, an for some reason, feel I cannot be forgiven. I need to remember my Higher Power will always forgive me and will give me the help I need to find the words and means to make amends to those I might have hurt, including myself.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
If I am carrying thoughts and feelings of guilt and self-recrimination, remind me of Your forgiving love.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Not to be so hard on myself.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 3

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
My life is occupied often with too much thinking and not enough feeling. This condition of constant thinking leaves me physically tense at the end of the day. Usually this keeps me restless in my sleep at night. This physical discomfort alone should prod me into working the Fourth Step. Before I can free myself to feel, I must be willing to look at yesterday's hurts and guilt's and put them on paper today. The unfulfilled needs of my infancy and the repressed pains of my childhood will slowly drain from me as I put to work the slogan, "Know thyself - be honest."

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
I seek the courage necessary to work Step Four.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Sustained healing takes place only when I work the Steps.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 2

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
How many blessings can I find to be thankful for today? It is easy to say, "Thank You, God, " for the big things in my life such as the recovery of a loved one's health, a new car, a job promotion, or the winning of a contest. But how about gratitude for the mundane or insignificant things such as grass, getting home safely, being able to read the comics, or watch a favorite TV show? Certainly there are people in my life to be thankful for other than my spouse or significant other. How about the pleasant bus driver, a delightful co-worker, or the charming paper boy? There are things in my home to be thankful for-things which make my life easier and more pleasant. Air conditioners, dishwashers, and Scotch tape come to mind. Practicing gratitude throughout the day makes me aware of how blessed my life truly is.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
Help me to remember to be grateful for all things large or small.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Do not take my blessings for granted.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today

December 1

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
In the EA program we are learning to live one day at a time. This can be confusing. Newcomers often say, "What about making plans? There are certain things which must be planned ahead." Of course there are life events that require planning. We say, "Make plans, but don't plan the results. Don't decide the outcome ahead of time. Put into action whatever is necessary to move the plan along and leave the results to your Higher Power.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY
May I become willing to be flexible and remember that You are in control of life now.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I can make plans without rigidly trying to control the results.

Emotions Anonymous, Order Today