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    #16
    The Beast

    Lila;447887 wrote:
    And, welcome to the boards!!!
    Lila
    Hi Lila, and thanks for the welcome to the boards

    The reasons why I feel I have inadequacies, is because Im used to blaming my alcoholism on somthing or or someone else... or life's circumstances... or to be exact, the crap that Ive been through the past 20 years.
    Well no more.
    Ive come to the way of thinking that its only ME who can lift myself out of this "woe is me" scenario..
    Its wearing thin.
    ?I am playing all the right notes... But not necessarily in the right order.....?

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      #17
      The Beast

      Chief, sometimes "kicking the shit out of" is helpful, and sometimes compassionate observation is more helpful. I have speculated before that this may be a gender-related difference, to some extent.

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        #18
        The Beast

        A Work in Progress;447903 wrote: Chelle, there is nothing "fake" about our own desires and impulses to drink, or the rationalizing that our minds produce as to why it would be OK to drink. These all arise from inside us. When we use a term like "The Beast," we are placing a name, or label, on those aspects of ourselves that work against our best interests. It helps us be clear about what is, and is not, OK to "listen to" or to act on. When we give those "voices" or impulses a name, it makes it easier to dismiss them.
        wip
        Yes...
        Thanks for that WIP..
        So the "Beast" is actually ourselves really... our own internal voices.
        That makes sense.

        So, alcoholics have schizophrenic issues then maybe..?
        ?I am playing all the right notes... But not necessarily in the right order.....?

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          #19
          The Beast

          It could be, WIP.....because for me, there is no compassionate observation of my Beast......

          Don

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            #20
            The Beast

            I don't know - I just have a hard time giving my alcoholism that much power. Of course, I had a slightly different path to sobriety so most likely I tend to look at things a little differently sometimes. I won by giving in - how's that for irony!
            Sobriety Date: June 15, 2007 -- "It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got...."

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              #21
              The Beast

              Chelle12;447912 wrote: Yes...
              Thanks for that WIP..
              So the "Beast" is actually ourselves really... our own internal voices.
              That makes sense.

              So, alcoholics have schizophrenic issues then maybe..?
              No, Chelle, it is absolutely NOTHING like schizophrenia. All human beings have conflicting "voices" and impulses. It's just that, with alcohol dependence, one particular type of urge is very strong, and very dangerous, for us.

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                #22
                The Beast

                Chief;447914 wrote: It could be, WIP.....because for me, there is no compassionate observation of my Beast......

                Don
                I know, Don, and your way is very effective for you! And for many others, as well.

                Within the way of working with the mind that Nancy and I are talking about, there is another method for dealing with troubling and troublesome thoughts, feelings, and impulses, and it turns out that "compassionate observation" actually is very effective, even (or especially, I should say) for those aspects of ourselves that we very much do not like. Sometimes, the more we try to get rid of a thought or impulse... the more we fight with it... the stronger it gets. If we learn to accept that it is there, and move on... it can feel much less powerful. This type of mental discipline has been used for more than 30 years for chronic pain patients, and others with similar problems... and is very effective.

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                  #23
                  The Beast

                  I agree with everything Work In Progress said and her analysis makes perfect sense.

                  I also think there may be a gender difference here at work.

                  I will say that this idea of compassionate observation of things we don't like is working wonders for me across so many areas of my life. I am no longer clinically depressed. I am moderating. But if you take that compassionate framework, beast motif doesn't really work.

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                    #24
                    The Beast

                    A Work in Progress;447923 wrote: ...Sometimes, the more we try to get rid of a thought or impulse... the more we fight with it... the stronger it gets. If we learn to accept that it is there, and move on... it can feel much less powerful....
                    Couldn't have said it better myself.
                    Sobriety Date: June 15, 2007 -- "It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got...."

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                      #25
                      The Beast

                      For me, being on an abstinence road, I think of the voices sometimes as a Beast and sometimes as an immature child. It's the same way when I diet and want to have something I should not have to eat- I am struggling with that same voice in my head-good against not so good. The strength and length of the voice may be why, for me, sometimes it is the Beast and sometimes it is just an immature child wanting her way. All of these characterizations amount to one thing-an internal struggle. We all have these voices in our head, but we handle them in wide and varied ways. I hope, for everyone, you find a way that works for you to deal with your own personal struggles. Krigs
                      "People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care to the end as to the beginning." Lao-Tzu

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                        #26
                        The Beast

                        I cross posted. I need to practice more of the "compassionate observation" approach. I think it would serve me well. Thanks WIP.
                        "People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care to the end as to the beginning." Lao-Tzu

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                          #27
                          The Beast

                          :tempted: Call it internal struggle, inner voice, etc. Before my sobriety, my devil won, every time!
                          "It wasn't all I wanted, but all I could stand!":bigwink: Alcohol free since April 8, 2008

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                            #28
                            The Beast

                            I have literally seen alcohol as a hideous, slimy,blood drolling monster, many times, in my dreams.He is waiting behind a shed that is out by the edge of a beautiful meadow.This meadow is a place that I visit in meditation but the shed and the beast appear in that meadow on occasions that i am about to drink.To me, Alcohol is a beast that is always going to be there.I think my dreams come to warn me to be careful and not take sobriety for granted.
                            sigpicEyes on the PRIZE, a SOBER Future !!!

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                              #29
                              The Beast

                              Hi all
                              Gender related in regards to our approach is probably true.I am comparing this to the hardest physical fight I have had in my life.Not to many women have had the physical fighting as part of their lives.For men it is part of their lives. I view this as no BS lets Go at it .Give it a name do what ever its a fight for my life and I will do what ever I have to to win.I can think about this and feel the heart pumping and the veins starting to pump just like be for a fight.It feels good !!The difference is I use this motivation to seek out information and tools .This fight will be won with my mind.Yes if I slip you can yell at me I don't need a hug .Gender difference I guess so.

                              Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
                              AF 5-16=08
                              Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
                              AF 5-16-08

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                                #30
                                The Beast

                                I guess we could toss in the law of attraction and thoughts having energy (positive or negative). The more you think about something, the more energy you give it. How many times have you heard "and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got". I think that is why the advice is always give to "do something else, distract yourself for a while, etc. Even when you think about something you DON'T want, you are still giving it energy and attracting it. This is along the lines of Abraham Hicks teachings.
                                sigpic
                                Thoughts become things..... choose the good ones. ~TUT

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