Al-Anon daily reflection ·

The 'All or Nothing' Trap

In fact, success may come by trying for a few minutes at a time until we become more comfortable with the action.

My disease loves extremes. If I can't meditate for 30 minutes like a monk, I won't do it at all. If I miss one day, I feel I've 'broken the streak' and give up for a month. This rigidity is a setup for failure. It's a way to keep myself from trying, because if I don't try, I can't fail.

Step Eleven encourages progress, not perfection. Success comes in the trying, not the duration. Three minutes of conscious breathing is infinitely better than zero minutes. A quick 'Thank you' is better than silence. When I lower the barrier to entry, I make consistency possible. I am learning to be gentle with my stumbling efforts. God is not checking a timecard. The intent to connect matters more than the execution. A few minutes of sanity can change the trajectory of my entire day.

Practice

I can set a 'micro-goal' for today. I will spend exactly two minutes in silence. I will not judge how 'good' the silence was. I will just do it and mark it as a win.

Today’s Reminder

Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first.

More on self-compassion

Explore further

Written by people with lived experience of someone else’s drinking who practice the Twelve Step program of recovery. Published by Daily Growth, LLC.

The actual Daily Paths app: today’s reflection, journal, and daily tools

The Daily Paths app

Make room for yourself,
every day.

A daily reflection. A place for your thoughts. Small ways to bring the focus back to you.

Get the Daily Reflection in your inbox.

Sign up to receive a daily email with the Daily Reflection and a link to an article worth reading.

We’ll send a link to confirm your address. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy