Spiritual question

[The New Me]

Iposted this in the reading section, but this is a better place for my inquiery:
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Hello fellow readers,

Did you read the "The Alcohol and Addiction Cure" By Chris Perentiss?
If you did, I have a question. His spiritual belief is such that something good is supposed to come out from even the most dire situation, in his case his son's heroine addiction. And in his world it did - they opened a treatment program, helped many people and wrote a book.

From your own story - do you see anything positive coming out from your alcohol addiction? Any grand scale results, any "aha moments, I was supposed to go through this"
Did your addiction lead to anything positive?
I am still waiting for my enlightenment, but thought I would ask the forum.

[startingover]

Well, I am not sure where this will lead me yet, but I was made redundant from my job in IT and now I am waiting to start volunteering at an addiction agency. I am planning to study to enable me to start a new career in this field. Had I not gone through what I have (drugs and alcohol) I doubt very much if I would have considered this line of work.

I read the Chris Prentiss book and I happen to agree with his belief that things happen for a reason.

[Evie.Lou]

New Me, I have a book to recommend to you that we sell in our Metaphysical shop....
LOVE the book, don't get along personally with the author Robert Schwartz...It's called Courageous souls and there is a chapter on alcoholism and explains how brave a soul is to make the CHOICE to come in with that as a soul's challenge.
It is only thru challenge that we grow.
I am grateful today to be an alcoholic...I REALLY AM !!!
I am a 5th generation spiritualist and have never know anything other than spirit communication....(EVER since childhood).... Even so, I found this book to answer questions, that I still had.
Robert called me and "blind tested" my readings to see if I was GOOD enough for his next book.......He excitedly called and said ...YOU PASSED...my reply to him was (sorry .......but you didn't) !!!
I knew psychics who had worked on his first book with him and they said he was "impossible" to work with..so, I passed on that... BUT I LOVE THAT BOOK.... AND HERE IS HIS WEB SITE
Your Soul's Plan - Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born

[The New Me]

Evie, I will check if my library has it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Yes, the path may lead to helping others, or who knows what.

I have a lot about alcoholism and addiction - there is one conclusion that shines almost through every book (except strictly medical books) - spirituality, or belief, or whatever you name it is a necessary element of recovery. Perhaps we who are still struggling may be missing that element? I do not want to open a Pandora box on this forum, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I am just sharing the results of my research.

I, myself am still searching for my own way out ....

[Evie.Lou]

sorry for the Typos in my first post ....I was in a hurry... but I am glad to answer or point you toward authors and teachers who may be able to help you !!
Bless up on your path of recovery !!!

[miserylovescompany]

Well it's too early to tell if I will be OK but I did find everyone here so I consider that blessing (for me).

[mario]

since i became alcohol free i have an inner peace that certainally wasent there before & i am more contented then ever,cant really explain it,still working on it,but it feels good

[LilBit]

Good question, NewMe. Wow, I didn't realize all this until I started to answer it, but I now have a deeper humility before God and the universe; a keener knowledge of how fragile we all are; a greater tolerance and understanding of my fellow humans; and -- most importantly, I think -- a moment-by-moment sense of gratitude for Life in all its rich fullness. If you've ever lost a child for a few seconds or for an interminable minute, this feels rather the same as when you find them again, that is, the horror of what might have been lost forever is replaced by a flood of relief, joy, and well-being. Would I have had this sense if I had never taken the first drink? Probably not. What God and I will do with it going forward remains to be seen, but I'm open...

(Props to you, Starts! That's AMAZING!!)

[paula]

I believe that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I also believe we choose our path in life. I know lot's of alcoholics ( recovering) who are truly spiritual people, they tell me when the time is right that the peace we all long for comes to us, and that peace like love is only returned when you give it away.

[The New Me]

I thought about my own question for a day, and realized that having the dependency made me more humble... Similar to what LilBit said. I always felt like I am strong and hate to admit, I was probably very arrogant. I had little compassion for human weakness, being so perfect myself!

I also felt for my Dad, who stuggled on his own with a bottle, no access to AA, MWO, supplements, just grim reality and a nagging wife. He must have suffered from the same shame, humiliation, mental anguish and had no one to turn to. He is dead, but I wish I could tell him that, now I understand...