Fear leads only to taking control. And our job in A.A. is to let go of control, of anything. I would try to follow direction of the Big Book.

 

Notice that the word "fear" is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and the wife. This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread, the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn't deserve. But did not we, ourselves, set the ball rolling? Sometimes we thinkg fear ought to be classed with stealing. It seems to cause more trouble.

We review our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn't it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse.

Perhaps there is a better way - we think so. For we are now on a different basis, the basis of trusting and relying upon GOD. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do ass we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.  ..... We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove out fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.  p. 68

In my opinion and in my experience if there is something that I'm afraid of, when I let my fears to God there are two opportuinities. First is that He will takes me through my fear to see that there is nothing scary. And second  He will remove it and won't give me the thing that I am afraid, because He knows I  can't handle it. Everything make sense with the Program.

Most of our fears are unsubstantiated. And we in A.A. are learning to rely upon God - He can do every thing. My job is to look for my fears, to put them on paper and to see why I have them. I am doing inventory and after that I am praying to let go of control and fears. Because when I have fears I am trying to control myself, others, weather, bad people, good people, parents, people in A.A. and I am doing stupid things meantime.

The Program is Program for freedom. God wants us to be happy and free people.

 

-- Edited by myownhell on Saturday 13th of September 2014 08:17:39 AM

Sometimes Barbara , our anxiety can well up too much .

That's when "fear" creeps in . I believe , at times , there is not too much

wrong with that . It is when It consumes us . We can look at fear - like >

F*#k  everything  and run - fear , when we could be in harms way .

False evidence appearing real - exactly that , things appear Too real , but we are only thinking it .

False expectations about reality - similar , but we have twisted it out of All proportion .

Yes Barbara  , it happens to 'normies' , it happens to us . Most of the time I "just run things like

that , past my HP" , like . "What are you doing to me this time Mate , what's this all about . If I

don't get an answer , I tell it to p*ss off" . But at times it ain't as simple as that .

Barbara , I am an interstate Truck driver , I am NOT a Dr , sometimes  We have to see Therapists

for these conditions . I would be checking in BIG Time with Your Higher Power first , she/he might

be trying to gain your attention on something . I wish you well . A prayer is on it's way to you.

For me, I have a real fear, one that used to consume me, and now simply is there. I have a severely disabled son who will never be able to live alone or care for himself. He is nonverbal. It is a known fact that he is amongst our society's most vulnerable population. How can I trust his care & well being to others, especially people I don't know? I remember sitting in a Drs office when he was younger, totally distraught. I was pouring my heart & soul, all my fears out to this man regarding my son's future. Who will take care of him when I'm gone?, I bellowed? (Literally) . Very calmly, he answered, "God will", with complete & utter conviction. WTH, I thought???? Many years later, through much pain and heartache masked in alcohol & pills, I have come to believe that he was right. I still have fear, but my faith is greater. Faith that he has a higher power, just as I do. One that walks with him daily. Faith has given me the ability to walk through my fear, to learn to live with it . The greatest gift AA has given me is sobriety. The second greatest is Faith. My faith allows me to live with my fear. This is my experience.

Thank you Pappy and nezyb....I loved your shares....Good stuff!