STOP.....even before you speak act or plan!

We use many slogans in recovery work to slow down or stop reacting as opposed to responding e.g.

one day at a time

easy does it

if nothing changes, nothing changes

live and let live

how important is it

but for the grace of God

let go and let God

 

 

 

 

As these and many others become ingrained, we can often draw on one or more before we get into trouble and the emotions take over. For many of us though, certain triggers often over rule all our wisdom and ability to draw on our knowledge exactly when we need it. Once certain buttons are pushed the emotional escalation zooms and there is little time to protect us and those to whom we may react. Our newest and very quickly becoming a favorite slogan is the word STOP symbolized by the big red stop sign that we see on so many corners. With STOP, we can pull ourselves away long enough to draw on the other slogans and to return without having opened our mouths. For me personally, this means I usually excuse myself suddenly, take flight and return more balanced and having applied wisdom to the situation. Maybe then I can ask as slogans suggest “how important is it” or remind myself to “Let go and let God” or “live and let live”. But first I must STOP as the HAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS SIGN INDICATES, GO NO FURTHER AT THIS TIME SCOTT!

The inmates we have taken this simple knowledge to, have quickly found a place to start change and recovery!

This slogan now sits at the top of our slogan boards in meetings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOP.....even before you speak act or plan!