“Living One Day at a Time”
"Live One Day at a Time"
01/05/2024
"Living One Day at a Time" is a fundamental principle that encourages us in recovery to focus on the present moment and take each day as it comes, without getting overwhelmed by past mistakes or future uncertainties.
The idea of living one day at a time is found in the eleventh step of the Twelve Steps, which states:
"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out."
While the specific wording may vary depending on the Twelve-Step program, the essence is consistent across different fellowships. Living one day at a time is emphasized as a way to promote mindfulness, self-reflection, and spiritual growth. It encourages us to focus on the present, refrain from dwelling on past regrets or worrying about the future, and to seek guidance and strength through spiritual practices.
The idea of living one day at a time aligns with mindfulness principles and is often seen as a practical approach to managing the challenges of addiction recovery. By concentrating on the current day and making small, manageable goals, we can reduce feelings of overwhelm and increase our chances of maintaining sobriety.
As a friend in recovery used to say, “If you have one foot in the past, and one in the future, you are “urinating” on the present. So, stay in the present.”
Some days it may mean that we need to live one day at a time, one hour at a time, or even one minute at a time.