When jvr3419 shared about emotional dysregulation, it inspires me to seriously think about the following:
Should I follow my heart or follow my mind or follow a Higher Power in recovery?
What is the better way to work my recovery and repentance?
Is admitting defeat and surrendering to my addiction enough to stay stop?
Should I focus on victory and submitting to a Higher Power to stay stop?
What did my Higher Power say about the heart which was driven by emotions, instincts, and desires?
What does it mean for me to surrender?
Surrender for me is the willful and stubborn or intentional, determine acceptance of defeat to gambling. The focus is on the gambling activities.
1. I surrender and stop gambling because I admit defeat to gambling.
2. I surrender and stop gambling because I am powerless over my gambling.
3. I surrender and stop gambling because compulsive gambling is a progressive illness; once I start and continue gambling, I will gradually become compulsive and cannot control the size and frequency of my gamble. If I stop gambling, I cannot stay stop
4. I surrender and stop gambling because I have no more money to lose.
5. I surrender and stop gambling because gambling has cause me to act out in other ways in life which I will normally not be doing if I am not gambling.
6. I surrender and stop gambling because gambling makes my life unmanageable.
7. I only surrender and stop gambling. Nothing else about me has change.
What does it mean for me to submit?
Submitting to a Higher Power for me means that I trust, I listen, I obey, and I follow a Higher Power to claim victory.
I give up my heart; own desires, hopes, and wants to follow the Higher Power wherever it may lead me.
My Higher Power was the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Submission to a Higher Power show me where I should be heading even when I am overwhelmed by strong emotions and feelings.
The focus is on my Higher Power, the focus is not on my gambling problem.
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge this Higher Power,
And this Higher Power will make your paths straight.
What did my Higher Power tell me about the heart?
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Proverbs 28:26:
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.