A Perspective on Balance (Big Book 498)

…when life gets to be a tough slog, I take the time to write about each issue specifically: the source of the disturbance, the cause, what it affects or threatens, my part in the situation (my errors in thinking), and my resolution (what I am willing to do about it that day). This process is amazingly quick and effective. And the more often I follow it, the more effective it is: practice is such a key idea! I don’t spend too much time on issues, however, because rebalancing by finding gratitude is so important.

So next, I write about what I am grateful for that day. This can be a challenge when my basic needs haven’t been met, so I always re-check these when I am feeling out of sorts. But usually, once I’ve spent a few minutes thinking about what I am going to do to address my issues, it is pretty easy to let my heart fill up with love as I write about who and what I appreciate. I can breathe again.