January 11th: Progress, Not Perfection

January 11th - Reflection for the day

The experiences of thousands upon thousands of people have proved that acceptance and faith are capable of producing freedom from gambling. When we apply the same principles of acceptance and faith to our emotional problems, however, we discover that only relative results are possible. Obviously, for example, nobody can ever become completely free from fear, anger, or pride. None of us will ever achieve perfect love, harmony, or serenity. We’ll have to settle for very gradual progress, punctuated occasionally by very heavy setbacks.

Have I begun to abandon my old attitude of all or nothing?

Today I Pray

May God grant me the patience to apply those same principles of faith and acceptance that are keys to my recovery to the whole of my emotional being. May I learn to recognize the festering of my own human anger, my hurt, my frustration, my sadness. With the help of my Higher Power, may I find appropriate ways to deal with these feelings without doing harm to myself or others.

Today I Will Remember

Feelings are real—I will acknowledge them.

My thoughts:

One of the hardest truths I’ve had to accept in recovery is that I won’t wake up one day completely free from all my struggles. Even without gambling, life still comes with fear, anger, and disappointment. But recovery has taught me that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

For so long, I lived in an all-or-nothing mindset. If I couldn’t be perfect, why bother trying? That thinking kept me stuck, chasing an illusion of control that was impossible to achieve. Now, I see that small, steady steps forward are where the real victories lie. It’s not about avoiding setbacks but learning to rise after them.

Faith and acceptance have become my anchors. They remind me to acknowledge my feelings without letting them control me. I’ve learned to sit with my discomfort, to understand it, and to take healthier actions rather than seeking escape or numbing through gambling.

Recovery isn’t about erasing our humanity. It’s about embracing it, imperfections and all, and striving each day to grow into the best version of ourselves.

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