“Surrender means not having to fight anymore. We accept our addiction and life the way it is. We become willing to do whatever is necessary to stay clean, even the things we don’t like doing.”Basic TextPg. 22I know that I for one did NOT like that word surrender when I first came in. At that time my mind conceived surrender as being weak or cowering down. It took a while for me to get what it truly means. But during that time I just kept coming back, and I realized that in coming back I was starting the process of surrender. And though I didn’t want to admit it at the time, I started liking it. I didn’t have to fight anymore! But with that came finding a new life. It was a struggle to reach out and make new friends. But that’s what you people told me had worked for y’all. And I wanted what you had. So I became willing to do what you did, no matter how uncomfortable or “imposing” it may have felt. And it worked! Today I have a new life b/c I did whatever it took. I have true friends and a family who trusts me again. I would not have gained that without surrender.Carrie B.
not having to fight any more was a relief to me I had fought all my life and grown weary so when I got here I was willing to try anything that was different than my old life.I still have to remember to surrender sometimes on several occasions it seems to be a daily chore at times. But that's ok I love my new ,life and don't wanna look back but I never forget where i came from
Even though I never had a problem with the word "Surrender, I too like the definition... "not having to fight anymore." I was tore up and tired when I first came to NA, I was willing to surrender the fight that I knew I was losing.
Another definition I like of "Surrender" is this...
"Surrender does not mean to 'give up' or to 'quit', rather it means... to join the winning side"
I liked what was shared by carriethemessage and rayne. Thank you!
"surrender to win"' ive heard tell in many recovery meetings !!! surrender begins with me being aware that im overpowered !!! putting my hands up also depends on my perception of the winning side,, thats why it is important to show love ,gratitude and compassion to newcomers so they will not be afraid to surrender to the Program of recovery !!! Like this day I had to surrender a resentment by directly talking to a member who answered a question in an abusive language !!! i wasnt fighting what to do or not to do but decided to tackle it on on one !!! I told the member concerned directly that I thought his answering manner was very inappropriate,, especially as we were discussing a Tradition and also as his answer had nothing to do with my question to the group !!! Just before i spoke to this member on the phone id tackled another resentmentby calling another member what he meant by giving his opinion and advice when a newcomer had sincierly asked for experience on a certain issue !! and that resolved the resentment !!! In surrender I remember that addiction too was a power greater than myself,,, it was a destructive force many many times more powerful than i was or can ever hope to be !!! so surrender to that malafide force will be negative surrender,,, my surrender is to the Spiritual Principles of Love and Understanding thats an integral part of the NA WAY OF LIFE !!!
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
