I am struggling a little bit about what I "think" about some of the "drama" that has been going on for the past few weeks on here. So I went to the basic text, and found this....it helped me alot to calm my thinking and my mind so I wanted to share it.....
Page 10, basic text
"Narcotics Anonymous has many years of experience with litterally hundereds of thousands of addicts. This firsthand experience in all phases of illness and recovery is of unparalleled, therapeutic value. We are here to share freely with any addict that wants to recover.
Page 11 basic text
Our meetings are a process of identification, hope, and sharing. The heart of N.A. beats when two addicts share their recovery. What we do becomes real for us when we share it....
...The atmosphere of our recovery is protected by our twelve traditions. We are fully self-supporting through voluntarycontributions form our members."
Which in turn led me to the traditions, particularlly tradition 2. I'm not going to type out what i found there, but suffice it to say, it covers ALOT of whats been on my mind, and it has alot to do with what happens at the extremes in the fellowship.... one side being role models that get placed on a pedestal, the other the self seekers that bring dissention, and eventually disaster for themselves.
It was a good reading for me, and if your interested, it can be found on page 60 of the basic text.
Thanks for letting me share here family
Peace out,
Brett
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Faith: the substance of things hoped for, the belief in things unseen
It's what i like about this program so much the literature says it ALL.
Anytime I have trouble I go to the literature , my problem is there in writing where I can relate, it's explained and made easy for me to understand, it's a resource that gives me an outline on how to improve myself under any circumstance.
Problems and situation drive you to the literature? GOOD, we need to read and know as much as we can I am guilty of not doing it enough .
I think here at MIP there is a majority of spiritual conscience's more so then the dissentious type that I am sure of, whatever bitterness and resentment someone has they need praying overm we as a group can do that maybe this or these persons will see the light one day, and yes I do believe in Karma I have had it happen to me many many times over so today I use that as a tool and try an not do things harmful to others or even myself.
Agreed we are in recovery now, but still we have a progressive illness called Addiction within us, and as such are very much subject to a relapse on a mental or behavioral level. I have observed in my recovery so far that it's very easy for me to get carried away by my ego, pride and self-righteousness. My addiction can force me into claiming that my way is the right way and to impose it on others by belittling others. Self-centeredness is at the core of my disease, and as such, coupled with Denial, can cause havoc in my recovery and that of others in the fellowship...
That is why it is very important to recover within the spiritual confines of the NA namely Steps, Traditions and Concepts. These are the principles that can save me from myself (meaning my addictive personality)... I say this with conviction because many a times I have observed that something inside me cries out wishing that these traditions were just not there at all, and at those occasions I have found that I had a very selfish and personal agenda of my own above that of the group and others in NA and even in group settings outside NA like my family and my workplace... And acting out on these tendencies has created havoc and a spiritual relapse for me at these times... The only thing that can save me from myself at these critical attempts of the committee in my head to take control of me and to dictate me is by falling back to the basics of the program by applying the steps and traditions, to reach out to my Sponsor and other friends in NA and seek their guidance, reading literature and seek clarity from it, praying and meditating and seeking my Higher Power's will for me in that situation, and accept and surrender to whatever guidance is revealed to me...
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
