Just got out of treatment on the 15th, picked up my 60 day the 16th. Having a bit of frustration with family members affiliated with na & their expectations of how mine should be. How do I deal with issues concerning "church" and my spirituality? I feel at this point in my program, the two differ somewhat. So glad to find this site!! Was unable to find a ride to a meeting, so I watched a posted video "Let Go, Let God" (EXCELLENT), and read through some other postings. Feeling very hopeful. Experience sharing definitely appreciated.
Hi Jamie,, welcome hugs to you,, I found the line in the Basic Text of NA to be appropriate to the concern you share= "The right to a God of your understanding is total and without any catches" Then again we are reminded that the most important thing about our belief is that it works !! Ive always believed God to be the Force that keeps me Clean and Serene . Another pointer is that our concept of God dosent have to be based on religious dogma. the only requirement is that we be honest abut our belief. Today I take pride in calling myself an eclectic,, whereby I take the best from each religion/spiritual practice I encounter. And nowadays im strong in my belief in the Prayer and Meditation aspects of our 12 Step Program. I use Prayer and Meditation each day of my life and see Miracles happen all the time. I also know that faith without works is dead and in keeping with Recovery Principles I try and be as honest as I can in each situation and daily routine. And so life goes on,, well,, actually my life now is better than any other life Ive ever lived before this and think that the best is yet to come. All the best to you in your recovery too.
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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 !!!
For me, I was scared of "God", and didn't think I'd be able to work the steps. So I stated in my first meeting that the group might be my higher power.
Anything that might restore (or give me) sanity I was hoping might happen,.They say that being honest open minded and willing were spiritual steps. And that confused me. But I did feel better going to meetings and I stayed around.
In the basic text it says you can look at the group, the steps, or God as your higher power. I came to believe in all three, and it's changed my life. by caring for others, by praying that they have knowledge of gods will, and the strenght to carry it out, it's changed my focus from my self centered obsessive complusive personality...It's made me think about putting others well being before my own.There is magic in those first three steps, and I hope you find it too!
Hey Jamie! Congrats on your 60 days and for completing you treatment program. Now get ready to start working on your recovery! Remember recovery is a process not an event....a journey rather than a destination
I too, understand about family and their expectations for us recovering addicts. This is not my first rodeo and I have hurt a lot of people in active addiction. The ironic thing is that when I was using people accused me of being selfish BUT in recovery I have to be selfish too. Recovery has to be my priority as I have nothing else without it. This irks some people but that's their crap. They are entitled to feel how they feel just as I am entitled to put myself and my recovery first and foremost.
As far as God and spirituality...that is a loaded question. The great thing about this program is that we get to focus on a higher power of our understanding. One that could do for us, what we could not do for ourselves. I believe there is a difference between the church and spirituality but you have to determine where you are on this issue for yourself. As for me, my higher power is Christ. You see, as an addict I never thought I was worthy of such unconditional love but after reading the bible and truly beginning my own spiritual journey I learned that not only was I worthy but I was also FORGIVEN for all the crap I had done and all I had to do was ask so who the heck was I not to forgive myself. That is just my experience friend but there were many times in my life when the only higher power I could grasp was the NA group and as someone once told me when I was really struggling with this concept...you can borrow my higher power until you find one of your own!!
The only way I could come to my own understanding of God and a working relationship with my God was and is through working the Steps, especially Steps Two, Three, Six, Seven and Eleven.
I'd suggest you pick up a Sponsor if you haven't as yet and start the journey of the Steps along with your Sponsor. IT WORKS!
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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.
