"Personality change was what we really needed. Change from self-destructive patterns of life became necessary"
Basic Text, p. 15
In early life, most of us were capable of joy and wonder, of giving and receiving unconditional love. When we started using, we introduced an influence into our lives that slowly drove us away from those things. The further we were pushed down the path of addiction, the further we withdrew from joy, wonder, and love.
That journey was not taken overnight. But however long it took, we arrived at the doors of NA with more than just a drug problem. The influence of addiction had warped our whole pattern of living beyond recognition.
The Twelve Steps work miracles, ifs true, but not many of them are worked overnight. Our disease slowly influenced our spiritual development for the worse. Recovery introduces a new influence to our lives, a source of fellowship and spiritual strength slowly impelling us into new, healthy patterns of living.
This change, of course, doesn't "just happen:' But if we cooperate with the new influence NA has brought to our lives, over time we will experience the personality change we call recovery. The Twelve Steps provide us with a program for the kind of cooperation required to restore joy, wonder, and love to our lives.
Just for Today: I will cooperate with the new influence of fellowship and spiritual strength NA has introduced to my life, I will work the next step in my program
Change comes slow i hoped it would work faster once i started working the steps but not so, but i have seen some growth probably just enough to help change a few things that would have stayed the same, i have a story of change but it would take to long to type just let me say i did try something DIFFERENT the other day with someone and the peace i got from it was different, i found a new way to COPE.
Hey Avid! I shared the other night on the "phases of life" we have been thru.Most have had at least three basic..............years before we we were basically formulated in our character,,,years during as our devastation took its toll,,,and years after surrender trying to get back to where we first were>>HMMMM...For some there are a lot more "phases" as they may have come in and out etc...same story as our reading for today!! Do not let anyone steal your joy! A mantra I always try and keep on the top of this cranium.a very THICK' area..:) Have a blessed day!!!!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
