I used to struggle with my beliefs, or lack of them. Honestly, I didn't know what I believed. But not anymore. By following the suggestions in our program regarding open mindedness, and that our higher power need only be greater than ourselves, our disease, loving and caring, I have embraced a non religious spirituality that I am happy with. I don't feel the need to defend or promote it, but it gives me a sense of security and comfort that I have never known before. It comes directly from the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous.
My faith beliefs are reenforced by the spiritual principles of Narcotics Anonymous.God knows my heart.If I am directly asked what my beliefs are ,I would gladly share them ,ours is a God given program but it is not about any certain diety.Literature tells us "we were in the grip of a hopeless dilemma,the solution of which is spiritual in nature,therefore we will deal with spiritual matters. There are many different forms of spirituality...HAVE A BLESSED AND PRODUCTIVE DAY....
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Very true, all we need to stop using and find a new way to live in NA is a Power greater than our addiction, call it group, or the program or God or everything everywhere. The point is that what we come to believe in works for each of us...
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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.
Thanks for sharing that ,, Im actually practicing that at this very moment, where Im recovering from a very negative energy I felt at the meeting last nite.
That meeting was a safe place to share for me and I had many golden moments in the past 5 months there. But last night I got hurt by another person that did a counter share to mine and tried to lecture me, in his sharing on how I should behave...... I am resentful....
Thank God that I have been able to admit my own wrongs in that incident; seems like I built him up as a personality in the first place, in my share. So now, I know what not to do,, ha, ha, ha !!!
Got to go call the lift man as the lift in my apartment has got stuck...
Good God,, thinking about it, I am reminded of a slogan
"THE ELEVATOR IS OUT OF ORDER,,, TAKE THE STEPS"
-- Edited by Raman on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 01:22:10 PM
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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 !!!
This is indeed the most loving Fellowship Ive ever encountered.
I will not confuse the dictations and controls of a few as representing the TRUTH of our recovery; that each and every one of us are free to share our experiences without being counter-shared, castigated, corrected, critisized or censored....
I love the NA Way of life and do all I can
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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 !!!
yes at times, I've seen this too. Some of us, and that could very well be me at times, fail to understand what 'sharing and caring' in NA is all about. Teaching, preaching, advising, counseling, judging another, counter-sharing and what not!
It's very hard for me to remember that a simple message of my own experiences with addiction and recovery is how NA works. When I can relate with what one has shared, I can share my experiences, strength and hope, without even having to talk about the other or what the other has shared. One addict sharing with another, in an atmosphere of caring... still something in me always makes me think that I know better than the collective experience of hundreds and thousands of addict over half a century and more. I tend to dismiss off NA's suggestions, somehow believing the fact that I've found something which is a break-through concept, that at long last, I've come to know of something which supercedes the NA program and the principles that NA suggests for the fellowship. It's like recapturing the euphoria of using you know, where, every now and then, I used to shout 'eureka' upon having found a new drug, a new kinda high! The solution to all the problems of humankind. Today, I do the same, just that it's no more a drug or a new high, but with a twist - it's the principles, concepts, great ideas on how others should/must/supposed to live etc.
Hell, I don't even know why I'm rambling here, but when someone counter-shares, I know from my own experiences that it's so very hurtful for me, and when I felt this pain occasionally, that's when it hit me how painful it could be for another when I jump in on my high horse and try to assassinate what someone has shared. Hell, I do not want someone to do this to me, and I do not want to end up doing this to another. If I can't express understanding, love, care, empathy or sensitivity to another member in NA, I certainly can still help him or her by not inflicting hurt, by not using my defects of character on another in the disguise of helping another. Strange thing that I suffer from - this disease of addiction. I can convince myself beyond doubt that I'm helping another and be just acting out my sickness on another. May God protect me from causing harm to another. And moreso in NA which is the only solace, refuge, home, for a fellow addict.
Our literature says "Traditions protect us from ourselves." Very true in my case as my head tells me very frequently that my way is more advantageous and simpler than the NA way lol... what a deception, a deception of self!
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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.
