At a jft meeting last night we discussed the reading of 8-1-10.
One of the senior members of our area remarked that alot of people mistake guilt for shame. He explained that guilt is for some action we took that we regret. We can be forgiven for the action but it cannot be undone.
Shame is about who we are. We are ashamed of ourselves, our lives have been shameful. This can be undone. I can wake up today and declare that just for today I will act in an honorable way. I will do nothing to be ashamed of.
This was liberating for me. I did confuse guilt with shame. I would continually beat myself up because I couldn't shake the guilt. I now realize that It wasn't the guilt that was haunting me, it was that I thought my life a shameful waste.
I am a good person today.
I seek to act with honorable intentions and in accordance with spiritual principles.
I am not ashamed of myself today.
I will carry my head high and take pride in being me.
Thank you Narcotics Anonymous.
It's meetings like this that remind me why I keep coming back.
Way to go Don,feel the freedom and keep moving forward. Narcotics Anonymous allows us to be teachable and to incorporate what we learn in our lives and also give back to others like ourselves...
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Thanks for sharing on this topic. Yes, I feel there is a difference between guilt and shame. I have to deal with both in recovery. I think that in my case it was more the shame of who I was than the guilt of what I had done to other people that drove made me want to seek a new way of life. I looked in the mirror and I didn't like who I saw.
Thanks Avid, I read that in my JFT book yesterday and of course all it did for me was make me feel even guiltier.... Until now. I really like the perception you talked about in your meeting. Isn't it wonderful to be able to actually listen & understand other people's perceptions and take suggestions from them? It's definitely a huge step for me. Thanks for sharing on that reading. You've changed my mood already this morning. Hope you have a blessed day!
Stacey
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The Will Of GOD Will Never Take You Where The Grace Of GOD Will Not Protect You
