Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Tradition Twelve
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The Twelfth Tradition reminds us of the importance of putting principles before personalities. In recovery meetings, this might be paraphrased, dont shoot the messenger. We often get the message confused with the messenger, and negate what someone shares at a meeting because we have personality conflicts with the person speaking.
If we are having problems with what certain people have to share at meetings, we might want to seek the guidance of our sponsor. Our sponsor can help us concentrate on whats being said rather than whos saying it. Our sponsor can also help us address the resentments that may be keeping us from acknowledging the value of some particular persons recovery experience. It is surprising how much more we can get out of meetings when we allow ourselves to do as our Twelfth Tradition suggests, focusing on recovery principles rather than personalities.
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Just for today: I will practice the principle of anonymity in todays NA meeting. I will focus on the message of recovery, not the personality of the messenger.
It's hard to deal with people at meetings who rub me the wrong way. But I need to listen to what they have to say because it might be what I need to hear that day.
Through our spiritual principles we learn tolerance,patience and compassion for others even when we may want to roll our eyes thinking "oh no ,not this again!!!I may not cosign anything you say but I will give you my undivided attention.....
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I know what your talking about I too get aggravated at people when I go to meetings, But I have come to realize that they are only trying to help me to become a clean and sober person. Cuz they were just like us but they have seeked help from people. but just continue to seek help and listen to the people at the NA meetings and we shall become clean and sober for ever.......
