Our newly found faith serves as a firm foundation for courage in the future.

Basic Text, p. 96

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Narcotics Anonymous is no place for the faint of heart!  Facing life on lifes terms without the use of drugs isnt always easy.  Recovery requires more than hard work; it requires a liberal dose of courage.

What is courage, anyway?  A quick look at a dictionary will tell us.  We have courage when we face and deal with anything that we think of as difficult, dangerous, or painful, rather than withdrawing from it.  Courage means being brave; having a purpose; having spirit.  So what is courage, really?  Courage is an attitude, one of perseverance.

Thats what an addict in recovery really needsperseverance.  We make that commitment to stick with our program, to avoid using, no matter what happens.  A courageous addict is one who doesnt use, one day at a time, no matter what.

And what gives us courage?  A relationship with a Higher Power gives us the strength and the courage to stay clean.  We know that, so long as we are in our Gods care, we will have the power we need to face life on its own terms.

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Just for today: I have a Higher Power who cares for me, no matter what.  Knowing that, I will strive to have an attitude of courage today.