The seeds of the miracles in NA are found in the following principles.
1. HOPE gives us something positive to look for and move towards. We can admit our need for help as we begin to share in our common welfare.
2. SURRENDER to the things we cannot change through our own power is a way to get on with our lives. We seek a Higher Power of our own understanding and that becomes our ultimate guide and source of strength.
3. ACCEPTANCE allows evasion and denial to give way to reality and peace. With the care of God, we are granted the power to welcome new people and new ideas into our lives.
4. HONESTY is the ability to match up our insides with our outsides. It allows what we don't care about to go away and what we really want to appear and develop in our lives.
5. OPEN MINDEDNESS is our bridge to the experience of others. It is the passageway out of loneliness into the life of the Spirit.
6. WILLINGNESS to try is the beginning of doing our part. However grand or humble that might be, it is a state of readiness replacing depression and anxiety.
7. FAITH is the evidence of our trust in God. True faith is the result of surrender coupled with experience that God can and will do for us if we ask for help.
8. TOLERANCE is knowing the other person has the same spirit in them as us and being curious about what that spirit is trying to do.
9. PATIENCE is taking time for things to move into place without force or breakage.
10. HUMILITY is knowing the importance of doing our part well and being open to the many forms of help required for a full and abundant life.
11. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE is given where we sense our spirit in another human being.
12. SHARING AND CARING is the active and passive forms of love that keeps us alive and allowing God to use us as instruments.
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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.
"Tolerance is knowing the other person has the same spirit in them and being curious about what that spirit is trying to do."
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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.
Today, in N.A., we have so many people, so many ideas and varieties of experience that it can seem overwhelming! Even with the commonality of our desire for recovery, we have need of tolerance just to watch it all go by.
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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.
"Tolerance is knowing the other person has the same spirit in them and being curious about what that spirit is trying to do."
Now thats thought provoking!!!!!!!!!!!
That's very true, BigV. This awesome line from the book "NA Way Of Life" has also helped me change my whole perception and attitude many a times in conflicts with others, where I found that it is actually possible to open my mind and percieve along those lines... Doing so helps me shed all hostility and animosity in the situation, and brings me back to a relaxed state of mind, and sometimes, even to loving the other in the conflict with me...
I always find that many people including myself use the line "If it ain't practical, it ain't spiritual" to dismiss spiritual principles and possibilities thru misuse of what it might mean. I think this quote actually means exactly this. That all spiritual principles are very much practicable. JMHO...
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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.
3. ACCEPTANCE allows evasion and denial to give way to reality and peace. With the care of God, we are granted the power to welcome new people and new ideas into our lives.
I think I have a really serious problem here I guess i'm in denial of reality of self inwhich I have no peace over something. I do ok for awhile then the denial seeps back in I feel totally powerless over it and end up acting out over it, UGH!!!!
I can identify with that... I think it's a life-long process... where sometimes it's also one step down... not always one step or two steps up... but have found that the lessons I learnt from acting out always have helped me to do better the next time I am thrown a similar situation... I handle it in a more wise way as I have my last mistake as my yardstick in my memory of past experiences... better to see the progress than getting stuck in seeking perfection which is unreal and illusionary... and not to beat myself up too harshly over mistakes and indulge in self-flagellation... must learn to gently love myself back to sanity and growth... It's ok to make mistakes, that's not the point for me today in my recovery... to learn from it and try to act differently and in a better way the next time, and to keep trusting in that process until I find the freedom from acting out, that is the most important thing for me...
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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.
but have found that the lessons I learnt from acting out always have helped me to do better the next time I am thrown a similar situation... I handle it in a more wise way as I have my last mistake as my yardstick in my memory of past experiences...
Thanks Tahirthis is my HOPE also, just to grow and handle things better.
You are welcome, my friend. The very fact that we both are there for each other and are willingly sharing our recovery with each other is exactly how the seed of hope is born, both within me and you. My first sponsor says it's a win-win for both in any two addicts sharing with each other. Hugs and Love.
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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.
this is my HOPE also, just to grow and handle things better.
