SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post - A Sponsorship Guide For 12 Step Programs by M.T.

Pernell Johnson · 10-25-2003, 08:47 AM

Suzanne; There are many things. One of them is time, about moving into the future and dealing with changes. When I didn't know how to do something, she's always said, "You don't have to know how. God knows how." When I was newly sober, things were a big deal for me. She did something with me that was very helpful: she'd say, "Okay, I'm going to write this down right now, and I'm going to ask you about it later." And two weeks, even a month, later she'd say, "Remember what was going on February twelfth, at 12:00 in the afternoon, that was such a big deal?" I could never remember it. It helped me put into perspective that all of this fear driven, negative drama I would generate really wasn't a big deal, except in my own mind. It helped me become more grounded and get a better perspective on life.

Charles; He told me I was not the program. He also said I was not the message either. I remember that most of all. And the best thing I could do was to drive over and pick somebody up and take them to a meeting.

Leigh; Feelings aren't facts. Working with others. To read. To keep working my program. That I could call at any time. I needed to know I could call.

M.T.; That you can go through recovery as many people do-----dragging your feet-----or you can soar like a bird. The best is to soar. That's the real reason we're in recovery, for the spiritual awakening. All of us in these fellowships have one thing in common----the fact that we feel disconnected from society in a profound way. The steps, the spiritual awakening, get us connected in a profound way.

Bea; Things that build my self-discipline, like having me sit in front of the room, just sit. When I'm at a meeting, as a newcomer, in the first few years, to sit in the front of the room and just listen. My sponsor taught me so many things; sahe taught me about compulsiveness and that the opposite of compulsiveness is control, thinking things out. She taught me a lot about spirit, about God. I had big trouble with God; it was a big problem. She had me doing spiritual affirmations, and she made me commit to doing them for short periods of time. I always did them. I had so much ego that, if I said I was going to do them, I did them. With me, even if I didn't want to do it., I had so much ego, I just got up and did it anyway, grudgingly, but I did it. That's the stuff that changed me. And I guess that comes that comes back to discipline too, self-discipline. When I call my sponsor, when something's going on, she makes my actions real clear for me. I feel like she knows me well. She'll put the step out that applies; she goes right to whichever it is, just pulls it and makes it clear for me. That's what I can give to the women that I sponsor. That's what I try to give. I don't know if I do, but I try to.

10-25-2003, 08:47 AM	#26 (permalink)
Pernell Johnson Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey USA Posts: 494 Blog Entries: 1	The Most Important Thing Our Sponsors Told Us Suzanne; There are many things. One of them is time, about moving into the future and dealing with changes. When I didn't know how to do something, she's always said, "You don't have to know how. God knows how." When I was newly sober, things were a big deal for me. She did something with me that was very helpful: she'd say, "Okay, I'm going to write this down right now, and I'm going to ask you about it later." And two weeks, even a month, later she'd say, "Remember what was going on February twelfth, at 12:00 in the afternoon, that was such a big deal?" I could never remember it. It helped me put into perspective that all of this fear driven, negative drama I would generate really wasn't a big deal, except in my own mind. It helped me become more grounded and get a better perspective on life. Charles; He told me I was not the program. He also said I was not the message either. I remember that most of all. And the best thing I could do was to drive over and pick somebody up and take them to a meeting. Leigh; Feelings aren't facts. Working with others. To read. To keep working my program. That I could call at any time. I needed to know I could call. M.T.; That you can go through recovery as many people do-----dragging your feet-----or you can soar like a bird. The best is to soar. That's the real reason we're in recovery, for the spiritual awakening. All of us in these fellowships have one thing in common----the fact that we feel disconnected from society in a profound way. The steps, the spiritual awakening, get us connected in a profound way. Bea; Things that build my self-discipline, like having me sit in front of the room, just sit. When I'm at a meeting, as a newcomer, in the first few years, to sit in the front of the room and just listen. My sponsor taught me so many things; sahe taught me about compulsiveness and that the opposite of compulsiveness is control, thinking things out. She taught me a lot about spirit, about God. I had big trouble with God; it was a big problem. She had me doing spiritual affirmations, and she made me commit to doing them for short periods of time. I always did them. I had so much ego that, if I said I was going to do them, I did them. With me, even if I didn't want to do it., I had so much ego, I just got up and did it anyway, grudgingly, but I did it. That's the stuff that changed me. And I guess that comes that comes back to discipline too, self-discipline. When I call my sponsor, when something's going on, she makes my actions real clear for me. I feel like she knows me well. She'll put the step out that applies; she goes right to whichever it is, just pulls it and makes it clear for me. That's what I can give to the women that I sponsor. That's what I try to give. I don't know if I do, but I try to.