Basic Text Study!!!

[godsonmyside]

What a change from the way we used to be! That's how we know that the N.A. program works. It is the first thing that ever convinced us that we needed to change ourselves, instead of trying to change the people and situations around us. We discover new opportunities. We find a sense of self-worth. We learn self-respect. This is a program for doing just those things. By working the steps, we come to accept a Higher Power's will; this acceptance leads us to recovery.

I am not confused about this today, Life is awesome!!
Todd J

[eddie z.]

Originally Posted by Imagine

[ Today we experience a full range of feelings.] Yes we do, like I'm not moody enought.

Thanks again for sharing, Jerome!

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[godsonmyside]

Chapter 4

HOW IT WORKS

If you want what we have to offer, and are willing to make the effort to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps. These are the principles that made our recovery possible.

1. We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction,
that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves
could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to
the care of God as we understood Her.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being
the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these
defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Her to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became
willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible,
except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were
wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our
conscious contact with God as we understood Her, praying only
for knowledge of Her will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps,
we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice
these principles in all our affairs.

This sounds like a big order, and we can't do it all at once. We didn't become addicted in one day, so remember - EASY DOES IT.
There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles. Three of these that are indispensable are honesty, open-mindedness and willingness. With these we are well on our way.
We feel that our approach to the disease of addiction is completely realistic, for the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel. We feel that our way is practical, for one addict can best understand and help another addict. We believe that the sooner we face our problems within our society, in everyday living, just that much faster do we become acceptable, responsible, and productive members of that society.
The only way to keep from returning to active addiction is not to take that first drug. If you are like us you know that one is too many and a thousand never enough. We put great emphasis on this, for we know that when we use drugs in any form, or substitute one for another, we release our addiction all over again.
Thinking of alcohol as different from other drugs has caused a great many addicts to relapse. Before we came to N.A., many of us viewed alcohol separately, but we cannot afford to be confused about this. Alcohol is a drug. We are people with the disease of addiction who must abstain from all drugs in order to recover.
These are some of the questions we have asked ourselves: Are we sure we want to stop using? Do we understand that we have no real control over drugs? Do we recognize that in the long run, we didn't use drugs—they used us? Did jails and institutions take over the management of our lives at different times? Do we fully accept the fact that our every attempt to stop using or control our using failed? Do we know that our addiction changed us into something we didn't want to be: dishonest, deceitful, self- willed people at odds with ourselves and our fellow man? Do we really believe that, as drug users, we have failed?
When we were using, reality became so painful that oblivion was preferable. We tried to keep other people from knowing about our pain. We isolated ourselves, and lived in prisons built out of our loneliness. Through this desperation we sought help in Narcotics Anonymous. When we come to Narcotics Anonymous we are physically, mentally, and spiritually bankrupt. We have hurt long enough that we are willing to go to any length to stay clean.
Our only hope is to live by the example of those who have faced our dilemma, and have found a way out. Regardless of who we are, where we came from, or what we have done, we are accepted in Narcotics Anonymous. Our addiction gives us a common ground for understanding one another.
As a result of attending a few meetings, we begin to feel like we finally belong. It is in these meetings that we are introduced to the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous. We learn to work them in the order they are written and to use them on a daily basis. The steps are our solution. They are our survival kit. They are our defense, for addiction is a deadly disease. Our steps are the principles that make our recovery possible.


Ok now we will go through the 12 steps!!
Peace,
Todd J.

[eddie z.]

Originally Posted by godsonmyside

Do we know that our addiction changed us into something we didn't want to be: dishonest, deceitful, self- willed people at odds with ourselves and our fellow man?

Ouch! This reminds me that I need to get crackin' on my 9th Step. I am hoping it will free me of some of the guilt I have over my actions in my work life, like stealing from patients. But I am having trouble getting motivated to answer the questions in the workbook this time for some reason. I want to just do the Step, you know?

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[godsonmyside]

And you will!! Whats holding you back? Whats happened since the willingness from the 8th Step? Why is it so hard today to move on?

Love you Eddie,
It'll happen, Did you list procrastination in step 6, did you humbly ask and Pray for the removal in the 7th step? LOL

I'm having problems getting through my 6th step, I have 64 Character Defects I am Identifying and working Step 2 in our step Group, and Step 1 with a Sponsee. Most my Defects have been dormant, but can release at any giving time.

Peace,
Todd J.

P.S. I'm full of it tonight!!!!!!

[eddie z.]

I'm just finding the questions in the Guides annoying at this point. They seem to go all around the Step but never actually address the meat of it. I am very willing to make my amends. I want to get on with it! Not answer those silly questions. (That's how they feel to me these days.)

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[godsonmyside]

Some of the questions are long and repeated 100 times in a different form,
I found the 1st step amazing when we did it as 4 men in a group, couldn't slid through without getting to the core once we hit DENIAL.

Peace,
Todd J.

[eddie z.]

I've done all my previous Steps out of the Guides and they never bothered me before. I don't know why they do now. I guess it's 'cause I'm so anxious to get to the other side or something.

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[godsonmyside]

Any one down with continueing the Basic Text Study?

I'll post some more later if we've got some that want to continue and get involved with it!!

Let me know.

Peace,
Todd J.

[eddie z.]

I don't know. But I did want to say I did finally answer those Step Nine questions. I can't believe it's been about a year since I went over my 8th Step with my sponsor! It has been quite a year, though. We have set up a time to go over my Ninth Step soon, so I hope to be actually making my amends shortly. 'Bout time, huh?

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[Hangnail]

Hey family,

I would love a Basic Text Study, I'm in. Hey eddie z., I'm right behind you on the step work.

[eddie z.]

Originally Posted by Hangnail

Hey eddie z., I'm right behind you on the step work.

And closing in fast, I'm afraid. LOL. I always dreaded Step 9 and now I wonder sometimes if I'll ever get it done and move on to Step 10. At least I have set that date with my sponsor, though. I guess that's progress of a sort.

Love and hugs,
Eddie