“We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.”
– Patrick Henry (1738-1799) U.S. Revolutionary War Statesman
ACCESSING OUR H.P. IN THE NOW – “Our actions may have left permanent physical or emotional scars… . We must somehow learn to live with such things.” “We may have difficulty in forgiving ourselves, but we can ask for the forgiveness of a loving God [or H.P.]” (It Works, How & Why, pp. 64 – 65)
Today’s SFZ
“THE TRIANGLE OF SELF-OBSESSION” – “People, places, and things cannot possibly fill the emptiness inside of us, and we react to them with resentment, anger, and fear. Resentment, anger, and fear make up the triangle of self-obsession. All of our defects of character are forms of these three reactions.” (NA Information Pamphlet #12 on being selfish)
WHAT’S A LITTLE HARM ANYWAYS – “We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have “harmed” other people. What kinds of “harm” do people do to one another, anyway? To define the word “harm” in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional or spiritual damage to people.” (12 & 12, p. 80)
THE SELF-DELUSION PRISON – “Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves.” (12 & 12, p, 79)
AND BY LETTING LOVE TAKE ROOT AND FLOW – “By giving unconditional love in the fellowship, we become more loving, and by sharing spiritual growth we become more spiritual.” [ Thusly, ] (The Basic Text, p. 82)
Today’s SFZ
AS THE SPIRIT GROWS – “Some things we must accept, others we can change. The wisdom to know the difference comes with growth in our spiritual program.” “This is the emotional stability that we so baldly need.”(The Basic Text, p. 95)
FIRST WE ACCEPT THAT CHANGE TAKES TIME AND TAKE ACTION –
“But we shouldn’t become discouraged if we find that we aren’t changing as quickly as we would like. We can’t expect to be free of all our defects overnight. (Overeaters Anon., pg. 56)
THE PRECIOUS MOMENTS THAT TEACH – “Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes … no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one.” (12 & 12, p. 80)