How ‘The Message’ Relates to “The Power of Now” – Step 12
“Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be.” – Eckhart “Ulrich” Tolle (1948 – ) spiritual teacher
The Test of True Friendships may Surprise You- Step 12
ON FRIENDSHIPS AND REACHING OUT – “Recovery becomes a contact process; [w[e lose the fear of touching and of being touched. We learn that a simple, loving hug can make all the difference in the world when we feel alone. We experience real love and real friendship.” (The Basic Text, p. 91)
Healthy Recovery from One of “the Most Destructive Emotions There Is” – Step 12
“Never feel self-pity, the most destructive emotion there is. How awful to be caught up in the terrible squirrel cage of self.” – Millicent Fenwick (1910 – 1992) U.S., fashion editor / diplomat
If the World Were Your Oyster, How would You Breach Its Pursed Lips? – Step 12
GO FOR THE PREMIUM FUEL – “When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price tag on it.” (12 & 12, p. 106)
The Magnificent Moment When We’re Caught in Full Flight from the Cocoon – Step 12
WE TRANSCEND BEYOND LIMITATIONS – “… each step has contributed to the extraordinary transformation which we know as a spiritual awakening.” “Though each individual’s experience … varies, some experiences are so common as to be almost universal. Humility is one of these common factors.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 82)
The Secrets to Gracefully “Place Principles Before Personalities” – Trad. 12
AND KNOWING IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE - "... we are to place principles before personalities; ... we are to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of ... [our Higher Power] ." (12 & 12, p. 192) "He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them." - Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) Chinese philosopher / teacher Today's SFZ How have you struggled with putting "principles before personalities", lately? Eberg - The Right Thing to Do (4:27)…
This is the Thing with Wings ” that Perches in the Soul”*- Step 12
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” – Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886) U.S. poet
The 1st Law of Metaphysics: “When the Solution is Simple, God is Answering” – Step 12
THE FOLLY OF OUR BEST THINKING – “We have learned that if a solution isn’t practical, it isn’t spiritual. In the past, we made simple situations into problems; we made mountains out of molehills. Our best ideas got us here.” (12 & 12, p. 52)
A Few Simple Ways to Rekindle the Resplendent Joy We had in Our Youth – Step 12
LETTING THE JOY SHINE THRU IN ALL WE DO – “Yes, we are a vision of hope.” “The joy that we have in living clean is an attraction to the addict who still suffers.” “The steps are a new beginning!” (The Basic Text, p. 53)
How We might Prevent Our Good Intentions from Washing Away Before Our Eyes – Step 12
“You ask me why I do not write something … . I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results.” – Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) English nurse in the Crimean War on getting into action