Immense Healing Begins when We Heal the One We Harmed the Most

CONDUCTED IN "A SPIRIT OF SELF-LOVE & HEALING" - "Usually there is one person whom we have inflicted the greatest damage - ourselves." "So ... most of us need to write our own name." "... [U]ntil we can take this Step in a spirit of self-love and healing, we may not be ready for it." (How Al Anon Works, pp. 58- 59 on being harmed) Today's SFZ THE HARM WE HOLD INSIDE -  "Many of us had trouble seeing how we had harmed ourselves ... ." "Some of us have had a tendency to deny any responsibility, while others have…

Continue ReadingImmense Healing Begins when We Heal the One We Harmed the Most
Read more about the article If You Ever Thought Timing is Everything; Then there can be No Doubt about It NOW – Step 9 Begins

If You Ever Thought Timing is Everything; Then there can be No Doubt about It NOW – Step 9 Begins

THE SOLUTION – “Timing is an essential part of this step. We should make amends when the opportunity presents itself, except when to do so will cause harm.” “We want to be free of guilt, but we don’t wish to do so at the expense of anyone else.”  (The Basic Text, p. 32)

Today’s SFZ

 

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Continue ReadingIf You Ever Thought Timing is Everything; Then there can be No Doubt about It NOW – Step 9 Begins
Read more about the article When Confrontation Comes, “Remember, You don’t Choose Love; Love Chooses You” – Step 8

When Confrontation Comes, “Remember, You don’t Choose Love; Love Chooses You” – Step 8

“Remember that you don’t choose love; love chooses you. All you really can do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes to your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing then reach out and give it away.”
– Kent Nerburn (1946 – ) U.S. spiritual author
Today’s full SFZ

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Continue ReadingWhen Confrontation Comes, “Remember, You don’t Choose Love; Love Chooses You” – Step 8
Read more about the article When do We Really Cause Harm … People, Places, & Things, Revisited – Step 8

When do We Really Cause Harm … People, Places, & Things, Revisited – Step 8

HARM DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM – ” … Step Eight isn’t simply a restatement of our inventory.  We are now looking for the people, places, and institutions we harmed, not just the types of harm we inflicted. [We] didn’t just lie; we lied to someone. [We] didn’t just steal; we stole from various people.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 56 to cause harm)

Today’s SFZ

 

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Read more about the article Today We Wield “Repentance and Good Works” as a “Shield against Calamity” – Step 8

Today We Wield “Repentance and Good Works” as a “Shield against Calamity” – Step 8

"OUR REAL PURPOSE" - "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us." (The Big Book, p. 77) "The principle of service ... is not a passive principle. To be of maximum service to the still-suffering addict, we must energetically seek to carry our message throughout our cities, towns, and villages. (It Works, How & Why, p. 152) "Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity." - Buddha (563 B.C. - 483 B.C.) ancient…

Continue ReadingToday We Wield “Repentance and Good Works” as a “Shield against Calamity” – Step 8

Unclenching Our Vise-like Grip on Resentments – Step 8

LETTING GO OF SELF-OBSESSION - "Most of us owe amends to at least one person who has also harmed us. Perhaps we haven't truly forgiven that person yet. We must let go of resentments and focus on our part in the conflicts in our lives.  We won't get better...if we are still in the grip of self-obsession." (It Works, How & Why, p. 55 on self-delusion) FREES US FROM SELF-DELUSION'S 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,…

Continue ReadingUnclenching Our Vise-like Grip on Resentments – Step 8
Read more about the article The Wreckage We’ve Wrought May have Some Utility After all – Step 8

The Wreckage We’ve Wrought May have Some Utility After all – Step 8

OUR PAST MAY INSPIRE PERSONAL CHANGE - "Even though we can't undo the past, our experience has shown that we still need to look at what we've done and acknowledge the damage we've caused. Despite the impossibility of changing what happened, we can start to make amends by not repeating the same behavior."  (It Works, How & Why, p. 58) LESSONS FROM THE DEBRIS - " ... having had cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our new found knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know." (12…

Continue ReadingThe Wreckage We’ve Wrought May have Some Utility After all – Step 8