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Our Higher Power's Will

May 16 - Just for Today

"God's will for us becomes our own true will for ourselves."

Basic Text, p. 46

The Twelve Steps are a path to spiritual awakening. This awakening takes the form of a developing relationship with a loving Higher Power. Each succeeding step strengthens that relationship. As we continue to work the steps, the relationship grows, becoming ever more important in our lives.

Fear of the Fourth Step

Step: 
Step 1

May 15 – Just for today

"As we approach this step, most of us are afraid that there is a monster inside of us that, if released, will destroy us."

Basic Text, p. 27

Most of us are terrified to look at ourselves, to probe our insides. We're afraid that if we examine our actions and motives, we'll find a bottomless black pit of selfishness and hatred. But as we take the Fourth Step, we'll find that those fears were unwarranted. We're human, just like everyone else—no more, no less.

Oops!

May 14 – Just for today

"Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results."

Basic Text, p. 23

Mistakes! We all know how it feels to make them. Many of us feel that our entire lives have been a mistake. We often regard our mistakes with shame or guilt—at the very least, with frustration and impatience. We tend to see mistakes as evidence that we are still sick, crazy, stupid, or too damaged to recover.

Onward On the Journey

May 13 – Just for today

"The progression of recovery is a continuous uphill journey"

Basic Text, p. 79

The longer we stay clean, the steeper and narrower our path seems to become. But God doesn't give us more than we can handle. No matter how difficult the road becomes, no matter how narrow, how winding the turns, there is hope. That hope lies in our spiritual progression.

Living with Spiritual Experiences

May 12 – Just for today

"For meditation to be of value, the results must show in our daily lives."

Basic Text, pp. 45-46

 

Balancing the Scales

May 11, Just for today
A lot of our chief concerns and major difficulties come from our inexperience with living without drugs. Often when we ask an old timer what to do, we are amazed at the simplicity of the answer.""
Basic Text, pp. 41-42

Becoming Entirely Ready

 Just for today - May 10 

"We... get a good look at what these defects are doing to our lives. We begin to long for freedom from these defects."

Basic Text, p. 33

Becoming entirely ready to have our defects of character removed can be a long process, often taking place over the course of a lifetime. Our state of readiness grows in direct proportion to our awareness of these defects and the destruction they cause.

Write About It!

 Just for today - May 9 

"We sit down with a notebook, ask for guidance, pick up our pen, and start writing."

Basic Text, p. 29

When we're confused or in pain, our sponsor sometimes tells us to "write about it." Though we may groan as we drag out the notebook, we know that it will help. By laying it all out on paper, we give ourselves the chance to sort through what's bothering us. We know we can get to the bottom of our confusion and find out what's really causing our pain when we put the pen to the paper.

Teachable

 Just for today - May 8 

"We have learned that it is okay to not know all the answers, for then we are teachable and can learn to live our new life successfully."

Basic Text, p. 93

In a way, addiction is a great teacher. And if addiction teaches us nothing else, it will teach us humility. We hear it said that it took our very best thinking to get to NA. Now that we're here, we're here to learn.

Turning Turmoil into Peace

Just for today - May 7 

"With the world in such a turmoil, I feel I have been blessed to be where I am."

Basic Text, p. 155

Are We Having Fun Yet?

May 6 – Just for today

"In time, we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of recovery."

Basic Text, pp. 53-54

Imagine what would happen if a newcomer walked into one of our meetings and was met by a group of grim-faced people gripping the arms of their chairs with white knuckles. That newcomer would probably bolt, perhaps muttering, "I thought I could get off drugs and be happy."

Any Lengths

 Just for today - May 5 

"...I was ready to go to any lengths to stay clean."

Basic Text, p. 217

"Any lengths?" newcomers ask. "What do you mean, any lengths?" Looking back at our active addiction and the lengths we were willing to go to in order to stay high can help to explain. Were we willing to drive many miles to get drugs? Yes, we usually were. Then it makes sense that, if we are as concerned about staying clean as we were about using, we will try anything to find a ride to a meeting.

"What About The Newcomer?"

May 4

"Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry the message to the addict who still suffers."

Tradition Five

Our home group means a lot to us. After all, where would we be without our favorite NA meeting? Our group sometimes sponsors picnics or other activities. Often, home group members get together to see a movie or go bowling. We have all made good friendships through our home group, and we wouldn't trade that warmth for the world.

Sharing Our Gratitude

May 3 – Just for today

"My gratitude speaks when I care and when I share with others the NA way."

Gratitude Prayer

"Just Maybe...."

Just for today - May 2

"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."

Basic Text, p. 18

Self-Worth and Service

May 1

"Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile."

Basic Text, p. 212

When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occurs when we begin to have a positive impact on others' lives through our service efforts.

God - Centeredness

Just for Today - March 30

"Gradually as we become more God-centered than self-centered, our despair turns to hope."
Basic Text p. 92

True Courage

Just for Today - March 17

"Those who make it through these times show a courage not their own."

Basic Text p. 82

Before coming to NA, many of us thought we were brave simply because we had never experienced fear. We had drugged all our feelings, fear among them, until we had convinced ourselves that we were tough, courageous people who wouldn't crack under any circumstances.

Anxiety Attack?

Just for Today - March 1

"[The] Power that brought us to this program is still with us and will continue to guide us if we allow it."

Basic Text, p. 26

 Ever had a panic attack? Everywhere we turn, life's demands overwhelm us. We're paralyzed, and we don't know what to do about it. How do we break an anxiety attack?

Self-acceptance

Just for Today - February 9

"When we accept ourselves, we can accept others into our lives, unconditionally probably for the first time."

IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

From our earliest memories, many of us felt like we never belonged. No matter how big the gathering, we always felt apart from the crowd. We had a hard time "fitting in." Deep down, we believed that if we really let others get to know us, they would reject us. Perhaps our addiction began to germinate in this climate of self-centeredness.

What Is A Sponsor?

Just for Today - February 8

"…an NA sponsor is a member of Narcotics Anonymous, living our program of recovery, who is willing to build a special, supportive, one-on-one relationship with us."

IP No. 11, "Sponsorship, Revised"

This Is Not a Test

Just for Today - February 7

"We have found a loving, personal God to whom we can turn."

Basic Text p. 27

I Can't - We Can

Just for Today - February 6

"We had convinced ourselves that we could make it alone and proceeded to live life on that basis. The results were disastrous and, in the end, each of us had to admit that self-sufficiency was a lie"

Basic Text p. 59

"I can't, but we can." This simple but profound truth applies initially to our first need as NA members: Together, we can stay clean, but when we isolate ourselves, we're in bad company. To recover, we need the support of other addicts.

Keep Coming Back!

Just for Today - February 5

"We are grateful that we were made so welcome at meetings that we felt comfortable." Basic Text p. 80

Feeling Good Isn't the Point

Just for Today - February 4

"For us, recovery is more than just pleasure."

Basic Text p. 42

In our active addiction, most of us knew exactly how we were going to feel from one day to the next. All we had to do was read the label on the bottle or know what was in the bag. We planned our feelings, and our goal for each day was to feel good.

We Need Each Other

Just for Today - February 3

"Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity creed, religion, or lack of religion."

Basic Text p. 9

Addiction closed our minds to anything new or different. We didn't need anyone or anything, we thought. There was nothing of value to be found in anyone from a different neighborhood, a different racial or ethnic background, or a different social or economic class. We may have thought that if it was different, it was bad.

Goodwill

Just for Today - February 2

“Goodwill is best exemplified in service; proper service is doing the right thing for the right reason."  Basic Text p. ix

The spiritual core of our disease is self-centeredness. In dealing with others, the only motive our addiction taught us was selfishness — we wanted what we wanted when we wanted it. Obsession with self was rooted in the very ground of our lives. In recovery, how do we root self-obsession out?

Hardships

Just for Today - February 1

“We felt different... Only after surrender are we able to overcome the alienation of addiction." Basic Text p. 22

“But you don't understand!" we spluttered, trying to cover up. "I'm different! I've really got it rough!" We used these lines over and over in our active addiction, either trying to escape the consequences of our actions or avoid following the rules that applied to everyone else. We may have cried them at our first meeting. Perhaps we've even caught ourselves whining them recently. 

Trust

Just for Today - January 31

”Just for today I will have faith in someone in NA who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery."  Basic Text p. 90

Learning to trust is a risky proposition.  Our past experience as using addicts has taught us that our companions could not be trusted.  Most of all, we couldn't trust ourselves.

Giving It Away

Just for Today - January 30

”We must give freely and gratefully that which has been freely and gratefully given to us."  Basic Text p. 47

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