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An Every-Day Addict

Just for Today - January 28

”We can never fully recover, no matter how long we stay clean." Basic Text p. 80

Learning how to live again

Just for Today - January 27

”We learn new ways to live.  We are no longer limited to our old ideas." Basic Text p. 54

We may or may not have been taught right from wrong and other basics of life as children.  No matter, by the time we found recovery, most of us had only the vaguest idea of how to live.  Our isolation from the rest of society had caused us to ignore basic human responsibilities and develop bizarre survival skills to cope with the world we lived in.

Self-Centeredness

Just for today - January 26

”The spiritual part of our disease is our total self-centeredness." Basic Text p. 20

What is self-centeredness?  It is our belief that the world revolves around us.  Our wishes, our demands are the only ones worth consideration.  Our self-centered minds believe they are capable of getting everything they want if only they would be left to their own devices.  Self-centeredness assumes total self-sufficiency.

An Added Gift

Just for Today - January 25

”We see it happening among us every day this miraculous turnabout is evidence of a spiritual awakening."  Basic Text p. 49

We watch them walk in to their first meeting defeated, their spirits broken.  Their suffering is obvious, and their desire for help even more apparent.  They collect a welcome chip and go back to their seats, shaken by the effort.

From Isolation to Connection

Just for Today - January 24

”Our disease isolated us... Hostile, resentful, self-centered, and self-seeking, we cut ourselves off from the outside world."  Basic Text p. 3-4

Serenity Check

Just for Today - January 23

”Lack of daily maintenance can show up in many ways." Basic Text p. 91

Ever had a perfect stranger remark about how great the weather was, only to reply "It stinks"?  When this happens, we are probably suffering from a lack of daily maintenance in our program.

The School Of Recovery

Just for Today - January 22

”This is a program for learning." Basic Text p. 16

Unity and Uniformity

Just for Today - January 21

”Unity is a must in Narcotics Anonymous." Basic Text p. 60

Unity is not uniformity.  Unity springs from the fact that we have unity of purpose-to recover, and to help others stay clean.  Even so, we often find that while we strive to fulfill the same purpose, our means and methods may be radically different.

One Promise, Many Gifts

Just for Today - January 20

“Narcotics Anonymous offers only one promise, and that is freedom from active addiction..." Basic Text, p. 102

Making Mountains into Molehills

Just for Today - January 19

”When we stop living in the here and now, our problems become magnified unreasonably." Basic Text, p. 96

Some of us seem to make mountains out of molehills with our problems.  Even those of us who've found some measure of serenity have probably blown a problem far out of proportion at some time in our recovery-and if we haven't done so yet, we probably will before long!

The Simple Inventory

Just for Today - January 18

”Continuing to take a personal inventory means that we form a habit of looking at ourselves, our actions, our attitudes, and our relationships on a regular basis." Basic Text, p. 41

Forgiveness

Just for Today - January 17

”As we realize our need to be forgiven, we tend to be more forgiving. At least we know that we are no longer intentionally making life miserable for people." Basic Text, p. 38

Make That Call!

Just for Today - January 16

”We feared that if we ever revealed ourselves as we were, we would surely be rejected.... [But] our fellow members do understand us." Basic Text, p. 31

Fear

Just for Today - January 15

”We grow to feel comfortable with our Higher Power as a source of strength. As we learn to trust this Power, we begin to overcome our fear of life."  Basic Text, p. 24

A Loving God

Just for Today - January 14

”Our understanding of a Higher Power is up to us....  The only suggested guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring, and greater than ourselves." Basic Text, p. 24

Surrender to Win

Just for Today - January 13

"Help for addicts begins only when we are able to admit complete defeat." Basic Text, p. 22

Complete defeat-what a concept!  That must mean surrender.  Surrender-to give up absolutely.  To quit with no reservations.  To put up our hands and quit fighting.  Maybe to put up our hand at our first meeting and admit we're addicts.

Spiritual awakenings

Step: 
Step 12

Just for Today - January 12

"Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps..." Step Twelve

"How will I know when I have had a spiritual awakening?"  For many of us, a spiritual awakening comes gradually.  Perhaps our first spiritual awareness is as simple as a new appreciation for life.  Maybe one day we'll suddenly discover the sound of birds singing early in the morning.  The simple beauty of a flower may remind us that there is a Power greater than ourselves at work around us.

Faith

Just for Today - January 11

"As we develop faith in our daily lives, we find that our Higher Power supplies us with the strength and guidance that we need" Basic Text, p. 91

Gratitude

Just for Today - January 10

 “I’m very grateful to have come to believe.” IP No. 21, The Loner

Belief in a Higher Power can make all the difference when the going gets tough!   When things don’t go our way in recovery, our sponsor may direct us to make a “gratitude list.”  When we do, we should include our faith in a Power greater than ourselves on the list.  One of the greatest gifts we receive from the Twelve Steps is our belief in a God of our own understanding.

Returning our sponsor's kindness

Just for Today - January 9

"Our earliest involvements with others often begin with our sponsor" Basic Text p. 55

Growing up

Just for Today - January 8

"Our spiritual condition is the basis for a successful recovery that offers unlimited growth" Basic Text p. 43

Recovery

Just for Today - January 7

"Narcotics Anonymous offers addicts a program of recovery that is more than just a life without drugs.  Not only is this way of life better than the hell we lived, it is better than any life that we have ever known."  Basic Text p.103

How does it work?

Just for Today - January 6

"I used to think that I had all the answers, but today I am glad that I don't."  Basic Text p.272

What are the two favorite words of most addicts?  "I know!"   Unfortunately, many of us arrive in NA thinking we have all the answers.  We have a lot of knowledge about what's wrong with us.  But in and of itself, knowledge never helped us stay clean for any length of time.

Recovery at home

Just for Today - January 5

"We can enjoy our families in a new way and may become a credit to them instead of an embarrassment or a burden."  Basic Text p.100

We're doing great in recovery, aren't we?  We go to a meeting every day, we spend every evening with our friends in the fellowship, and every weekend we dash off to a service workshop.  But if things are falling to pieces at home, we're not doing so great after all.

The love of the fellowship

Just for Today - January 4

"Today, secure in the love of the fellowship, we can finally look another human being in the eye and be grateful for who we are." Basic Text p.89

Take a deep breath and talk to God

Just for Today - January 2

"Sometimes when we pray, a remarkable thing happens: We find the means, ways, and energies to perform tasks far beyond our capacities."

Basic Text, p. 44

Our greatest need

Just for Today - January 3

"We eventually redefine our beliefs and understanding to the point where we see that our greatest need is for knowledge of God's will for us and the strength to carry that out." Basic Text, p. 46

When we first arrived in NA, we had all kinds of ideas of what we needed.  Some of us set our sights on amassing personal possessions.  We thought recovery equaled outward success.  But recovery does not equal success.  Today, we believe that our greatest need is for spiritual guidance and strength.

Vigilance

Just for Today - January 1

"We keep what we have only with vigilance. . ."  Basic Text, p. 57

How do we remain vigilant about our recovery?  First, by realizing that we have a disease we will always have.  No matter how long we've been clean, no matter how much better our lives have become, no matter what the extent of our spiritual healing, we are still addicts.  Our disease waits patiently, ready to spring the trap if we give it the opportunity.

Being Of Service

Just for Today - December 31

"Working with others is only the beginning of service work." Basic Text, pg 56

We're in recovery now. Through living the program, we've attained some stability in our lives. Our faith in a Higher Power has grown. Our individual spiritual awakening is progressing comfortably. So now what? Do we simply sit still and enjoy? Of course not. We find a way to be of service.

Action and Prayer

Just for Today - December 30

"... growth is not the result of wishing but of action and prayer" Basic Text, pp. 35-36

Sometimes it seems as if our recovery is growing much too slowly. We struggle with the steps; we wrestle with the same problems; we labor under the same uncomfortable feelings day after day. We wish that recovery would move a little faster so we could find some comfort!

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