The message is that an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live. Our message is hope and the promise of freedom.
Who We Are
East Tennessee Ridges of Recovery is a service committee formed to provide NA groups in East Tennessee assistance in carrying our message. This support is provided through many services including public information, published meeting listings, and fellowship events.
The purpose of this site is to be a resource for members as well as anyone else who thinks they may have a problem with drugs. We seek to provide current information regarding recovery meetings, email and telephone contacts where an addict may seek help, service committees, and events in our area. It is also intended to be a source of general information about Narcotics Anonymous for non-members and professionals in our community.
Just for Today
November 06, 2024 |
Understanding humility |
| Page 324 |
| "Humility is a result of getting honest with ourselves." |
| Basic Text, p. 36 |
| Humility was an idea so foreign to most of us that we ignored it as long as we could. When we first saw the word "humbly" ahead in Step Seven, we may have figured it meant we had quite a bit of humiliation in store. Perhaps we chose to look it up in the dictionary, only to become even more confused by the definition. We didn't understand how "lowliness and subservience" applied to recovery. To be humble does not mean we are the lowest form of life. On the contrary, becoming humble means we attain a realistic view of ourselves and where we fit in the world. We grow into a state of awareness founded on our acceptance of all aspects of ourselves. We neither deny our good qualities nor overemphasize our defects. We honestly accept who we are. No one of us will ever attain a state of perfect humility. But we can certainly strive to honestly admit our faults, accept our assets, and rely on our Higher Power as a source of strength. Humility doesn't mean we have to crawl life's path on our hands and knees; it just means we must admit we cannot recover on our own. We need each other and, above all, we need the power of a loving God. |
| Just for Today: To be humble, I will honestly accept all facets of myself, seeing my true place in the world. For the strength I need to fill that place, I will rely on the God of my understanding, |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2023, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
Spiritual Principle a Day
November 06, 2024
Honest Self-Reflection
Page 321
"Honesty begins with not lying, but that's not where it ends."
Guiding Principles, Tradition Ten, Opening Reflection
With any luck, we're challenged to practice a bit of "cash-register honesty" early in our recovery. When a cashier gives us too much change, it's tempting to quietly pocket it, but we do the right thing instead. We hand the money back rather than lying by default. Damn, that feels good. We get an "attaboy" from the clerk and have some righteous experience to share at the next meeting. We revel in the positive attention, and, even better, we feel proud of ourselves.
This is a great start to practicing honesty, but it doesn't end there. The Steps offer some important guidance for us as we sift through our past and examine our present state of mind and behavior. Personal inventories--long-form as well as the frequent spot checks--help us develop a habit of honest self-evaluation. We take stock of our assets and liabilities, refining our lists in consultation with a sponsor and Higher Power. Knowing--really knowing--ourselves is a crucial element of recovery.
Our relationships--with ourselves, with others, and with our lives--are enriched by our willingness to be honest. When we're in a good groove with honesty, we tend to surrender a little more and have fewer amends to make. Clarity about our character, our motivations, and our emotional lives means we're less defensive and more introspective. It turns out that having access to our feelings makes it easier to connect with others. We build deep and lasting relationships with others who are also emotionally available.
When we understand ourselves and our lives, it's easier to respond to the world around us in a way that's consistent with our values. For some of us, conscious living means that we find our voice and become advocates for causes that are important to us. We can hold strong opinions on difficult issues and still take care not to complicate the NA message. Clarity comes from honestly reflecting on our experience and sharing how living by spiritual principles keeps us grounded and growing. Our experience offers a vision of hope.
Being myself is my best asset in carrying the message. I will take time for some honest self-reflection today.
Copyright (c) 2007-2023, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved