Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

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June 20

Willingness to Give It a Go

"Great or small, our awakenings show in our willingness to practice the principles and carry the message."

—Living Clean, Chapter 3, “Creative Action of the Spirit”

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We may have hoped for easy answers to our drug problem when we attended our first meeting. We’d hoped for a quick fix, some simple formula to provide relief from our troubled existence; with that, we could be on our way. “I was hoping you’d cast a spell on me and then send me off with a reminder to take cold showers and sleep with a chicken bone under my pillow,” one addict joked. To our disappointment, no one promised us instant liberation. Worse, it was clear that working all Twelve Steps would take some time.

Although the simple equation we sought proved elusive, we warm up to the idea that recovery is less like math and more like one of Grandma’s unwritten recipes—a little of this, some of that, and so on. Our longing for respite or connection or awakening gets us to meeting after meeting. Without our fully recognizing it, willingness shows us the way.

We hear a member celebrating 30 days clean explain, “I went to meetings every day and didn’t take anything in between.” Duly noted. Could this be the formula we were looking for? It seems almost too simple and also impossible. But maybe it’s a good start—hello, open-mindedness! We’re willing to give it a try.

As our heads start to clear, we awaken to the possibilities of a better life. We gravitate toward another formula that seems doable: “Go to meetings, get a sponsor, read the literature.” Check, check, and check. We willingly take these actions and practice humility by keeping things simple. We’re handed a pink card with the “Just for Today” reading and, as we read it aloud, another light comes on. This seemed like a practical approach and we were willing to try it.

Our experience at 30 days reveals the value of taking action. We made it this far! Holding up our keytag, we share, “I’m celebrating 30 days today because I went to meetings every day and didn’t take anything in between. I picked up the Basic Text and got a sponsor and I’m finding that there is life after drugs. As much as I wanted to figure out this recovery thing, I’m learning to just do what you do, and it seems to work.” And just like that, we’re carrying the message and offering hope to every addict in the room.

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Spiritual Principle:

No matter how many days I have, I recognize the awakening that’s evident in my willingness. I will apply spiritual principles to the work that’s in front of me and allow my example to carry the message.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 20

Meditation for beginners

"For some, prayer is asking for God's help; meditation is listening for God's answer.... Quieting the mind through meditation brings an inner peace that brings us into contact with the God within us."

Basic Text, pp. 44-45

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"Be patient when you're learning to meditate," many of us were told. "It takes practice to know what to 'listen' for." We're glad someone told us that, or many of us would have quit after a week or two of meditating. For the first few weeks, we may have sat each morning, stilled our thoughts, and "listened" just as the Basic Text said—but "heard" nothing. It may have taken a few more weeks before anything really happened. Even then, what happened was often barely noticeable. We were rising from our morning meditations feeling just a little better about our lives, a little more empathy for those we encountered during the day, and a little more in touch with our Higher Power.

For most of us, there was nothing dramatic in that awareness—no bolts of lightning or claps of thunder. Instead, it was something quietly powerful. We were taking time to get our egos and our ideas out of the way. In that clear space, we were improving our conscious contact with the source of our daily recovery, the God of our understanding. Meditation was new, and it took time and practice. But, like all the steps, it worked—when we worked it.

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Just for Today:

I will practice "listening" for knowledge of God's will for me, even if I don't know what to "listen" for yet.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 19

Communicating Honestly in Service

"Open, honest, and straightforward communication nurtures the spirit of service in our fellowship, and poisons the impulse to govern."

—Twelve Concepts for NA Service, Twelfth Concept

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At its best, our service to NA is selfless—the right thing, done for the right reason. Selflessness may be a stretch for us at times. It requires us to keep our egos in check while communicating with each other honestly, directly, and respectfully. Committed as we may be, we can’t do this perfectly, but it’s something we aspire to. When we make an honest effort to fulfill our primary purpose—whether one-on-one, through a home group, or in some facet of our service system—we have the opportunity to reinforce the best aspects of ourselves. This is a benefit to us as individuals as well as to our common welfare.

Selfless service calls on us to apply everything we know about spiritual principles. The experience we gained from working the Steps and applying Traditions comes to bear big- time. We learn a lot about open-mindedness when we work Step Two, for example, and then as we serve, open-mindedness finds a new purpose as we exchange ideas in a business meeting. Likewise, the importance of inclusion that we first encountered in Tradition One reinforces our belief in a spirit of rotation, making it a little easier to end a commitment. We practiced honesty and gained clarity as we inventoried our lives, past and present. This practice proves invaluable in service as we strive to foster healthy, honest communication.

When we tend to our spiritual condition, it’s easier to come correct to service. We’ve done the work and can trust ourselves to act appropriately. We’re able to set aside the rigidity, ancient resentments, and impulse to control that can interfere with a spirit of service. Fortunately, we’re not all sick on the same day, and a spiritually fit majority has a way of keeping our worst impulses in check. At some point or other, we’ll probably get our turn to play the role of that difficult member. The good news is that honest communication has a way of neutralizing the countless forms that self-will can take.

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Spiritual Principle:

I will practice the spiritual principles of honesty and open-mindedness in my service to NA today. I will encourage open communication and unity by acknowledging others’ efforts to do the same.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 19

A sense of humor

"We find that when we lose self-obsession, we are able to understand what it means to be happy, joyous, and free."

Basic Text, p.103

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The laughter in our meetings often surprises the newcomer. As a group, we appreciate the healing that healthy laughter brings. Even if we are deeply troubled, the joy that often fills the meeting rooms allows us, for a time, to have some fun with our recovery. Through humor, we can be temporarily relieved of our obsession with self.

Life on life's terms is often anything but funny. But if we can keep a sense of humor about us, things that might overwhelm us can be made bearable. How often have we allowed ourselves to be upset by incidents that, taken with a bit of humor, are not all that intolerable? When we become annoyed with people and events, a search for the humor in the situation can put things in a brighter perspective. An ability to find humor in a difficult situation is a gift to develop.

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Just for Today:

I will look to find the humor in adversity. When I make mistakes, I will find a way to laugh at the humor of my imperfections.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 18

Grace Gets Us through Hard Times

"What we find is not that our Higher Power spares us the hardships of life, but that we receive the grace to get through them clean."

—Living Clean, Chapter 3, “Walking the Walk”

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When terrible things happen to us or people we love, especially those we deem to be innocent and undeserving of strife, our first reaction is often to try to make sense of it, to look for someone or something to blame. “How could this happen?” Such incidents—like a terminal diagnosis or losing a child, or less dire ones like getting fired from a job—can shake our faith in our Higher Power or the NA program. We may question, “Why am I bothering to stay clean and trying to live by all these spiritual principles if life is just going to end up causing me so much pain?”

No matter how much integrity we practice and how much love we have in our hearts—or how little—life will continue to show up. Instead of trying to reason our way through pain or out of a mess, we learn to ask our Higher Power, in whatever way makes sense for us, “How am I going to get through this clean?”

If we ask this question in earnest and listen for the answer, we will be able to find grace. Grace is an active force in our lives. It’s the gentle nudge that directs us toward the next right thing and gives us a reprieve from our addict thinking and reasoning. Grace allows us to find blessings in the hardships we endure—or, at the very least, to accept what’s happening to us and seek guidance. We know that others have gone through the same life events that we are experiencing and have stayed clean. That collective wisdom, the deep well of experience and resources available to us through our connection to NA, is grace.

The more we notice and acknowledge the presence of grace, the more grace we’ll experience.

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Spiritual Principle:

Even in times of great distress, I will make an effort to be present enough to recognize and receive grace.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 18

Indirect Amends

"Indirect amends may be necessary where direct ones would be unsafe or endanger other people."

Basic Text, p.40

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When we used, we allowed nothing to stand in the way of that next high. As a result, many of us didn't always know precisely whom we had injured, either financially or emotionally. When it came time to make amends through our Ninth Step, we found that there were so many people we had victimized that we might never remember them all.

With the help of our sponsor and other recovering members of NA, we found a solution to this obstacle. We vowed to complete these nameless amends by making restitution to our communities. We focused our service efforts on helping the still-suffering addict. In this manner, we found a way to give back to society.

Today, with the love and guidance of members in NA, we are giving back to the world around us rather than taking. We are making our communities better places to live by carrying the message of recovery to those we encounter in our daily lives.

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Just for Today:

I will make indirect amends by reaching out to an addict who may need help. I will strive in some small way to make my community a better place in which to live.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 17

Walls

"Reaching out is the beginning of the struggle that will set us free. It will break down the walls that imprison us."

Basic Text, p.80

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Many of us came to NA emotionally shattered. Years of using people and allowing them to use us had taken their toll on our ability to trust anyone, ourselves included. But the love and acceptance we found in Narcotics Anonymous encouraged us to reach out and get close to others.

The longer we stayed clean, the more we began to long for greater intimacy with our loved ones. We began reaching out in deeper, more meaningful ways, even though we might get hurt. Despite our fears of rejection, we decided to risk revealing ourselves, our beliefs, and our needs. We decided to let down our defensive walls.

The freedom we've found has been worth the risk involved. We know there is still work to do before we will be completely free of the barriers built by years of active addiction. But by reaching out to other addicts and allowing them to reach out to us, despite our human failings, we have come to know that we have a great capacity for love and intimacy. When set free of their restraining walls, our hearts hold great power.

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Just for Today:

I will let down my personal walls and reach out to others. I will allow my heart the freedom to love and be loved.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 17

Building Trust and Trustworthiness

"Through our developing relationship with our sponsor, we learn about the principle of trust."

—It Works, Step One

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More often than not, a last-ditch effort to stay out of jail, keep a job, or hang on to a relationship drives us through the doors of NA. We’d stopped using plenty of times before but staying stopped seemed beyond us. We knew something had to change, and, honestly, we had nothing to lose.

When we looked around at that first meeting, we saw people who understood our plight because they had been there. They’d experienced the high price of low living. The NA program worked for them; maybe it will work for us, too. Desperation may have brought us to NA, but inspiration keeps us coming back.

Trust hadn’t been on our radar, but we are somehow willing to accept a few suggestions. Just a few days in, and we’re committed to attending a meeting a day for 90 days. We even reach out to other members between meetings. With each passing day, we feel a little better and trust in this NA way a little more. And our actions show it.

We’ve begun to trust the process, but we’ll need a guide—a sponsor—if we want to give this a fair shot. “You don’t have to trust everyone,” we’re told, “but you’ve got to learn to trust someone.” This seems like solid advice. The source, a more experienced member, seems trustworthy. “How about you?” we respond. “Will you sponsor me?”

It takes time for most of us to shed our armor, but sponsors have a way of gaining our trust little by little. “One of us shares some truth about our life and experience, and the other returns the favor,” as one member put it. In the process, we develop trust and, eventually, intimacy. It’s a pattern of behavior we can replicate in other relationships, as sponsees, sponsors, partners, and friends.

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Spiritual Principle:

Following my sponsor’s example, I will build trust a little at a time. I’ll learn to trust and be trustworthy in small moments by being true to my word, supportive of others, and open to intimacy.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 16

Enduring Loss, Reclaiming Joy

"We come to understand that happiness is an inside job, a spiritual experience that can get stronger with recovery. We find that no matter what happens on the outside, joy can still live within us."

—Living Clean, Chapter 7, “Love"

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As far as spiritual principles go, joy is uncomplicated. It can be elusive, however. In active addiction, joy was an abstract concept often far removed from our reality. How can we position ourselves to experience it now? One addict wrote, “Recovery from addiction is our path toward joy. I invite it in by removing barriers to that path, like anxiety, fear, and self- obsession.” Another wrote, “Joy is the result of my commitment to gratitude, service, and simplicity. I never thought I could appreciate ordinary things.” A third wrote, “The greatest joy is bittersweet because I have experienced moments of it during my darkest hours. I can’t have joy without hope, and no amount of pain can take it away from me.”

Experiencing pain is part of our human condition, even when we do everything right. We can get clean, own our part in our past mistakes, make amends, learn to live by spiritual principles, be of magnificent service in the rooms, at home, and out in the community—yet pain will visit us again. We’ll lose people and relationships. Material gains come and go. Our health may decline. But can joy be taken from us? Is joy—like pain—an inevitable part of our experience?

Most of us would say that joy, like recovery, is available to us all. Despite our struggles, when we infuse our situation with gratitude, we find hope for our future—and create a place for joy at the table. We can choose to look at our troubles with a sense of humor and maybe even benefit from some laughter through our tears of anger or sorrow. None of this is easy. But through the inside job that is recovery, acceptance of this very moment is within reach. Serenity is possible. We can endure loss and reclaim joy over and over.

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Spiritual Principle:

Regardless of any current burdens, I will shine the light of gratitude on what’s right in my life today and experience joy. Recovery has taught me that I can embrace multiple experiences at once.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 16

Accepting life

"Some things we must accept, others we can change. The wisdom to know the difference comes with growth in our spiritual program."

Basic Text, p.92

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It's relatively easy to accept the things we like—it's the things we don't like that are hard to accept. But remaking the world and everyone in it to suit our tastes would solve nothing. After all, the idea that the world was to blame for all our problems was the attitude that kept us using—and that attitude nearly killed us.

In the course of working the steps, we begin to ask ourselves hard questions about the roles we ourselves have played in creating the unacceptable lives we've lived. In most cases, we've found that what needed changing was our own attitude and our own actions, not the people, places, and things around us.

In recovery, we pray for wisdom to know the difference between what can and can't be changed. Then, once we see the truth of our situation, we pray for the willingness to change ourselves.

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Just for Today:

Higher Power, grant me the wisdom to know the difference between what can be changed and what I must accept. Please help me gratefully accept the life I've been given.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 15

Finding and Extending Acceptance

"Regardless of who we are, where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, we find in Narcotics Anonymous a place of empathy, acceptance, welcome, and belonging."

—Guiding Principles, Tradition Two, “Spiritual Principles”

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When we get to NA, so many of us are thinking, Oh, man, what happens when they find out I did THAT?

Or maybe it’s What if they find out I wasn’t THAT bad?

Either way, and everywhere in between, most of us come to Narcotics Anonymous in fear. We are afraid of being judged for who we are and what we’ve done. We’re concerned we’ll be asked, “Why are you here?” There would be no point in answering that question since we’re already convinced that we’ll be misunderstood. We fear that we won’t belong in NA, and in many cases, we hope that we don’t, so we can carry on using and not have to face our problems.

Instead of being denied entry, we hear that the only requirement for us to belong is a desire to stop using. All the group wants to know is what we want to do about our problem and how they can help. No one asks us for our addiction resume.

If we said that we leave all judgments at the door, we’d be kidding ourselves. We are human beings, after all. Instead, despite our judgments, our differences, and our histories, we are welcomed and accepted. People have compassion for us, and it seems genuine.

Later, we begin to see ourselves in newcomers. We empathize with them and welcome them just as we were welcomed. They are enveloped in the love members show one another as they learn to love and accept themselves.

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Spiritual Principle:

NA accepted me. Today I will ask myself, “What can I do to be more welcoming to my fellow addict?”

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 15

Resistance to change

"Many of us cling to our fears, doubts, self-loathing, or hatred because there is a certain distorted security in familiar pain. It seems safer to embrace what we know than to let go of it for the unknown."

Basic Text, p.33

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We have often heard it said that "when the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain of changing, we will change." Our fear can keep us from growing, afraid to end relationships, change careers, attend new meetings, begin new friendships, or attempt anything out of the ordinary. We stay in situations that are no longer working far longer than we have to simply because what is familiar feels safer than the unknown.

Any change involves overcoming fear. "What if I'm alone forever?" we might think if we consider leaving our lover. "What if I find out I'm incompetent?" we may wonder when we contemplate changing careers. We may balk at attending new meetings because we will have to reach out. Our minds manufacture a hundred excuses for remaining right where we are, afraid to try something new.

We find that most of our pain comes not from change but from resistance to change. In NA, we learn that change is how we move forward in our lives. New friends, new relationships, new interests and challenges will replace the old. With these new things in our lives, we find new joys and loves.

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Just for Today:

I will release the old, embrace the new, and grow.

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© NA World Services
This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the co-founder of SAGE: Serene and Grateful Entertainment, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the gift of music to those in recovery, Dani has touched countless lives with her commitment to service through Hospitals and Institutions as well as the transformative power of art. Currently working in the breathtaking landscapes of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, she reflects on her journey, and tells us about the many gifts that recovery has brought to her life.

Dani joins us as part of our "Return to Recovery After Relapse series". In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her own story of overcoming addiction, navigating the difficult journey through relapse, and rediscovering hope and purpose along the way.

Dani speaks candidly about the challenges she’s faced and the spiritual principles that have carried her forward—how service to others, connection with nature, and the healing rhythms of music have become pillars in her recovery. Her story is a powerful reminder that no matter how many times we may fall, it’s always possible to get back up, and that healing can take root in the most unexpected places.

Join us as Dani the Girl opens her heart about her return to recovery, her passion for giving back, and her message to anyone seeking a new beginning. This is a story of gratitude, resilience, and the enduring power of community though music, and the power of nature to help you stay.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 14

Faith in Spiritual Principles

"Many of us use spiritual principles as a power greater than ourselves."

—It Works, Step Two

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We all have differing experiences with religion and belief when we arrive in NA. Some of us were raised in very religious families, attending mosque, temple, or church regularly, while others grew up in secular homes without much exposure to religion or spiritual matters. One member shared, “My parents were both scientists and atheists. In my family, exploring spirituality made me more of a rebel than using drugs did.” We may show up at our first meeting with an attitude of intolerance toward all things spiritual, thinking that ideas like “faith” are total rubbish. Others of us may have rejected the idea of spiritual principles because we associated them with the religion of our childhoods that failed to protect us from addiction. Or we came to NA with an open mind, eager to try something new—or desperate to find something that would work for us.

Regardless of our past experience with spiritual or religious matters, we all have work to do when we get here. We all need to learn to live in a principled manner. On the surface, it might seem like faith in a Higher Power should come easier to those of us who grew up with strong convictions about what that Higher Power is. In reality, the ability to act in faith can have very little to do with our beliefs—secular or religious. Part of acting in faith is giving up the illusion of control. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, every principle discussed in this meditation book is a force beyond our control. We can allow the power of principled action to guide us, or we can struggle to use our own power to control our lives.

Step Two does not say, “We came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves,” it says, “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” It doesn’t matter much whether we understand how or why; we consistently get better results from principled action than we do from self-will. As we experience the results of living by spiritual principles, we come to believe that sanity—peace of mind and connection to ourselves and others—is possible for us.

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Spiritual Principle:

There are countless forces in life that I may never fully grasp. I will place my faith in spiritual principles because I know they work, even if I don’t always know how or why.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 14

Maintaining our faith

“If we maintain our spiritual condition daily, we find it easier to deal with the pain and confusion.”

Basic Text, p.92

—-=—-

When we first began searching for a Power greater than ourselves, many of us got stuck in old beliefs or ideas. These ranged from the fear of a punishing or vengeful God to no belief at all. Some of us felt we had done such terrible things that a loving Power would never have anything to do with us. Others were convinced that the “bad” things that happened to us would not have occurred if a loving Power had actually existed. It took time, effort, open-mindedness, and faith to acquire a working belief in a loving Higher Power that would guide us through life’s challenges.

Even after we come to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, our old ideas can come back to haunt us. Major setbacks in our lives and the insecurity such events can trigger may give rise to the return of our old, inadequate ideas about God. When this happens, we need to assure ourselves that our Higher Power has not abandoned us but is waiting to help us make it through the hard times in our recovery. No matter how painful our loss may be, we will survive our setback and continue to grow if we maintain the faith our program has given us.

—-=—-

Just for today:

I have worked hard to build my faith in a loving, caring Higher Power that will guide me through life’s challenges. Today, I will trust that Power.

—-=—-

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated withNarcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 13

Humility Opens Us Up to Support

"It’s a tremendous struggle for most of us to stop relying on our own thinking and begin to ask for help, but when we do, we have begun to practice the principle of humility found in the Second Step."

—NA Step Working Guides, Step Two, “Spiritual Principles”

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Before recovery, pride, ego, and denial were essential to our survival. They allowed us to fake a fierce sense of independence. These powerful defects of character can be real stumbling blocks to our recovery. Left unchecked, they can lead to what some have called “Superhero Syndrome”—the belief that we can and must do everything on our own. This can be a very lonely place, separated from the god of our understanding and other addicts in recovery. It can be so easy for us to encourage our friends and sponsees to reach out to others for help, only to find ourselves stuck in our own self-centered thinking.

In the Second Step, we begin to build a belief system and come to understand that two of us together represent a power greater than any of us on our own. In our active addiction, many of us perceived asking for help as a form of weakness. But we learn to be vulnerable enough to ask for support and find strength in this surrender. For many of us, the sponsorship relationship is where we learn to trust someone and reach out when we are in need.

Something clicks into place when we realize that we are not giving up our independence or problem-solving abilities by simply asking others to be there for us. Whether it is a shoulder to cry on, experience with a commitment, or learning how to do our own laundry—we all need a little help sometimes. One addict shared, “As I practice humility and become open to the support of others, my relationships become increasingly authentic.”

When we can let go of the idea that “our way is the only way,” then we can find some comfort in knowing that we are not alone in this process. People can and will help us; all we have to do is ask.

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Spiritual Principle:

Even though it can feel like an attempt to climb Mount Everest, I will continue to reach out and let another member help me to consider a perspective besides my own.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 13

A full life

“The program works a miracle in our lives…. We become freeto live.”

Basic Text, p.11

—-=—-

Most of us-if we’ve been in recovery for any length oftime at all-have heard some member complaining in a meeting about being terribly overworked, too busy for meetings or sponsorship or other activities. In fact, we may have been the complaining members. The days seem so full: job, family and friends, meetings, activities, sponsorship, step work. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day,” the member complains, “to get everything done and meet everyone’s demands on my time!”

When this happens, usually there’s soft laughter from someof the other members-probably members who had planned to grumble about the same sort of thing. The laughter stems from our recognition that we are complaining about the miracle of the life that is ours today. Not so long ago, few of us were capable of having any of these “problems” in our life. We devoted all of our energy to maintaining our active addiction. Today we have full lives, complete with all the feelings and problems that go with living in reality.

—-=—-

Just for today:

I will remember that my life is a miracle.Instead of resenting how busy I am, I will be thankful my life is so full.

—-=—-

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 12

Kindness Reflected in Our Growth

". . . we learn that people see goodness in us that perhaps we don’t see in ourselves. Our fellows reflect us back to ourselves and show us how we have changed."

—Living Clean, Chapter 2, “Connection to Others”

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In our first days clean, most of us feel utterly horribleabout ourselves. We’re sick from withdrawals. We hate everybody whether we know them or not. We’re ashamed, mostly because we got caught. We’re pissed off at jails, institutions, and, in some cases, not dying.

Our outlook on the future is just as dark: We have to go tothese stupid meetings for the rest of our lives and we can never use drugs again. And we have to give, give, give to the meeting, to each other, to our dad who messed us up in the first place because of his using, to the old lady who lives in the flat downstairs even though she’s mean to us. And we have tobe nice all the time and talk about our problems and listen to other people’s problems and help other addicts who are more messed up than we are Being even slightly positive about our future requires an impossible effort.

Eventually, our resistance cracks. We “do the deal”—meetings, sponsor, Steps, service—and we’re there for newcomers. We find a Higher Power and start praying and meditating. We forgive Dad and make sure he has all his meds (and we don’t take any of them). We gratefully accept our elderly neighbor’s terrible holiday fruitcake and pick up her yappy littledog’s poo when she doesn’t. When she criticizes our new tattoo, we smile instead of plotting her death. Sometimes we do these things begrudgingly, but mostly it’s second nature now.

On occasion, people notice. After we share a few IPs with anewcomer, an oldtimer who remembers who we were when we first came in hugs us (longer than usual) and looks deeply into our eyes, tears brimming. “What’s up?” we ask. It’s awkward. “You,” the member tells us, “are so different.Sooooooo different.” We protest. “Aww, come on!” All we did was give someone an IP! But our resistance to this also cracks. We do the right thing, say “thanks,” and hug them back.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

I’ll aim to be kind and generous today. If someone points itout, I’ll say “thanks.” I can acknowledge them and acknowledge that I’vechanged.

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© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, andis an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Thispodcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independentproduction of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 12

A vision of hope

“Yes, we are a vision of hope…” Basic Text, p.51

—-=—-

By the time we reached the end of our road, many of us hadlost all hope for a life without the use of drugs. We believed we were destined to die from our disease. What an inspiration it was, then, coming to our first meeting and seeing a room full of addicts who were staying clean! A clean addict is, indeed, a vision of hope.

Today, we give that same hope to others. The newcomers seethe joyful light in our eyes, notice how we carry ourselves, listen to us speak in meetings, and often want what we have found. They believe in us until they learn to believe in themselves. Newcomers hear us carry a message of hope tothem. They tend to see us through “rose colored glasses.” They don’t always recognize our struggle with a particular character defect or our difficulties with improving our conscious contact with our Higher Power. It takes them time to realize that we, the “old-timers” with three or six or ten years clean, often place personalities before principles or suffer from some other unsightly character defects.

Yes, the newcomer sometimes places us on a pedestal. It isgood, though, to openly admit the nature of our struggles in recovery for, in time, the newcomer will be walking through those same trials. And that newcomer will remember that others walked through that difficulty and stayed clean.

—-=—-

Just for today:

I will remember that I am a beacon to allwho follow in my path, a vision of hope.

—-=—-

© NA World Services This podcast is not affiliated withNarcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 11

Approaching Life Creatively

When we are engaged in creative action of the spirit, whether in our personal lives or in our service work, we may be surprised by the solutions that present themselves.

—Guiding Principles, Introduction, “Guiding Principles”

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Living clean and working the Steps gives us loads of practical experience with applying spiritual principles. Open-mindedness unlocks some doors for us in Step Two, and we learn the benefits of being flexible in our thinking. The trust required to turn our will and lives over in Step Three gives us new confidence in the quiet knowing we might call our faith or intuition. With these and other experiences to draw from, it gets easier to align our actions with spiritual principles. With enough practice, spiritual solutions become second nature.

We find ourselves more flexible in our thinking and more ready than ever to engage in creative problem solving. We practice listening to our intuition and learn to sift out impulses that are rooted in the disease. We tune in to what some call our higher selves, the better angels of our nature, or simply good judgment to find inspiration that’s more closely aligned with our spiritual center. One member shared, “With some time clean and some Steps under my belt, I realized that my head wasn’t always trying to kill me.” Sometimes we’re inspired to give up our seat on a crowded bus, to take a panel into a treatment center, or to get back to our education—age be damned!

Creative action of the spirit can lead us in any number of directions. We continue to be amazed by our creative capacity to craft spiritual solutions to the challenge of living life on life’s terms. We stumble upon new career paths, find new ways to serve, and learn new lessons. When we are engaged in living in the world and participating with other humans, our focus shifts from our self-centeredness to a more global perspective. That shift might be just what we need to live in the solution as regular contributors to the greater good.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

I will approach life creatively today. I am open to inspiration and the guidance of a loving Higher Power and willing to contribute to our common good.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 11

Living clean

"As we recover, we gain a new outlook on being clean.... Life can become a new adventure for us."Basic Text, p.88

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The using life is not a clean one-no one knows this better than we do. Some of us lived in physical squalor, caring neither for our surroundings nor ourselves. Worse, though, than any external filth was the way most of us felt inside. The things we did to get our drugs, the way we treated other people, and the way we treated ourselves had us feeling dirty. Many of us recall waking too many mornings just wishing that, for once, we could feel clean about ourselves and our lives.

Today, we have a chance to feel clean by living clean. For us addicts, living clean starts with not using-after all, that's our primary use for the word "clean" in Narcotics Anonymous. But as we stay "clean" and work the Twelve Steps, we discover another kind of clean. It's the clean that comes from admitting the truth about our addiction rather than hiding or denying our disease. It's the freshness that comes from owning up to our wrongs and making amends for them. It's the vitality that comes from the new set of values we develop as we seek a Higher Power's will for us. When we practice the principles of our program in all our affairs, we have no reason to feel dirty about our lives or our lifestyles-we're living clean, and grateful to be doing so at last.

"Clean living" used to be just for the "squares." Today, living clean is the only way we'd have it.

-----=-----

Just for today:

I feel clean because I'm living clean-and that's the way I want to keep it.

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© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 10

Changing motives

"When we finally get our own selfish motives out of the way, we begin to find a peace that we never imagined possible."

Basic Text, p.44

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As we examine our beliefs, our actions, and our motives in recovery, we'll find that sometimes we do things for the wrong reasons. In our early recovery, we may have spent a great deal of money and time on people, wanting only for them to like us.

Later on, we may find that we still spend money on people, but our motives have changed. We do it because we like them. Or perhaps we used to get romantically involved because we felt hollow inside and were seeking fulfillment through another person. Now our reasons for romantic involvement are based in a desire to share our already rewarding lives with an equal partner. Maybe we used to work the steps because we were afraid we'd relapse if we didn't. Today we work the steps because we want to grow spiritually.

We have a new purpose in life today, and our changing motives reflect that. We have so much more to offer than our neediness and insecurities. We have developed a wholesomeness of spirit and a peace of mind that moves our recovery into a new realm. We extend our love and share our recovery with complete generosity, and the difference we make is the legacy we leave to those who have yet to join us.

––––=––––

Just for Today:

In recovery, my motives have changed. I want to do things for theright reason, not just for my personal benefit. Today, I will examine my motives.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 10

We Show Respect, Rather Than Seek It

Practicing this principle doesn’t necessarily mean that others respect us; it means we offer others the respect we wish for ourselves, and that we respect ourselves enough to walk in dignity and quiet strength.

—Guiding Principles, Tradition Eleven, “Spiritual Principles”

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Tradition Eleven—which seems to be about public relations but can be applied to other aspects of recovery—reminds us that the message of NA is what’s most important, not the messenger. Respect and anonymity are the keys to deciphering the difference between “attraction” and “promotion.” An opportunity to share NA’s message of hope outside the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous is a privilege for any member and a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Whether it’s a public relations activity like speaking to a group of medical professionals, being part of an H&I panel, or helping to explain NA to the family of a sponsee who’s just relapsed, we must avoid our impulse to make the message about us instead of NA. Rather than seeking respect for ourselves, we show our respect for the program—and for our listeners by sharing the NA basics or the impact the program has on our lives, while being real about what NA is and what it’s not.

The same can be said for what happens inside the rooms. We keep it real whether we’re talking one-on-one with a new member, speaking at a meeting (whether small and intimate,

or large and spirited), or representing our region at the World Service Conference. These are moments when our recovery is best served by the clarity of our message and the integrity of our role, not by seeking attention or validation. There’s no need to make inflated claims about our lives in recovery. And look, if we’re sharing at a huge convention, we will get attention and very likely validation! That’s part of the deal. Speaking with genuine humility and gratitude shows respect for NA and preserves our self-respect, too.

Yes, that’s the bottom line right there: We show respect, rather than seek it. With that as our goal, we can walk with dignity. Keeping our self-promotion in check and leading with attraction enhances our self-respect.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

Whether it’s public relations, addict relations, or my relationship with myself, today I will strive to show respect rather than to seek it.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy miracle year, Chris!

June 9

Old dreams needn't die

"Lost dreams awaken and new possibilities arise."

Basic Text, p.88

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Most of us had dreams when we were young. Whether we dreamed of a dynamic career, a large and loving family, or travels abroad, our dreams died when our addiction took hold. Anything we ever wanted for ourselves was cast away in our pursuit of drugs. Our dreams didn't go beyond the next drug and the euphoria we hoped it would bring.

Now in recovery; we find a reason to hope that our lost dreams could still come true. No matter how old we are, how much our addiction has taken from us, or how unlikely it may seem, our freedom from active addiction gives us the freedom to pursue our ambitions. We may discover that we're very talented at something, or find a hobby we love, or learn that continuing our education can bring remarkable rewards.

We used to put most of our energy into spinning excuses and rationalizations for our failures. Today, we go forward and make use of the many opportunities life presents to us. We may be amazed at what we're capable of. With our foundation of recovery, success, fulfillment, and satisfaction are within our reach at last.

––––=––––Just for today:

Starting today, I'll do whatever I can to realize my dreams.––––=––––© NA World ServicesThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

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Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

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Happy Miracle year, Chris!

June 9

Communication Is a Two-Way Street

We learn to listen carefully, and to communicate in a way that we can be heard.

—Living Clean, Chapter 5, “Being a Parent”

––––=––––

Addiction does a number on our ability to communicate. We can get so preoccupied with self-obsession that it’s hard to pay attention to others—unless, of course, there’s something in it for us. For many of us, the ability to hear the message for the first time—to truly experience the hope that our message offers—was a result of desperation. A member wrote, “The people who had what I wanted shared with honesty and vulnerability. They taught me how to save my life.” We needed something different very badly, and the message of hope got through. We were home.

And then comes early recovery. Minds racing. Our bodies difficult to keep still. “When I was new, I couldn’t hear what anyone was saying,” one member wrote. “The noise in my head was just way too loud. I kept coming back, and things started to get through. The slogans began to make sense. The fog in my head cleared away and I shared honestly. Others responded, and I felt connected.”

Clearing out the noise in our heads helps us communicate better in all of our relationships. We learn by attending meetings, by connecting with our sponsor, by helping sponsees, and those lessons in communication improve our ability to communicate in other areas of our lives. Our growth improves our relationships with our partners, our parents, our friends, our children. Sometimes, we simply shut up and listen. One parent in recovery shared, “I couldn’t get my child to listen to me, and my sponsor reminded me it’s a two-way street. I should try listening to my child more.” When we give our attention to others, we understand them better. If words fail us, we speak through our actions.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

Recovery thrives on vibrant, two-way communication. I will listen with an open heart and share in that same spirit.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 8

The only requirement

"This program offers hope. All you have to bring with you is the desire to stop using and the willingness to try this new way of life."

IP No.16, "For the Newcomer"

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From time to time we wonder if we're "doing it right" in Narcotics Anonymous. Are we attending enough meetings? Are we using our sponsor, or working the steps, or speaking, or reading, or living the "right" way? We value the fellowship of recovering addicts-we don't know what we'd do without it. What if the way we're practicing our program is "wrong"? Does that make us "bad" NA members?

We can settle our insecurities by reviewing our Third Tradition, which assures us that "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using." There aren't any rules that say we've got to attend this many meetings or these particular meetings, or work the "steps" this way at this pace, or live our lives to suit these people in order to remain NA members in good standing.

It's true that, if we want the kind of recovery we see in members we respect, we'll want to practice the kind of program that's made their recovery possible. But NA is a fellowship of freedom; we work the program the best way for us, not for someone else. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.

––––=––––

Just for Today:

I will look at the program I'm working in light of my own recovery. Iwill practice that program to the best of my ability.

––––=––––

© Narcotics AnonymousThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 8

Anonymity Connects Us

. . . addiction makes us one of a kind. Our personal stories may vary in individual pattern but in the end we all have the same thing in common. This common illness or disorder is addiction.

—Basic Text, Chapter 8: We Do Recover

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By the time most of us show up at our first few Narcotics Anonymous meetings, we are pros when it comes to the difference game. Within moments of meeting someone new, we can fire off a list of ways that we are both better and worse than they are, ways in which their opinions, concerns, and experiences have no bearing whatsoever on our own lives and problems.

But something strange happens to most of us when we sit through an NA meeting. Whether it happens right away or after months or years, we look around at a room full of people who are nothing like us, and we begin to realize that we are sitting in a room full of people who are exactly like us. We might not even realize it at the time, but anonymity is what flips that switch.

Addiction comes with its own strain of terror and desperation that we recognize when we hear each other share. We suffer the pain of wanting to stop using but not knowing how, of wanting to stop disappointing the people in our lives but seeing no other choice, of wanting to stop waking up disappointed in ourselves—again!—and yet, here we are, sick and tired of being tired and sick. We hear our fellow addicts share these experiences, experiences we know so well, and we know we’re in the right place.

For some of us, connecting to NA members on the level of pain and suffering is the first time in a long, long time that we have felt any connection to other people. But it doesn’t stop there! First, we have only addiction in common, but when we stay and work the program, we soon have recovery in common, too. When we practice anonymity, we are able to have greater empathy and compassion for those around us. We see our sameness.

Our sense of connection with other NA members keeps growing. We meet members from other areas, cities, and countries—they share differently, but the message is the same. We have never met, but we know each other intimately. Such is the blessing of being an addict in recovery—anonymity connects us all.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

Addiction separates me from other people and from myself. To reconnect, I will acknowledge what I have in common with other recovering addicts today and reach out to them.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 7

Maintaining an Open Mind

New information can be hard for us to accept when it doesn’t come to us in the way we think it should.

—Living Clean, Chapter 1, “Keys to Freedom”

––––=––––

Our ideas about the help we need, how it’s packaged, and who delivers it can be decidedly unhelpful. Our work in Step Three can provide some useful strategies. We’re often advised to “do the footwork and leave the results to your Higher Power,” and to “pay attention to which doors are opening and which remain shut.” When we find ourselves too attached to an outcome or banging our heads against the same locked door, open-mindedness may be in order.

In the classic allegory told in NA meetings over the years, a flood drives a man onto the roof of his home where he prays for help. He refuses to get in the rescue boat or the helicopter that come to his aid, telling them, “My God’s got me!” The water continues to rise and the man perishes. In the afterlife, he rails at his maker for allowing him to die, to which his God replies, “I sent a boat and a helicopter!”

There’s a reason this story is a classic: It reveals some of the problems with closed- mindedness. One member described their broken process this way: “I put my needs out to the universe and ask for help, then I evaluate, judge, and reject the help that’s offered. Turns out, I’m often just looking for someone to cosign my BS.” Open-mindedness will come in handy here, too.

Attending out-of-town meetings illustrates the benefit of open-mindedness. “I was just 25 kilometers down the road, but everything I heard seemed so profound,” one addict shared. “I realized that not knowing these members made me a better listener.” Without the mental static about the messenger—their clean time, reputation, or other baggage—it’s easier to hear the message. Listening in the same way takes a little more effort close to home. Applying the principle of anonymity helps us set aside information that interferes with how we hear others. Instead of listening to validate our own perspectives, we can practice humility and open our minds to consider others’ experience, strength, and hope.

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Spiritual Principle: I will entertain the possibility that I don’t always know what’s best, making space to consider the ideas of others, no matter whose they are.

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© NA World Service

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 7

Someone who believes in me

"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.96

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Not all of us arrive in NA and automatically stay clean. But if we keep coming back, we find in Narcotics Anonymous the support we need for our recovery. Staying clean is easier when we have someone who believes in us even when we don't believe in ourselves.

Even the most frequent relapser in NA usually has one staunch supporter who is always there, no matter what. It is imperative that we find that one person or group of people who believes in us. When we ask them if we will ever get clean, they will always reply, "Yes, you can and you will. Just keep coming back!"

We all need someone who believes in us, especially when we can't believe in ourselves. When we relapse, we undermine our already shattered self-confidence, sometimes so badly that we begin to feel utterly hopeless. At such times, we need the support of our loyal NA friends. They tell us that this can be our last relapse. They know from experience that if we keep coming to meetings, we will eventually get clean and stay clean.

It's hard for many of us to believe in ourselves. But when someone loves us unconditionally, offering support no matter how many times we've relapsed, recovery in NA becomes a little more real for us.

––––=––––

Just for today:

I will find someone who believes in me. I will believe in them.

––––=––––

© NA World Service

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 6

Recovery Doesn't Happen Overnight
 
"The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous are a progressive recovery process established in our daily living."

Basic Text, p. 96

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After some time in recovery, we may find we are faced with what seem like overwhelming personal problems, angry feelings, and despair. When we realize what's going on, we may wail, "But I've been working so hard. I thought I was..." Recovered, maybe? Not hardly. Over and over, we hear that recovery is an ongoing process and that we are never cured. Yet we sometimes believe that if we just work our steps enough, pray enough, or go to enough meetings, we'll eventually... Well, maybe not be cured, but be something!

And we are "something." We're recovering-recovering from active addiction. No matter what we've dealt with through the process of the steps, there will always be more. What we didn't remember or didn't think was important in our first inventory will surely present itself later on. Again and again, we'll turn to the process of the steps to deal with what's bothering us. The more we use this process the more we'll trust it, for we can see the results. We go from anger and resentment to forgiveness, from denial to honesty and acceptance, and from pain to serenity.

Recovery doesn't happen overnight, and ours will never be complete. But each day brings new healing and the hope for more tomorrow.

––––=––––

Just for today:  

I will do what I can for my recovery today and maintain hope in the ongoing process of recovery.

––––=––––

© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 6

Service Strengthens Our Foundation

Service begins when we put ourselves aside and welcome the newcomer. That simple action might be the most important thing we ever do.

—Guiding Principles, Tradition Two, “For Groups”

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Many of us recall being welcomed by total strangers as we stumbled into our first Narcotics Anonymous meeting. We felt oddly at home in the rooms of recovery, and that fragile sense of belonging made all the difference. Every gesture mattered: a warm smile, a gentle hug, a meeting directory. When members looked in our eyes, asked our name, and treated us like a human being, we were stunned—in a good way.

Welcoming newcomers is one of the most significant things we do in NA. It’s important to be welcomed and it’s important to be welcoming. Those of us who have trouble getting out of our own way can extract a powerful lesson from graciously welcoming new members.

We take a break from our busy brains and reinforce our belief in the NA program: “Against all odds, we are clean and it can work for you, too.” It’s a message we all need to hear; it keeps us anchored in Narcotics Anonymous.

When we set aside our thoughts and feelings to welcome the newcomer, we reinforce our stake in our recovery. We defy the self-centered and self-seeking nature of the disease of addiction. We shelve our burdens and answer that call from a newcomer. It offers perspective and reminds us that “we keep what we have by giving it away.” Each act of service strengthens our foundation in recovery and deepens our investment in this new way of life.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle: I will extend a warm welcome to a new member and pay attention to how it benefits us both.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 5

Valuing Self-Acceptance over Validation

We no longer have to look for the approval of others because we are satisfied with being ourselves.

—IP #19, Self-Acceptance, “The Twelve Steps are the solution”

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For many of us, needing others’ approval—or seeking validation—is perched near the top of our character defects list. We have lived in constant fear of making the wrong choices and others knowing our faults, weaknesses, and mistakes. We did everything we could to avoid being judged and actively, sometimes obsessively, sought others to tell us we were worthy, lovable, desirable, or cool. After a lifetime of self-deprecation, self-pity, and self-harm, how do we gain self-acceptance?

Self-awareness is key to self-acceptance. Working our Steps sparks that awareness. By sharing our inventories, assessing our defects, and struggling not to act on them, we gain a new perspective: We have been our own most vigorous judges and harshest punishers, not others. We harmed ourselves with the delusion that others’ approval would make us satisfied with being ourselves. The emptiness we feel cannot be filled by validation from others. We have to find it within ourselves.

Understanding what doesn’t work is a good place to start. And soon, we see that self- acceptance is an inside job that doesn’t happen with a flip of a switch. We work hard to accept ourselves as we are now, so we can make the changes we want to see. We can lovingly reintegrate parts of ourselves we used to disown because they were of no use to us in active addiction. Recovery helps us revamp mistakes into learning experiences rather than excuses to rag on ourselves and quit trying. As we continue to take personal inventory, we discover how we want to live our lives, who we want to spend them with, and what makes our hearts sing.

Self-acceptance allows us to value someone’s insight without living for their approval or, for that matter, bowing to their condemnation.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

I know my strengths and my liabilities today, and I’m working to accept both. Others have a role in my life, but it’s not to determine my worth.

––––=––––

© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 5

Honest Prayer

"Although honesty is difficult to practice, it is most rewarding."

Basic Text, p.92

––––=––––

How difficult we find it to be honest! Many of us come to NA so confused about what really happened in our lives that it sometimes takes months and years to sort it all out. The truth of our history is not always as we have told it. How can we begin to be more truthful?

Many of us find it the easiest to be honest in prayer. With our fellow addicts, we sometimes find that we have a hard time telling the whole truth. We feel certain that we won't be accepted if we let others know us as we really are. It's hard to live up to the "terminally hip and fatally cool" image so many of us portrayed!

In prayer, we find an acceptance from our Higher Power that allows us to open our hearts with honesty.As we practice this honesty with the God of our understanding, we often find that it has a ripple effect in our communications with others. We get in the habit of being honest.

We begin to practice honesty when we share at meetings and work with others. In return, we find our lives enriched by deepening friendships. We even find that we can be more honest with ourselves, the most important person to be truthful with!Honesty is a quality that is developed through practice. It isn't always easy to be totally truthful, but when we begin with our Higher Power, we find it easier to extend our honesty to others.

––––=––––

Just for today:

I will be honest with God, myself, and others.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 4

Finding a Life with Purpose

What a joy it is to be part of something that not only saves people’s lives, but makes them worth living.

—Living Clean, Chapter 5, “Fellowship”

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We’re brought together by desperation, so being alive and clean may seem like enough reason to be joyful at first. But wait, there’s more! Even in our earliest days clean, we may have some inkling that we are part of something special. We may wonder, Am I being indoctrinated into a cult? but with no discernible leader and no dogma to adhere to, we can rule that out. We decide to keep coming back. I’ll just play along as we see what these weirdos are up to.

So, we’re clean! Now what? We come across this passage in the Basic Text: “When the drugs go and the addict works the program, wonderful things happen.” I like the sound of that! We start to piece together what it means to “work the program” and find some practical advice in “What Can I Do?”—Chapter Five of the addict’s owner’s manual. We go to lots of meetings without using between them—even on holidays! We get a home group, a sponsor, and a service commitment, and we find ourselves surrounded by people who take great joy in our progress. They want nothing from us, just good things for us. They offer us words of encouragement, lessons from their own lives, and epic tales of shenanigans with other members. They point out our growth and say they’re happy, grateful, and even honored to be a part of our miracle. We smile and nod and our eyes start leaking. All we can think is, This NA thing . . . is a trip.

Our lives are transformed as we become both the helpers and the helped. Now we’re those people with stories and kindness for the newer folks and are moved by being a part of their miracle. Our mentors continue to evolve, too, and they allow us to help them. We’ve found a purpose and a framework for living. We are free from active addiction, and although that’s NA’s only promise, that freedom opens up in unimaginably beautiful ways.

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Spiritual Principle:

I will soak up the vitality around me and be grateful to have found a life with purpose.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 4

Build, don't destroy

"Our negative sense of self has been replaced by a positive concern for others."

Basic Text, p.16

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Spreading gossip feeds a dark hunger in us. Sometimes we think the only way wecan feel good about ourselves is to make someone else look bad by comparison. But the kind of self-esteem that can be purchased at another's expense is hollow and not worth the price.

How, then, do we deal with our negative sense of self? Simple. We replace it with a positive concern for others. Rather than dwell on our low self-esteem, we turn tot hose around us and seek to be of service to them.This may seem to be a way of avoiding the issue, but it's not.

There's nothing we can do by dwelling on our low sense of self except work ourselves into a stew of self-pity.But by replacing our self-pity with active, loving concern for others, we become the kind of people we can respect. The way to build our self-esteem is not to tear others down, but to build them up through love and positive concern.

To help us with this, we can ask ourselves if we are contributing to the problem or to the solution. Today, we can choose to build instead of destroy.

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Just for today:

Though I may be feeling low, I don't need to tear someone down to build myself up. Today, I will replace my negative sense of self with a positive concern for others. I will build, not destroy.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris shares his remarkable journey from the battlefield to the struggles of addiction, and how, after relapsing, he found his way back to hope and healing.

With honesty and humility, Chris opens up about the challenges of starting over, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and the support that carried him through. His story is one of resilience, courage, and the belief that it’s never too late to return to the path of recovery.

Join us for an episode that honors the strength it takes to come back, and the miracles that can unfold when we don’t give up—no matter how many times we have to begin again.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.comThis podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 3

The Simplicity of Tradition Eleven

Our message—that any addict can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live—is all we have to give, and it is sufficient to change the lives of addicts all over the world.

—Guiding Principles, Tradition Eleven, Opening Essay

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Simplicity is an essential principle of Tradition Eleven and of our entire program. Our approach to public relations is to inform the world about NA and let our simple message of freedom from active addiction lead the way. We trust that to be attractive enough. NA doesn’t run special promotions: Stay clean for one year and all your dreams will come true! We don’t promise financial stability or a happy marriage. Lifelong problem-free serenity is not guaranteed as a result of meeting attendance, stepwork, and service.

Our simple offer of hope and freedom is enough. According to one member: “We don’t need a complicated message to attract people. We are complex enough! Our message isn’t simple for the sake of simplicity. It simply works.” Both NA’s message and our primary purpose are identifiable, relatable, and digestible. They’re also adaptable, not bound by the specifics of a single language or culture. Since our message is applicable for addicts all over the world, dare we say, it’s universal?

The simplicity of Tradition Eleven is a relief for most of us. When we do public relations, we let folks know who we are, what we do, and how we do it. With H&I, sponsorship, or speaking from the podium, we don’t have to do more than share what’s worked for us. We share the message just as it was shared with us. We lean forward and witness its impact—on our own lives, for those near to us, and those far away.

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Spiritual Principle:

Our message works. So how will I share it today?

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 3

Direct and Indirect Amends

"We make our amends to the best of our ability."

- Basic Text, p. 40

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The Ninth Step tells us to make direct amends wherever possible. Our experience tells us to follow up those direct amends with long - lasting changes in our attitudes and our behavior - that is, with indirect amends. For example, say we've broken someone's window because we were angry. Looking soulfully into the eyes of the person whose window we've broken and apologizing would not be sufficient. We directly amend the wrong we've done by admitting it and replacing the window - we mend what we have damaged.
Then, we follow up our direct amends with indirect amends. If we've acted out on our anger, breaking someone's window, we examine the patterns of our behavior and our attitudes. After we repair the broken window, we seek to repair our broken attitudes as well - we try to "mend our ways."We modify our behavior, and make a daily effort not to act out on our anger.
We make direct amends by repairing the damage we do. We make indirect amends by repairing the attitudes that cause us to do damage in the first place, helping insure we won't cause further damage in the future.

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Just for today:

I will make direct amends, wherever possible. I will also make indirect amends, "mending my ways," changing my attitudes, and altering my behavior.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 2

Sick and tired

"We wanted an easy way out.... When we did seek help, we were only looking for the absence of pain."

Basic Text, p.5

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Something's not working. In fact, something's been wrong for a long time, causing us pain and complicating our lives. The problem is that, at any given moment, it always appears easier to continue bearing the pain of our defects than to submit to the total upheaval involved in changing the way we live. We may long to be free of pain, but only rarely are we willing to do what's truly necessary to remove the source of pain from our lives.

Most of us didn't begin seeking recovery from addiction until we were "sick and tired of being tired and sick." The same is true of the lingering character defects we've carried through our lives. Only when we can't bear our shortcomings one moment longer, only when we know that the pain of change can't be as bad as the pain we're in today, are most of us willing to try something different.

Thankfully, the steps are always there, no matter what we're sick and tired of. The irony is that, as soon as we make the decision to begin the Twelve Step process, we realize our fears of change were groundless. The steps offer a gentle program ofchange, one step at a time. No single step is so frightening that we can't work it, by itself. As we apply the steps to our lives, we experience a change that frees us.

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Just for today:

No matter what prevents me from living a full, happy life, I know the program can help me change, a step at a time. I need not be afraid of the TwelveSteps.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 2

Learning to Love Ourselves

We’ve begun to see that God’s will for us is the ability to live with dignity, to love ourselves and others, to laugh, and to find great joy and beauty in our surroundings.

—It Works, Step Eleven

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When we are new in NA, we may hear someone say they will love us until we learn to love ourselves. Despite our self-centeredness, many of us arrive in the program devoid of self-esteem and incapable of loving anyone, perhaps most especially ourselves.

Over time we learn how to value ourselves. Simple acts of self-care at the beginning of each day can be a good place to start. Maybe we make the bed, set an intention for the day, or do a daily reading. In the Basic Text story “Just Say Yes” one member shared, “I discovered that breakfast is a spiritual principle: With honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, and breakfast, we’re well on our way.”

NA is a practical program that we use in every area of our lives. Sometimes this means nurturing our physical selves or contemplating HALTS as suggested in the Basic Text: “Are we too hungry, angry, lonely or tired? Are we taking ourselves too seriously?” It’s easy to forget how the state of our body can deeply affect our sense of well-being.

The contrast between a life in recovery and a life of active addiction is clear. We can find gratitude in the simple benefits of recovery, like food in the cupboard and a safe place to eat it. If we think about the mornings we experienced before we got clean, we might remember feeling sick and desperate or cold and hungry. The NA program gives us a way out of that darkness and into a day full of possibilities. Through working the Steps, we learn to love ourselves and the world around us. We find ways to take care of ourselves and treat ourselves with kindness. And we share that love with others, perhaps telling a newcomer we will love them until they learn to love themselves.

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Spiritual principle:

I will contemplate my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being and reinvigorate my morning routine. I will take time to consciously reflect on the abundance recovery has brought to my life.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 1

Consistency and Step Ten

Page 158

"In the Tenth Step, we use all the principles and actions we learned in the previous steps, applying them to our lives on a consistent basis."

It Works, Step Ten

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Left unexamined, anger, fear, shame, and resentment can bring out the worst in us. Character defects we'd once honed into survival skills stand ready to "help." It's no surprise they spring to mind first when we're faced with a challenge. We've relied on manipulation, self-pity, intolerance, dishonesty, perfectionism, arrogance, and the rest of our defects for as long as we can remember. But now that we're in recovery, it seems increasingly clear they're not such a good fit for our new lives.

The lessons of Steps Four through Nine help us see those crusty old tools in a new light. We've become deeply familiar with the damage we caused in the past, have surrendered aspects of our character that shaped hurtful words and actions, and have humbly gone about owning our messes and cleaning them up. Understanding how we've operated in the past sets us up for a better way, but it will take consistent effort for our new ways to become second nature.

Step Ten gets us in the habit of viewing our lives through the lens of the Steps. Consistent practice helps us integrate their principles into our lives. Here's one member's experience with doing just that: "My regular inventories read like letters to my Higher Power. They begin with 'Dear HP'--my reminder that I'm not alone in this process. Then I jot down the fears and resentments that are popping up, the defects that are calling me, and the spiritual principles I need to keep handy instead. I end with 'I am ready for you to remove my shortcomings and clear the way for my loving service.'"

There are many ways to practice Step Ten, of course. How we go about it is far less important than the fact that we do! Reflecting on our progress helps us integrate the principles into our lives and live consistently by our values.

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Spiritual principle:

Does my habit of self-reflection encourage consistency between my beliefs and behavior? How can I integrate the Steps and their principles into my practice of Step Ten?

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

voicesofrecoverypod@gmail.com

June 1

Keep coming back

“We don’t have to be clean when we get here but, after the first meeting, we suggest that newcomers keep coming back and come back clean. We don’t have to wait for an overdose or a jail sentence to get help from Narcotics Anonymous.”

Basic Text, p. 10

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Very few of us arrive in NA brimming with willingness. Some of us are here because we are court-ordered to attend. Some have come to save our families. Some come in an effort to salvage a career teetering on the brink of ruin. It doesn’t matter why we are here. It only matters that we are.

We have heard it said that “if we bring the body, the mind will follow.” We may come to meetings with a chip on our shoulders. We may be one of those who sits in the back of the rooms with our arms folded across our chest, glaring threateningly at anyone who approaches us. Perhaps we leave before the final prayer.

But if we keep coming back, we find that our minds begin to open up. We start to drop our guard, and begin to really listen when others share. We may even hear someone talking with whom we can relate. We begin the process of change

After some time in NA, we find that more than our minds have arrived in our meeting rooms. More importantly, our hearts have arrived, too. After that happens, the miracles really begin!

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Just for today: I will strive to listen with an open mind to what I hear shared.

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© Narcotics Anonymous

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.