From the Big Book
Promise One
Dear Loopies and Web Visitors ~
"We are going to know a new freedom
and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past
nor wish to shut the door on it."
Beginning today, our loop member, Dawn, is going to begin a series on The Promises. Please feel free to share back and express your feelings about these wonderful Promises ... and what they have meant in your own life. But before Dawn begins ~ ~ here are a few words about happiness ... that goal we are promised.
And an enemy to pomp and noise
It arises in the first place,
From the enjoyment of oneself;
And in the next
From the friendship and conversation
Of a few select companions.
~ Joseph Addison ~
I have been asked to write a series on the Promises as set forth in the Big Book. They are listed on page 83. They begin to come true after taking the seventh step - giving away your inventory and asking your Higher Power to rid you of your personal defects of character. A lot of OA's seem to fear steps 4 - 7. They CAN sound a little intimidating, I know. It involves taking a completely honest look at yourself, especially the wrongs you have done in the past - never a very comfortable thing for anybody. However, the miracle of the promises come immediately after completion of steps 4 - 7.
When I first did step 7, I felt elated afterward at the sudden change in the burdens I had been carrying around with me for so long. There was so much fear, resentment, false pride, self depreciation, shame and other defects that I had always spent so much energy covering up, even to myself, let alone others. By admitting them to another human being, I robbed them of their power. Hidden secrets can be amazingly powerful. When the promises began to happen in my life, I could hardly believe it! I had such a sense of freedom as I had never felt before in my life. Those horrible secrets were out - and you know what? They really weren't all that horrible. In my mind I had blown them all out of proportion. My sponsor listened to all off it and assured me that she had heard most of the same things before, and that they could be released.
FROM THE AA BIG BOOK
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity.
And we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain insight in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook will change.
Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us
what we could not do for ourselves.
happy and to be respected. I have as much personal worth as anyone else and on the other side of the coin - others deserve my love and respect even when they don't do things my way.
Love,
Dawn
Thank you, Dawn. We are looking forward to the Second Promise.
"We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it."
@ -}-}-}---
Love in recovery ~
Mari
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