The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Congratulations on working the Steps - That is awesome for your recovery. Thanks for sharing that with us. Good luck on working the rest of the Steps.
It's about how you feel it is best to work the program for your recovery. Some people work thru the "Paths to Recovery" book - this book takes each step & tradition - has information on each one, then has about 20 questions afterwards that you can answer & then review with a trusted Al-Anon sponsor or friend.
Some like to use the "How Al-Anon Works" book, read the info in the book & discuss that with a sponsor/friend.
Some people prefer read & working alone.
MIP also has a Steps board that works thru the Steps also. If you go to the MIP Main Page you should be able to click on the Steps Board for help in working the Steps on-line.
Hope this gives you some options to decide what is best for your recovery,
Progress not Perfection, Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
Sponsor. A sposnor will tell you when you have a firm enough grip on a step to make the transition to the next step. Think: Your best solutions got you here; using them to work the steps will not heal you or bring you to sanity.
The quick answer is that this is your program,, you work it the way you want.
However, you will get more out of it if you work with a sponsor. Look for someone whose shares speak to you, someone who appears to have what you would like to have - serentiy, calm, a sensible approach to life.... Your perfect sponsor may not be mine - this is a personal decision. There is also the reality, in small meetings, of having to pick from among a sometimes limited pool This is a 'progress not perfection' program, do the best you can, keep moving, you'll be OK.
I gotta admit that right away when I got into Alanon I loved Paths to Recovery (and still do) but I was in no way ready for a sponsor, so I began working them myself.
I don't advocate it, but it worked for me. (tee hee hee) I had no problems with steps one - three because my life was absolutely unmanageable, took me 39 years of white knuckling it to see that I was not in control and I was so ready for a new path.
So I kept going to meetings, meeting new friends, sometimes going for coffee afterwards, one of my meetings was a step meeting (we worked a step and tradition) each month so I was able to use the group as my sponsor and then friends thereafter.
The tricky part came at Step 4. I knew I needed help then because I was still so fragile and knew if I began beating myself up more than either I did to myself or my family that loved me did (), that would end it for me. So I got a sponsor before Step 4 and thank God I did.
Just wanted to share my experience with you, So glad you keep coming, Maria
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If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
