The Principles of the Program are new to me. I have heard about them but never knew what they were or where to find them.
I'd like to have others opinions, ideas, and knowledge about how they apply these. You can learn a lot in the big book and 12x12, but putting it all together is easy to say, but hard to do.
I think these are right, but if they are not correct me. I am Clean and sober today, by the grace of God, and the fellowship the the program, for that I am gratefull. Big John
These principles (the ones BJ has posted) were presented to me a few years ago. The girl who showed them to me was just out of a rehab and they had been given to her there. She asked me how she was supposed to practice them. When I spoke with her, she told me they made a lot of sense to her - and the interpretation seemed very personal - like she had spent a long time meditating on them, maybe? So, I just told her it sounded like she was already practicing them, and could maybe just pull them in as daily affirmations or use them to slow her down when she had a decision to make etc.
I then went and had a look at them for myself. Personally, I think consciously practicing positive heart qualities is good. I have cards with similar qualities, that me and my kids choose when we need a hand working something out. It gives us a start. If we are uncertain and we draw the card "gentleness" for example, then we move forward with that... thinking that whatever we do, we will try to do it gently... that kind of thing.
I have trouble with the term Principles of AA though.... I wouldn't call what I was doing with the cards practicing the principles of AA, but maybe I was missing something? It concerned me a bit, when the girl referred to them as this too, and we spent some time talking about it. She referred to them as a short version of the steps - the basis of how we recover. As we all know - there are no shortcuts - but people like to try taking them sometimes... I'm not certain, but I think maybe they may have come from the Hazelden Foundation? I don't think they are actually AA... but I could be wrong.
If they work for someone - and they help them stay sober - or make personal sense to them, then that can only be good. The principles of AA are bound to be different for different people I think - but the principles (through my own personal meditation) are based on love. The steps help us learn to love others, and in doing that, we find we can love ourselves - just as we are, free of the bondage and sheild of alcohol. Some do this the other way, saying that we can't love others until we love ourselves - that's okay too - I considered myself so unlovable though, and love was such a distorted issue for me that I could only experiment with offering it. The steps walk us through this, I think.
To work the principles of AA, I ask myself am I sharing love: which as I have come to understand it, is shown by sharing understanding, acceptance and encouragement (not one of them, all of them - at the same time). Most times I check in with myself on this, I'm not sharing all three, so I consciously bring in whatever I'm missing. I start with this when twelve stepping too, and then start stepping, checking in on myself to make sure I am sharing love (as I understand it) whenever there is any conflict, fear etc in my interactions.
I hope I answered your question Big John. I imagine there would be lots of answers to this question and they will all be interesting to consider.
I feel like I am doing a lot of talking here. I hope others don't mind. I don't think I realised how much I missed AA and other members until I found this site... It has been a long time and while I actually looked forward to coming out to the farm and living "the simple life" I don't think I realised how much I would miss genuine conversations with people who are free to feel and think, and trust. Everyone out here just talks about the weather!!! So sorry, if I appear to talk too much. I'm just glad you're all here.
Howdy Nic!! Hey--great to see you sharing your opinions and thoughts with us.:) and talk too much?? Let it all hang out.!! there are no right or wrongs to it all--everythings suggested as a program of recovery. We do what we do for us, and in turn become humane, and sober, and better, one day at a time.
Ive learned that even tho everythings suggested, there are a lot of Darned well betters, or this kid goes backwards. Ouch!!
Love and gentleness from the heart. Yupper!! And none of us are perfect. We just keep trying hu? And doing the best we can.
Loved your post. You have a great day!!
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Easy Does it..Keep It Simple..Let Go and Let God..
I work on the principal that as all of the steps are equally important that it is good to practise a little bit of all of them every day as well as concentrating on one particular area. This is not in an attempt to rush through, but if you can be honest as well as moving forward and seeking frogiveness for past actions, why not do it!
It works for me and that I am thankfull for.
Best wishes to you all, hope you have a good and sober day.
Chris.
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"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989"
Sorry it took so long for me to get to this. It's been a busy couple of days for me. but I called the New York headquarters today and asked the question. I was told that:
"the principles of AA are embedded in the Steps, Traditions and the concepts of AA" and have been passed down from the elder statesmen to newcomers.
So the principles include all of those - honesty, willingness, unity, letting go and letting God, focus on yourself, anonymity, sharing ESH and not giving advice, respect for opinions, group conscience, commitment, carrying the message, not 2 stepping or 13th stepping, humility and not domination, and more. These things we learn by watching the examples of those elders who have been in the program and learned these things themselves enough to demonstrate these principles as opposed to being in the program and getting prideful, willful, controlling, and other selfish things that only try to show off their own personality.
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
I'm not certain, but I think maybe they may have come from the Hazelden Foundation? I don't think they are actually AA... but I could be wrong.
I don't think I realised how much I would miss genuine conversations with people who are free to feel and think, and trust. Everyone out here just talks about the weather!!! So sorry, if I appear to talk too much. I'm just glad you're all here.
