1. Have I experienced a spiritual awakening? Yes. I feel peaceful much more often than I used to. I am often filled with love. I have better boundaries. I stay out of God's way with other people's lives. I pray for guidance and wait until something feels right. I am learning to respond to my own intuition. I feel the presence of God much more strongly. I focus on myself and my own improvement/growth. I engage in less of my defects such as fits about traffic, complaining, blaming, obsessing, anxiety=future tripping, lack of self control, need to control others.
2. In what ways do I downplay my spiritual growth? What can help me to acknowledge it? I don't feel like I downplay my growth.
3. What have I received from Al-Anon that I would most like to share! The peace that comes from knowing that I do not have to do it all without help. I cannot fix all problems.
4. What are the different ways I can carry this message to others? I can lead by example. If I am loving and peaceful, work hard to be a blessing to everyone each day, stop obsessing about time and problems, it is something others will want. I can continue to attend several meetings and share what helps me and be there to listen to those in pain. I can do some service work. I can use the principles in all my affairs - bringing serenity to my family and friends. I can be a sponsor. I can provide some financial support of the program. I can tell others visiting their loved ones in treatment about this program.
5. Did I see a friendly face early in my recovery? Yes - many! What can I do to be a friendly face to others? I can put on a welcoming face and give words of welcome and support. I can share how it felt to be new and how I feel now.
6. What is the difference between carrying the message and giving advice? I have no business giving advice because my solutions may not be someone else's. I can tell what I have learned and how I have coped and tell them to talk to many people about the program as it helps to hear the message from many and just encourage to keep coming back and working the program.
7. When trying to carry the message, what have I experienced? It feels good to share something that may help someone find his/her own way to recovery and a more peaceful state of being. By helping another, it helps me as I learn something from that person as well.
8. How can I recognize a cry for help without meddling in others' affairs? I can see pain and just be there to listen. I can talk about the program tools. I can say that all will be revealed. The solutions will come if follow the steps and use the tools. I cannot force Al-Anon on someone if they don't want it/aren't interested. I can continue to be loving and encouraging. My getting better may be what helps others be better.
9. How can I practice these principles in my job? Is my job merely a means of earning money or an opportunity to practice my recovery? I absolutely am working to apply these principles to my job. I am working on seeking the best in others and retaining peace and joy regardless of what happens. I am seeking to pull back from fixing or doing something for my students. I am looking for ways to empower them rather than to enable them to do nothing. I seek daily to be a blessing. I have changed my attitude from the job being something to be endured to looking for all the joy there is in working with that age group. I seek to be more honest and try to work out mutually beneficial solutions and look for reasons when I start to feel that pinch in my stomach that signals a battle of wills.
10. What does the Twelfth Step say to me about service work? I must be accountable for helping others find what I found. That means I need to give back in some way whether it be just going to meetings and helping set up or providing an opportunity for a retreat or an actual service position.
11. What part has service to Al-Anon played in my recovery? Maintaining that commitment to meetings and to time with my sponsor has assisted me with contining to work the program. I could have been lazy sometimes, but remembering that I have a responsibility to the group keeps me on track and continually working on growing and improving my attitude.
12. What would change if I viewed service as my goal in every area of my life? This is my ultimate goal. It takes the focus off me and my problems. I was so caught up in myself and worry that I didn't enjoy each day. I often didn't observe anything around me because of these obsessions and self pity. Service gets me out of myself and helps me to be a better person. I feel rewarded when someone smiles because I exist.
13. What are "these principals"? They are the steps, traditions, and concepts of Al-Anon - a blueprint for living life in a positive and healthy manner.
14. How can I apply them in my daily life? I can study the program materials, talk to others in the program, and see ways to use this program as my blueprint for a life well lived.
15. In what areas of my life do I need to apply these principles? What can I do this week to make a beginning? I can apply them to relationships, my job working with teens, and my hiking group. Basically, all areas of my life benefit from my following this way of life. An area where I could improve is in doing more program calls besides just the ones to my sponsor or my neighbor. A beginning would be to set a time to do one extra call per week.
16. How am I living the message of the program? I follow the guidelines and study daily to stretch myself into a better person. I have become grateful for each day. I am doing better at letting go and letting God. My defects are lessening. I intend to be in this for life - growing until the die I die. The serener and more joyful I become, the more people want to be around me and will want to know my secret :D.
17. How am I a good example of Al-Anon recovery? I am learning not to overreact anymore. I have learned to lessen complaining, judging/being critical, gossiping, developed an attitude of gratitude, am overcoming my obsessing with time and not being so resentful of interruptions. I am becoming more flexible and willing to do things for others without taking on responsibility for their lives. I am letting their problems be their programs and realizing that problems are there for growth. I cannot deprive someone of an opp for growth.
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