I
indecision
asking God for inspiration and, 25
information
about OA, publicizing, 193–198
informed
group conscience, arriving at, 120–121
inner
resources, 22
integrity
beginning to practice, 46
in facing character defects, 104
intergroups
funding and providing service, 163–166
representatives at, 178
services of, 161
intuition,
increasing power of, 22
inventories, 29–44, 83–90
abstinence and, 31
accomplishments and assets in, 33–34
anger and resentment in, 38–42
completeness of, 43–44
daily, 85–91
as daily practice, 84
examining character traits in, 34–37
fears in, 37–38
form of, 32–33
lists of people harmed in, 68–69
mental spot-checks, 85
objectivity in, 34
perfectionism and, 31
procrastination and, 31–32
sexuality in, 40–41
sponsors and, 87
spot-check, 85–86
Tenth-Step, 85–90
as test of commitment, 29
using as prayer, 62–63
wanting vs. willing to do, 31, 73
isolation
feelings of, 45
preventing message reaching
newcomer, 101
recovery and, 109
venturing outside of, 84–85
K
keep it
simple, 153–154
L
life
admitting unmanageability of, 3–5, 6–7
change and power to deal with, 58
handling with self-will, 10–11
out of balance, 11–12
lists. See inventories
lists of
people harmed
inventories and, 68–69
making amends using, 68–70
literature
approved, 154, 188–189, 188 (footnote 2)
as tool, 24
living amends,
78–79
love,
principle of, 105
M
media,
policy toward, 193–198
meditation
daily, 92–93
described, 96
relationship with HP and, 95–97
See also prayer
meetings
anonymity and, 200–202
attendance at, as God’s will, 25
autonomy of, 131–133, 137–144
away from home, visiting, 137–138
business, 120
chaotic appearance of, 177
disrespectful comments during, 187
disruptions of, 131
fellowship at, 13–14
following ground rules at, 110
format of, 110–111
importance of, 109–110, 146
locations of, 141–142
newcomers at, 147–148
non-organization, tradition of, 177–183
relapsers at, 148–149
religion at, 13
service boards and, 177–183
sharing details at, 201–202
special-emphasis, 133, 142
special-requirement, 132–133
standing up for Twelve Traditions at, 179–181, 182
status and, 202–203
therapy groups vs., 174–175
as tool, 24
unconditional acceptance at, 13, 91
See also group(s)
membership
compulsive eating as bond, ix
OA stands on public issues and, 185
paid professionals and, 173–174
requirements, 129–135, 140–141
retention, 178
as source of special workers, 172, 173
memories,
facing traumatic, 50–51
mental
obsession, 3
message,
we are the message, 106
mind, 2
miracles
appreciating, 64–65
becoming ready for, 56
of being known truly by another, 50
of freedom from shackles of past, 75
God and, 23, 61–62
of healing, 62, 64, 99
of healthy attitude about food and eating, 208
of permanent recovery, 90, 102, 113, 179
of release, 56
of sanity, 23
short-lived, 20, 23
of the Twelve Steps, 191
trusting others and, 50
mistakes
making vs. being, 43, 64
of OA groups, 122
money
amends around, 78
anonymity in OA and, 201
cannot buy recovery with, 171
group conscience around, 143
obsession with, 39
responsible management of, 39
spent otherwise-needed, 36
status-seeking and, 35
stolen, 9, 42
Tradition Seven and, 161–168
Tradition Six and, 153–159
moral
inventories. See inventories
N
negative
thinking
about concept of God, 16
effects of, 49
at expense of others, 187
not to stir up, 87
outlook, 43
patterns of, 32
as self-deception, 42
newcomers
approaching, 134, 147–150
first OA impressions of, 143
HP can be disconcerting to, 91
ignoring at group’s peril, 147
outside literature and, 154
sharing equally with “elders,” 203
transformation of suffering, 102
unity and, 116
nonorganization,
tradition of, 177–183
nonprofessionalism,
tradition of,
171–176
numb our
feelings, 70
O
objectivity,
in inventories, 34
obsessions
with diets, 10
with food, 3
with freedom from food, 100
inventories and, 30
with money, 39
negativity and, 43
See also compulsive eating
opinions,
respecting others’, 111
organization
vs. fellowship, 178
outreach,
149
outside
affiliations, 137,
155-158
outside
contributions, 161–169
outside
endeavors/enterprises, 153–159
outside
issues, 185–191
outside
literature, 154
Overeaters
Anonymous (OA)
approved literature and, 188–189, 188 (footnote 2)
God as ultimate authority, 119–127, 178
nonorganization, tradition of, 177–183
nonprofessionalism in, 171–176
overview of, ix–x
principles of, 103–106, 147
publicizing information about, 193–198
stands on public issues, 185
structure of, 119–127, 178–179
tools of, 24
unity of, 110
World Service Office, 161–166, 178
P
pain and
out-of-balance life, 12
perfectionism
inventories and, 31
procrastination and, 31, 39–40
rationalization and, 55
perseverance
importance of, 84, 89
principle of, 105
rewards from practicing, 105
personal
inventories. See inventories
plan of
eating, as tool, 24
See also abstinence; diets
Power
greater than individual. See God; Higher Power (HP)
power
structure of OA, 119–127,
178–179
powerlessness,
11, 13
over character defects, 55–56, 57
over food, 1–7, 19
See also God; Higher Power (HP)
prayer
doing God’s will and, 27
elements of daily, 65
to eliminate resentment, 72–73
to establish relationship with HP, 91–98
for humility, 62
inventories used in, 62–63
meditation and, 93
practicing, 92
reason for, 61
types of, 93, 94
for willingness, 31
pride
acting out isolation by arrogance, 45
had to be better than everyone else, 47
illusion we have done no wrong, 46
obsession with status, 59–60
shame and, 200
in Step Four questions, 35
as Step Ten stumbling block, 84
too proud to admit we were wrong, 200
primary
purpose, 145–154
abstain from compulsive eating, v, 20, 24
abstinence as, 24 (footnote)
carry this message, v, 154
everything is geared to, 177
no “free” gifts, 162
no outside contributions, 161
no outside responsibilities or causes, 159
no profit motive, 156
not becoming sidetracked, 145
practicing the Twelfth Step, 145
reach out in whatever way we can, 149
sticking to, 153
principles
of OA, 103–106,
147
procrastination
inventories and, 31–32
making amends and, 75
perfectionism and, 31, 39–40
professional
help
need for, 89
while involved with OA, 51
professionalism
in OA, 171–176
profit
motive, avoiding, 171
promise
of fuller living experience, 44
of (threefold) healing, 99
of permanent recovery, 83
public
controversies, 185–191
public
relations policy, 193–198
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