A
abstinence, 20–23
carrying the message and, 101
celebrating, 202
continuing guidance from HP and, 23
defining, 21
differing approaches to, 115
group membership and, 130–131
honeymoon period and, 20–21
for leaders and officers, 140–141
sponsor’s help with, 22
voting rights and, 121
willpower and, 3
writing inventory and, 31, 50
abuse
feeling deserved, 12
in Step Four questions, 39, 41
trust and, 50
acceptance
humility and, 60–61
unconditionally at meetings, 13
accomplishments,
acknowledging in
inventories,
33–34
act as if, 14, 16
acting on
life, 19–20
action
plan, as tool, 24
actions,
role of resentment/fear in
damaging, 49–50
admissions
of powerlessness over food, 1–7
of unmanageability of life, 3–5, 6–7
of wrongs, 45–52
agnostics, 13–16
Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA)
acknowledgement of, 209
books at meetings, 188 (footnote 2)
inventory form, 32–33
Twelve Steps of, 209–210
Twelve Traditions of, 210–211, 215
ambitions,
letting go of, 196,
199
amends,
making, 67–73
anonymously, 80
as change, 67–68, 78–79
closeness to HP after, 80–81
direct, 75–81
examples of inappropriate, 80
forgiveness and, 67, 71
help of sponsors, 70–71, 72, 76
living, 78–79
procrastinating, 75
promptness of, 87–88
quicker with self-discipline, 105
restitution and, 78
using lists of people harmed, 69–70
wording of, 77–78
analysis
daily inventory, 86–87
negative aspects of, 32
on-the-spot, 85
anger
acknowledging in inventories, 38–42
with God, 95
outbursts and control over others, 54
unmanageability of life and, 4, 5, 38
anonymity
of individuals toward public media, 193–198
making amends and, 80
spiritual foundation of Traditions, 199–207
as tool, 24
anxiety
“ate to sate,” 5
key role, 37
living in, 12
apologies.
See amends, making
assets,
acknowledging in inventories, 33–34
atheists, 13, 15–16
attraction
rather than promotion, 193–198
authority,
God as ultimate OA,
119–127, 178
autonomy, 131–133, 137–144
awareness, 50
B
Big Book.
See Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
body
changes to, 102
image, a new attitude about, 20
“perfect,” 20
size, 100
bottom,
need to hit, 57
boundaries,
setting, 143
business
meetings, 120
C
change
dedication to, 56
honesty and, 30
making amends and, 68, 78–79
power to deal with life and, 58
transformation, 30
willingness to, 57
character
defects
comfortable with, 53–54
examining, 56–57
imagining selves without, 89
in inventories, 34–43
powerlessness over, 55–56, 57
removal by God of, 53–58
return of, 61
usefulness of, 56–57
character
traits
examining, in inventories, 34–37
importance of perseverance, 84
shortcomings as misapplied, 65
transformed by God, 65–66
clearing
off our side of the street, 77
commitment
common welfare and, 109–117
inventories and, 29
maintaining, 24, 27, 31–32
power from, 58
total required, 55
communications
media, policy, 193–198
compulsive
eating
acceptance of help from HP, 15, 20
actions resulting from, 2, 9–10, 12
as bond among members, ix
denial of disease of, 3, 6
desire to stop as only membership
requirement, 129–135
effective relationships and, 67
freedom from, 2–3, 19, 26, 100
nature of disease of, 1–2
other programs for overcoming,
20, 187–188
permanent freedom from, 23–24
reprieves from, 20–21
sanity and, 9–12
self-esteem and, 59–60
willpower and, 1
confrontations
at meetings, 131
conscience
of group, arriving at informed, 120–121
control
admission of powerlessness over
food and, 1–7, 19
attempts at, 5
by defects, 55
losing, 10, 16
new attitude about weight, 20
over other people, 5, 34, 49, 54, 106
courage
in facing character defects, 104
principle of, 104
D
daily
inventories, 83–91
deception
toward others, 42
toward
self, 30, 423
decisions
arriving at, 26, 120–121
by compulsive eaters, 121
disagreeing with, 121–122
forgetting, 85
gaining a clearer perspective, 97–98
to give up self-will, 19
God will help with every, 15, 19, 23
of group, 19–27, 111, 120-127
donor influence on, 162
as HP’s will, 119
life-changing, 26
living out, 22, 27
“made a decision,” 19–27
making important, 25, 97 spiritual awakening and,
99
to trust God’s guidance, 24–25, 104 writing
inventory in support of, 31
delay
“just to do it,” 31
of new jobs or careers, 37
perfectionism and, 55
starting things, 40
denial
of having this disease, 3
of the need to change, 30
of the truth, 6
depression
an atmosphere of, 4
excitement vs., 12
diets
OA and, 20
obsession with, 10
direct
amends, making, 75–81
anonymously, 80
closeness to HP after, 80–81
discussion with sponsors about, 76
examples of inappropriate, 80
restitution and, 78
wording of, 77–78
See also amends, making
disease
acceptance of help from Higher Power, 15–16, 19–20
actions resulting from, 9–10
of compulsive eating, 58
of compulsive overeating, ix
debilitating and fatal, 6
denial of, 3, 6
effective relationships and, 67
falling back into, 31
incurable, 6
isolation of, 16
killing, 19
manifestations of, 38, 84
membership and, ix, 129–135
nature of, 1–2
other programs for overcoming, 187–188
overcoming, 23–24, 100
progression, 59
reprieves from, 20-21
self-esteem and, 59–60
struggling with, 21
donations, 162
dues,
none, 162
E
eating. See compulsive eating; food emotions
bringing pain, 84
(in)sanity and, 9–12
role of fear in damaging, 49–50
writing to clarify, 33–34, 71–72
endorsements, 153–59, 196–197
expectations
letting go of, 76–77
service and, 103
expulsion
from group, 130
F
faith
HP and, 13–14, 104
newfound, 19
in no one, 41
principle of, 104
willingness to act on, 16–17
fears
acknowledging
in inventories, 37–384
“ate to sate,” 5
better than nursing of, 90
buried in false cheerfulness, 4
of change, 57
Fourth Step inventory and, 33, 37–38
giving up indecision and, 24
having to live in anxiety and, 12
not having to have, 99
procrastination and, 75
removal of character defects and, 53–54
role in damaging emotions/actions, 49–50
saving ourselves from days of, 88
willingness and, 73
fellowship
common welfare of, 109–117
disagreements within, 111
ground rules for, 110–111
healing power of, 85
importance of, 109–110
at meetings, 13–14
organization vs., 178
recovery and, 146
sense of isolation and, 45
sharing of recovery process and, 101
first
things first, 159
food
admission of powerlessness over, 1–7, 19
Conference-approved plans, 188 (footnote 1)
freedom from obsession with, 20, 26, 100
healthy attitude toward, 20
See also compulsive eating
forgiveness
healing power of, 67
inability to give, 38–39
list of people harmed and, 69
making amends and, 71
of self, 49–50, 69
writing and, 71–72
For Today
(Overeaters
Anonymous), 83
freedom
“at last,” 51
from bondage, 2, 30
to change and learn, 6
from character defects, 66
from defects, 56
to encounter healing force, 91
to express beliefs, 91
expressing feelings and, 94
from food obsession, 23
from killing disease, 19
to move forward again, 95
from obsession, 20, 26, 100
from past mistakes, 75
from resentments, 46, 72
from shame, 43, 46
Step Five and, 46
after taking Step Three, 20
funding
of group(s), 161–169
G
God
anger with, 95
asking to remove our shortcomings, 59–66
belief in, 13
as change maker, 23, 56, 61-62
changing concept of, 16
compulsive eating and, 15
continuing abstinence and, 23
deciding to turn lives over to, 19–27
healing power of, 15, 66
HP and, 16
honesty in expressing
feelings to, 94–95
improving conscious contact with, 91–98
inventories and, 43
meeting attendance and, 25
removal of character defects by, 53–58
transforming power of, 66
as ultimate OA authority, 119–127, 178
will of, accepting and knowing, 16–17, 24–27, 97–98
See also Higher Power (HP); prayer
God
box/God can, 95
gossip, 25, 35, 54, 115–116, 200–202
grateful
following in others’ footsteps, 106
group conscience and being, 120–122, 181–182
for lessons learned, 98
for program in its own right, 90
at release from a defect, 61–62
for things going well, 86
group(s)
autonomy of, 131–133, 137–144, 178
Board of Trustees decision not to register, 140–141
decision-making by, 119–127
definition of, 138
dropping, 140
endorsements by, 153–159
expulsion from, 130-131, 178
formats, 110–111
group inventory, 115–117
as HP, 14
involvement in outside endeavors by, 153–159
learning from experiences, 142–143
membership requirement in, 129–135, 140–141
not following Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,
138–140
personal desires and welfare of, 199
primary purpose of, 145–151
self-supporting, 161–169
service boards and, 177–183
shared responsibility in, 123–124
special-emphasis, 132–133
unity of, 109–117, 185
See also fellowship; meetings
group
conscience, 119–127,
181–182, 189, 206
growth
lifetime of, 56, 106
new direction of spiritual, 103
prayers for those seeking spiritual, 93
remaining open to spiritual, 13
grudges
acknowledging in inventories, 38–39
held by those hurt, 77
See also resentment
guidance,
accepting from HP, 19–21
guilt
acknowledging, 29
clearing away, 76
eliminating, 67, 69
facing, 43
freedom from, 46
no longer needing to feel, 77
not stirring up, 87
years of, ix
H
harm, 68–73
daily inventory in clearing, 87–88
meaning of, 68
to OA as a whole, 138–140
permanently changing attitudes of, 78–81
harshness,
acknowledging in inventories, 39–42
healing
in connections, 85
in meeting rooms, 181
miracle of spiritual, x, 99
need to repeat actions, 83
strength of OA Fellowship and, 175
help,
asking for, 167–168
help,
providing. See service
Higher
Power (HP)
accepting help from, 19–20, 24–25, 64–65
acknowledging wrongs to, 46–52
acting as if and, 14–15
closeness to, after making amends, 80–81
defining, 13–14
establishing
regular relationship, 91–986
faith and, 13–14, 104
focusing on will of, 26, 89
guidance of fellowship by, 179
guidance received from, 21–22
healing power of, 85
honesty in expressing feelings to, 94–95
identifying, 13–14
increasing power of intuition and, 22
knowing will of, 97–98
meditation and, 95–97
meeting attendance and, 25
restoration of sanity by, 9–17
self-will and, 104–105
spiritual awakening and trust in, 99–100
unfailing nature of, 98
See also God
hitting
bottom, 57
honesty
with self
acknowledgment of our mistakes and, 77
change and, 30
continuous practice of, 103–104
in examination of our lives, 3–9, 11, 21, 29
in expressing feelings to HP, 94–95
in facing Step Six, 54–55
importance of, 51
in inventories, 30, 44, 84, 90
needing HP for, 46
in practice of writing, 95
principle of, 103–104
in relationships, 88
sense of relief through, 47
total, 13
as way to God’s will, 25
willingness for, 41
honeymoon
period, 20–21
hope, 104
HP. See Higher Power
humiliation
vs. humility, 59
humility
acceptance and, 61
airing “dirty laundry,” 47
anonymity and, 205
being one among many, 200–201
dealing with media and, 196
description of, 60, 61, 62
as gift, 62
humiliation vs., 59
no longer being shocked and
horrified, 63
practicing the principle of, 105
steps in attaining, 60
No comments:
Post a Comment