Recovery for others....

As I share my dream of getting 12 step help to all in need, I find the biggest stumbling block to be education. Seems most who spend a lifetime in relationship with troubled people rarely get the help they need because their focus is on the OTHER PERSON'S PROBLEM. We who find recovery through others' illnesses learn that we have a huge part in our own health or lack thereof. We are blessed, in that, we are forced to have a look at ourselves and accept full responsibility for where we are in life. Only in this acceptance can we move ahead toward health and productive living. So many of us have simply accepted a sad existence as normal, not realizing that it could be better!!

Our 12 step philosophy requires that we get to Step 4 before we do any real in depth soul searching. Unfortunately this takes many people a long time and they may not stick it out.

I believe as did the founders of the original 12 step program that 2 key things must happen to effect real recovery 1-The Spiritual connection must be sought immediately and 2-the new member must immediately reach out to help someone in similar circumstances (do service).

The best way to do this is to quickly run people through the 12 steps and demonstrate how others have reached out to a sense of Spirituality (God) and have changed on the inside. People Sharing The Burden whatever it may be. A new sense of freedom is often found very early on and this excitement can make the difference for someone else and so on and so on.

In my life (at lowest points), I find that if I can get to a place of sharing, I can stay productive, functional and available. This is where the spiritual aspect of the program seems to kick in. Drag me to the meeting and the reality/purity of the hurtful sharing will accomplish a host of healing for me and often someone else will receive a blessing too (better if I don't know about it). To keep the pain to myself may rob someone of recovery and as a seasoned 12 stepper once told me may even make the difference of life or death for someone. We can ill-afford to keep our secret hurts from saving lives!!

PLEASE COMMENT OR GET IN TOUCH AND HELP ME REACH THE NEEDY! HIT THE COMMENTS (IN GREEN SHADING BOTTOM OF EACH POST-DO IT ANONYMOUSLY IF YOU WISH)

12 Steps1-We admitted we were powerless over others-that our lives had become unmanageable.2-Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.3-Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.4-Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.5-Admitted to this Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.6-Were entirely ready to have this Power remove all these defects of character.7-Humbly asked the Power to remove our shortcomings.8-Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.9-Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.10-Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.11-Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with this Power, praying only for knowledge of His/Her will for us and the power to carry that out.12-Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. (Many 12 step programs use the word God where we have written Power)
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Come and take the 12 steps to freedom!