carl @SPADmessage

Cooperation Despite Friction "Time and time again, in crises we have set aside our differences & worked for the common good." Placing principles before personalities means cooperating whether or not I get along with someone. I'll do my best to set aside differences for NA unity.

Choosing Freedom "We are free to change our minds, to change our perspective, and to change our lives. Freedom means that we are no longer living by default." I will live this day consciously and with purpose. In choosing to change, I'm choosing to be myself. I'm choosing freedom

Untangling Life's Knots with the Serenity Prayer The Serenity Prayer is a tool we use in our recovery: Considering what we can and cannot change becomes increasingly powerful. The wisdom to know the difference evolves as I do. I will try to connect with the principles behind it.

Fidelity to the Message As I share and listen, I will make an effort to faithfully connect the message between the lived experience and the proposition that "an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live." #SPAD

The Value of Honest Self-Assessment Honest self-assessment is a key to our new way of life. I am committed to looking at myself as honestly and completely as possible. I have the fearlessness I need to examine the parts of myself I want to cultivate and those I strive to diminish

Hope in Darkness and in Light "We find [hope] again and again as our journey continues: In the dark moments when we realize we can go on anyway, and in our triumphs--it is possible." I will pay attention to members going through the unthinkable and do my best to offer them hope.

A New Meaning for Love "How we go about getting love is where our defects come into play." I'm learning new ways to give & receive love. I don't have to act on my defects to experience love anymore. I'll try to love those in my life with acceptance instead of expectations today.

Striving for Emotional Maturity "Emotional maturity is our reward for letting go of anger & resentment." I will learn to rein in my reactiveness in situations where my feelings about other members serve no purpose. Today emotional maturity is a reasonable reward for those efforts

Trust and the Fifth Step "This may be the first time we've ever trusted another person enough to tell her or him about ourselves and allow that person to get to know us." I'm willing to practice trust by sharing my whole story with another person. #SPAD

Perseverance Pays Off Caring for our spiritual condition is like cleaning the house: If we want the benefit, the work is ongoing. I'll evaluate my spiritual condition. Am I getting the results I want from my current routine, or is it time for a spiritual deep cleaning? #SPAD

Willingness to Change "When we take the Serenity Prayer seriously and really consider what in our lives we do have the courage to change, we find that our ability to shape our lives is limited more by our willingness than by anything outside ourselves." #SPAD

Our Commitment to Encouragement "As a group, it's our job to be tolerant, listen well, hear the message through the mess, and encourage newer members to grow." The encouragement I've received gave me the courage to learn & grow. I'm committed to doing that for others today. #SPAD

Guided by Conscience "We come to know our intentions. We get better at hearing our own voice, our own conscience, and listening to our instincts." I will listen for the reawakened voice of my conscience knowing that it reflects my beliefs and intentions. #SPAD

Surrendering Shortcomings "In the Seventh Step, we take our surrender to a deeper level. What began in Step One with an acknowledgment of our addiction now includes an acknowledgment of the shortcomings that go along with our addiction." #SPAD

Anonymity and Individuality "In anonymity, we are free to be ourselves and to carry and receive a message of hope with the addict who suffers, regardless of whenever, wherever, or whoever they might be." #SPAD

Accepting Ourselves as Works in Progress "A spiritual understanding of self-acceptance is knowing that it is all right to find ourselves in pain, to have made mistakes, and to know that we are not perfect." I'll try to accept all of me today. #SPAD

Unconditional Love for Fellow Addicts "Unconditional love is not the same as unconditional acceptance. I don't have to like your behavior, but that doesn't mean we reject each other as human beings." I don't have to like everybody, but I'll try to love them anyway. #SPAD

Open-Mindedness and Spirituality "A new idea cannot be grafted onto a closed mind." I will remember the benefits of a more flexible and open approach to new ideas, even those about the spiritual aspects of recovery. #SPAD

Unity in Our Shared Purpose "Our ability to survive as a fellowship and to reach others depends on our unity." I need my program to thrive, so today I will choose to practice the principle of unity by letting go of my old ideas and accepting all my fellow members. #SPAD

With Independence Comes Responsibility "Learning to make decisions for ourselves also means accepting responsibility for those decisions." I'm doing the best I can at living fully & owning my independence. I can live with my choices, and, if not, I can make different ones! #SPAD