What are the four primary ideas? How have they been active in my recovery?.
* We are powerless over the problem of alcoholism.
* Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
* Admitting my powerlessness freed me to come to Al-Anon
* It took many events to bring true acceptance of my powerlessness
* I could not find serenity and peace in my life until I accepted my powerlessness
* We can turn our lives over to a Power greater than ourselves.
* Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
* I don’t have to do it alone.
* The groups and the literature are a source of help / new ideas / tools.
* Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
* I discovered that if I listen, if I pay attention, I will get guidance.
* “Still, small voice”
* Other members
* “coincidences”
* The phrase “care of” God is important to me.
* We need to change both our attitude and our actions.
* What attitudes did I need to change?
* I know what is best for my loved one.
* It is my duty to “fix” other people.
* If I can’t, I am a failure.
* What actions came from those attitudes?
* All the things I did to try to convince her to stop drinking
* Raging
* But also,
* I’m not allowed to be happy unless others are happy.
* It is selfish to do things I want to do, if others don’t want to do those things
* My well-being is dependent on my loved ones’ well-being.
* I need your approval to know that I am a good person.
* And what actions came from those attitudes?
* Putting others' needs and wants ahead of mine.
* Not knowing my own needs and wants.
* Not doing things that I want to do
* Approval seeking
* We keep Al-Anon’s gifts by sharing them with others.
* You were there for me!
* When I listen to you, I hear my own experience. (“How is that you are living inside my head?!”) This won’t happen if I’m not in a meeting or talking with another member.
* Being a sponsor required that I dig deeper into my own recovery.
* Sharing my own ESH reminds me of where I came from and how much progress I have made. It inspires me to keep on working.
Readings and Links
We read from the 2022–2025 Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual, p. 20, “Four Primary Ideas”
Upcoming topics
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