Successful Or Fruitful?

Tina had no success….She ended up in Recovery and people laughed at her and were envious of her. But it was fruitful because hope, healing, and health came out of her pain and suffering.

Has your life been successful? How do you measure success? By our acquired trophies, wealth, and possessions? By our professional success? By our service to our family, church, and community? By our good deeds?

For some time, it appeared Tina was having a successful existence. She was famous in high school and in her career as a business executive. But not many were attracted to her commitment to Recovering from a mental health condition and illness. When she became bold by entering Recovery many of her friends and some of her family members no longer paid any attention to her. By world standards, her life did not look prosperous.

However, all that ultimately matters is that Tina effectively carried out her mission of Recovery. From Tina’s fruitful life and broken heart, there she poured out new life and hope for all those who place their faith and trust in Recovery.

Those in or entering Recovery, we are truly grateful for practicing the 12 steps of Recovery, so that we might receive the grace of a new life and hope. Practicing the principles of Recovery will help inspire us to live a fruitful life and show the world a new kind of success.

12 Steps to Health

Hope ≈ Healing ≈ Health

  1. We dedicate ourselves to a lifestyle of Recovery; our lives have purpose and meaning.
  2. We believe a Power greater than ourselves is the path to hope, healing, and health.
  3. We choose to contemplate daily, how faith in our Higher Power and Recovery Community can bring us peace.
  4. We choose to educate ourselves and find the courage to strive for the highest level of health and well-being.
  5. We communicate our Plan of Recovery with our Higher Power, with ourselves, and with another human being.
  6. We allow our Higher Power to be the lighthouse in our lives.
  7. We humbly ask our Higher Power to reveal his unconditional love and ongoing presence within us.
  8. We acknowledge our behaviors have impacted our relationships. We list those affected by our behavior and whenever possible became willing to reconcile or thank them for their support during a relapse or mental health crisis.
  9. We seek mutual reconciliation for a harmful action we committed and seek forgiveness from those we harmed or were impacted by our behavior. Then, let go of our shame because it no longer serves a purpose in our lives, we understand we were designed because we are loved and to be in relationships with other people.
  10. We continually review our Plan of Recovery with our Higher Power, support team, and those we trust.
  11. We come to recognize our shortcomings during recovery, while discovering our Higher Power is the source of our strength and mercy, we learn to rely on our Higher Power for the courage to heal through prayer, reflection, mindfulness, and when necessary seek professional support.
  12. We gain insight into our recovery through our Higher Power as we model these steps, and share our journey toward hope, healing, and health with people.

Adapted From 12 Steps of Alcoholic/Depressed Anonymous by Larry Winter and Collene Spaeth

Revised: 6/5/20

Peace

Larry

email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net

website: https://superhumanbeing.net/

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