Post by THE NINETH PROMISE on Mar 1, 2004 5:36:28 GMT -5
The ninth promise strikes down unwarranted fear. It states Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.Since courage has been described as fear that has said its prayers, we become accustomed to praying for God’s will for us. The insight this brings convinces us our fears come from within ourselves, not from others. We will no longer have to be defensive or blame people, places and circumstances for what we do or say. We will discover we may have become our own worst enemy, but we don’t have to be this way. It is rewarding to make and keep friends instead of antagonizing everyone around us because we fear confrontations. We used to be quarrelsome drinkers, unaware that anger often covered fear.
In sobriety, decreased fear reduces envy, low self-esteem, resentments and feelings of rejection and frustration. In A.A., we lose our loneliness, our starting point for fear of others. We can find love and trust in new friends who remind us, "Everything is going to be all right…This, too, shall pass…Things will get better and better."
Involvement with others is the magic that dissolves fear. Where there is unity, there is no room for conflict. There are no strangers in caring and sharing programs, only new friends not yet met. In a fellowship of recovering addicts, we are all people who need people.
Love in sobriety is demonstrated by wishing someone else well; being available; having interest in others and sharing sympathy, understanding, kindness, honesty and humility.
The ninth promise also assures us freedom from the fear of financial insecurity. This does not mean we will be showered with possessions or become affluent. We will not always get what we want, but we will receive what we need to enjoy sobriety.
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For me I learned to look at what I had when I came into recovery, not just the material possessions, but my sense of self. I don't ever want to go back to where I came from, and at first fear kept me coming, but faith keeps me here in today.
In sobriety, decreased fear reduces envy, low self-esteem, resentments and feelings of rejection and frustration. In A.A., we lose our loneliness, our starting point for fear of others. We can find love and trust in new friends who remind us, "Everything is going to be all right…This, too, shall pass…Things will get better and better."
Involvement with others is the magic that dissolves fear. Where there is unity, there is no room for conflict. There are no strangers in caring and sharing programs, only new friends not yet met. In a fellowship of recovering addicts, we are all people who need people.
Love in sobriety is demonstrated by wishing someone else well; being available; having interest in others and sharing sympathy, understanding, kindness, honesty and humility.
The ninth promise also assures us freedom from the fear of financial insecurity. This does not mean we will be showered with possessions or become affluent. We will not always get what we want, but we will receive what we need to enjoy sobriety.
=======================================
For me I learned to look at what I had when I came into recovery, not just the material possessions, but my sense of self. I don't ever want to go back to where I came from, and at first fear kept me coming, but faith keeps me here in today.