Acceptance, hope, faith, courage, honesty, patience, humility, willingness, brotherly-love, integrity, self-discipline, and service are all qualities that can be found in a person.
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What are the spiritual principles of the 12 steps?
When one's challenges are overwhelmed by dread and anguish, the path to release from one's struggles is rarely evident. COVID-19 has caused great consternation, making this path appear hazy and dangerous. Let's clear some space for ourselves.
Spiritual principles lay out a road for us to live lives devoid of unnecessary suffering, with the fortitude and resilience to face the grief and terror that are unavoidable parts of life. At RCA, we use the 12 Step Model of addiction treatment to help patients work through the internal chaos and discover the strength they need to rise above and overcome their challenges.
While the 12 Step Model can assist those suffering from addiction discover the calm and power they need to heal, the principles that underpin it can be applied to any condition. Even in these moments of worry and anxiety, applying the principles can help to alleviate stress and promote overall wellbeing.
These principles, combined with a regular practice of pausing and thinking on them, can help us cope with anything life throws at us.
The Serenity Prayer is a prevalent theme in many recovery circles as a method to pause and allow oneself to return to the present moment and the serenity that is alight inside them, whether or not they recognize it at the time.
Let's make a version of this to think about and express (or even simply read) when we're feeling powerless in the face of the world's current conditions:
Please give me the peace of mind to accept the things I can't change, such as Nature's course.
Grant me the courage to make the changes I can, such as living by spiritual values and taking care of my health, despite how tough it may appear.
And give me the insight to recognize the difference, to understand that I have no control over my choices and that Love will guide me through any experience I may have.
Keep in mind what your life's mission is. It is not to be subjected to interminable suffering and to be at the mercy of life's events. It is to be free, to live in Love rather than fear, and to know that this experience is possible and available to you at any time and in any place, regardless of anything may obstruct your way. It is constantly present within you. Take your time to locate it, and you'll be able to bear nearly any “how” if you do.
What are the spiritual principles of AA?
The 12 steps are strongly linked to AA's spiritual beliefs. Many rehabilitation programs, not just Alcoholics Anonymous, use these 12 steps. There are many principles to learn and adopt during a person's road to sobriety, ranging from courage to self-discipline.
Acceptance
The first step and concept for a recovering addict is to admit that he or she has no control over alcohol. Only by comprehending the gravity of the situation and the grip it has on you will you be able to overcome it.
Hope
For people who have reached rock bottom, finding hope can be difficult, but it is necessary. You will have a much simpler time getting there if you can discover optimism and hope for a better tomorrow.
Faith
Acceptance of a higher power does not need acceptance of the Christian God. It can refer to a belief in the universe's power of good or positive. Finding your spirituality via meditation and self-reflection is a beautiful thing to do.
Courage
If you've ever heard the serenity prayer, you're aware that one of AA's main principles is bravery. It's not easy to get the guts to face your addiction and the necessary steps to recovery.
Honesty
Addicts can soon become dishonest with their loved ones and with themselves. Breaking that habit and being honest with everyone is critical to maintaining sobriety.
Willingness
It will be a long and difficult path to recovery. You will not succeed unless you are willing to perform the heavy lifting and confront the obstacles ahead. You must not be frightened to act in accordance with the law.
Brotherly-love
Consider the people you've hurt in your life and make atonement. Reaching out to individuals and apologizing for what you've done and attempting to mend your connection can be intimidating, but the end result is very healing.
Self-Discipline
Even with assistance and support, only you can genuinely hold yourself accountable at the end of the day. Practicing resisting the urge to revert to previous habits is a good idea.
What are the spiritual principles in life?
Some of these may appear so simple that you've never thought of them as “spiritual.” Nonetheless, that is exactly what they are. They are the polar opposite of the disease and self-absorption fuelled by obsessive thinking, emotional attachment/avoidance, and compulsive actions that confine so many people for so long. Spiritual principles like these open and soften the heart, allowing us to connect more profoundly and intimately with people, the environment around us, and our true selves.
Acceptance is number one.
Acceptance is the process of recognizing and accepting the reality of a situation. It's crucial to remember that accepting something doesn't mean you agree with it or are pleased with it. You can despise a circumstance while still accepting it. Finding ways to accept the things you can't alter frees you from having to battle against the truths that you find distasteful, uncomfortable, or painful.
Open-Mindedness is number two on the list.
Respecting and being attentive to new and different possibilities is what open-mindedness entails. This means being open to thoughts and ideas we hadn't considered before, as well as opinions that are vastly different from our own.
3. Appreciation
Gratitude is difficult for many individuals since life is difficult. Some people, objectively, have more to be thankful for than others. Despite deprivation or feelings of anxiety, despair, rage, melancholy, fear, or physical discomfort, it is possible to summon thankfulness. You may have to search a bit harder to see the benefits in your life, but no matter how bad or hopeless things appear, there is always something to be glad for.
Are the 12 principles in the big book?
The basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous, or “The Big Book,” as AA members refer to it, takes members through 12 distinct phases, each of which is critical to achieving long-term addiction recovery.
The 12 AA principles, which are single words that embody the values required to pass each stage, are also outlined in the Big Book. Because the 12 AA steps are single words, they can be understood in a variety of ways, which can be helpful for those in recovery who don't feel like the steps are directly speaking to them, such as those who aren't religious.
Here's a description of the concepts that correspond to each step, as well as how to apply them in a way that helps you achieve long-term sobriety while adhering to the values of AA and NA.
Where are the 12 principles in the big book?
Recovery necessitates willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness. However, these are required prior to investigation.” (‘Principles' are mentioned in the 12 & 12 on pages 16, 18, 106, 114, 174, 182, in addition to the following.)
What is the spiritual principle of tradition 10?
By refraining from expressing thoughts on “outside concerns,” 12 step organizations strive to avoid public and intra-fellowship conflict. This policy also aids members in staying focused on their common goal.
Tradition 10: Alcoholics Anonymous (and Al-Anon) has no position on external problems; as a result, the A.A. name should never be associated with public debate.
As the preamble to Al-twelve Anon's steps and traditions states, “Al-Anon is independent of any sect, denomination, political party, organization, or institution. It does not get involved in any debates, nor does it support or oppose any cause.”
How many spiritual principles are there?
The spiritual principles are known in the AA rooms as the Twelve Steps. The 36 principles are divided into three categories: Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts. There have been numerous alternative spiritual virtue lists released by other AA's over the years that refer to the Twelve Steps.
Is patience a spiritual principle?
“Patience is the ability to wait for things to fall into place without using force or breaking things.”
We didn't become clean over night, and our Fellowship didn't begin to develop over night. Patience can also be referred as as creativewaiting as a spiritual concept. Life will place us in situations where the only option is to wait. This may not occur frequently, but when it does, we must remember that sometimes just watching and waiting is all that is required. In our day, our self-will made us want everything. Our universe widens in recovery, and we find ourselves on God's timetable. We sometimes have to wait for the right opportunity, much like in the 9th Step. We can only be willing until then. While we wait, our willingness provides us something tangible to hold on to.
Accepting the wait, asking God to prepare us for action, and making good use of our time are all advantages of spiritual patience. We may all recall moments when we acted only on our own willpower, dismissing warnings from individuals we had reason to believe in. This is the source of much of our suffering. Most of the time, going off half-cocked ensured our failure. We have a saying in recovery: “When in doubt, don't.” The person who fails to evaluate their resources and acts without the benefit of prayer is almost by definition setting the stage for calamity. Committing to action without first contemplating your resources and the magnitude of the need for what you're about to undertake is not spiritual. Taking time to reflect allows the rest of our minds to enter the picture.
We naturally minimize the strain we put on ourselves to act, whether we're ready or not, when we use patience. We gain time to double-check our assumptions about a situation, as well as time to hear from our sponsor and other members. All of this makes us feel less compelled to use quick-fix techniques. It's possible that impatience is a holdover from the way we used to do things.
After a succession of fast fixes failed, some of the most significant events in Narcotics Anonymous' history occurred. Solid debate, planning, and action became possible after enough participants agreed to commit to a solution. We had to learn to collaborate while remaining open-minded and free of the faulty traps of pride and ego. This was true of our entire service structure, including our globe service office, Basic Text, and “Narcotics Anonymous.” Cutting corners, moving forward without consulting the individuals involved, and neglecting to respect what has come before are all time-consuming. Even the best improvements will fail if people don't comprehend them or aren't given the chance to study and support them.
Members who have made a long-term commitment form trust ties.
When we are patiently willing to search each other's hearts and brains to establish at least a basic degree of conscious agreement, these relationships will stay bound. In most cases, this blossomed into spiritual union, and genuine results followed soon after. Some of our battles have been long and difficult. Patience has shown to be essential.
Do-gooders are always met with resistance from addicts. We've discovered that each of us must wait for the beginnings of a solution to emerge from within, whether patiently or not. We will stay blind, deaf, and deaf to even the most inspired calls to better judgment until this process has begun.
The Twelve Steps softly and steadily guide us through these awakenings. As a result, our development will be synchronized with the changes that must occur in our specific contexts. Non-addicts and even well-wishers often find us perplexing. This is simply a repetition of our need for other addicts who want to get sober in NA. Everything hinges on one's desire. We do not make atonement until we have surrendered to a larger force and begged that power to remove our flaws. After the faults that caused harm to others have been removed, amendments are made.
Sometimes our patience is matched by our willingness to act. It's possible that we'll have to wait after saying or doing everything we can. We've heard the phrase “in God's time, not mine” repeated several times in meetings. Patience is required to accept this concept. We want what we want right away as addicts. When we were doing drugs, our entire existence revolved around instant gratification. Even in recovery, many of us crave the buzz that “quick fix” remedies provide.
Before we get six months, we want to be clean for five years. We want those who we've wronged numerous times during our addiction to believe that we've truly changed and to demand forgiveness right away. We may have entered Narcotics Anonymous broke and in debt, yet after a little period of sobriety, we can't understand why we can't get a loan or a credit card. “Don't they know I'm clean now?” some members have enragedly asked. Many times, people are unconcerned and have no idea what being clean entails. We must never lose sight of the fact that we live in a unique environment created through time by the love, goodwill, and positive example of other sober addicts who care about us. They are repaying those who have aided them in the best manner they know how: by assisting us. We, in turn, assist those who have yet to arrive.
We eventually come to terms with the fact that just though we survive and recover “only for today,” it doesn't imply we'll have everything back in one day. If our future lives are a puzzle, we must recognize that we are given a piece of the puzzle on a daily basis. We put up our best effort and do what has to be done, laying the foundation for a brighter future. Part of the healing process is asking our Higher Power for the patience to see our vision become a reality. “It's easy to be patient when things are going my way,” one member remarked, smiling.
We agree, but spiritual progress requires us to “apply these principles in all of our dealings,” not just the easy ones. We've realized that the discomfort we experience when things don't go our way or happen quickly enough is merely our egos demanding attention. The same egos that pushed us to the brink of sickness now drive us. With the benefit of conscious communication with our higher power, a proper, healthy sense of self guides us over time. This happens gradually as you progress through the 12 Steps. Patience enables us to adjust to new situations. In a crisis, if we move too hastily, we are likely to revert to our previous habits. We even know how to generate a crisis when one is required! Most of the time, we're just trying to get back to what we're used to.
Patience requires a surrender of one's willpower. We've come to believe that no matter what happens, we'll be taken care of. We examine our portion to ensure that we have completed all of our responsibilities for the day. We beg for God's will to be aligned with ours, and we let go of our concerns with love. We begin to trust outcomes rather than dread them, relying on the faith we've developed via executing a full third step. Patience is knowing that whatever happens, it will be God's way!
Practicing patience, in our experience, does not dilute or postpone miracles; rather, it amplifies them. Even in the most trying of circumstances, we are capable of remaining calm and understanding. The relief we get from not having to worry about the future feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Patience is the art of living in peace.
What are the 7 principles of life?
The Nolan Principles (also known as the Seven Principles of Public Life) apply to everyone who holds a public position. All people assigned to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts, and probation services, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and health, education, social, and care services are included. All public officials serve the public as both servants and stewards of public resources. The ideas also apply to people who provide public services in other fields.