August 14: Spiritual Principle a Day, read by Fern

Spiritual Principle a Day for August 14, read by Fern

Donations via PayPal and questions may be directed to:

[e-mail]

August 14

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."

—NA Step Working Guides, Step Seven, “Spiritual Principles”

––––=––––

The Steps are in order for a reason; each one prepares us for the next. We acknowledge that our way hasn’t worked when we surrender to Step One. Some members boil it down to a single acknowledgment: I need something different. This admission opens the door for us to recognize our need for restoration in Step Two and to make a decision in Step Three.

With each of these first three Steps, we surrender a little more. In exchange, we gain hope and enjoy glimpses of freedom.

Surrender takes on new meaning when we get to Steps Six and Seven. Sure, we were sick of some shortcomings, but others were still useful. We were rather fond of one or two that we believed defined us. Still other defects kept us safe; we may even credit some of them with our survival out there. To become entirely ready to release the whole list, we ask ourselves, “Are they still serving us in our new way of life? What would life be like without them?” The answer is always “a little freer.”

With humility, we surrender our shortcomings to a Higher Power and ask for them to be removed. More than one sponsor has pointed out that “the Seventh Step doesn’t go on to say ‘and we lived happily ever after without them,’ does it?” Instead, this Step Seven surrender opens us to guidance and requires us to do some more work. Many of us find that we’re more receptive to the suggestions of our sponsors, trusted friends, and our own insights. When we start to feel ourselves reach for a defective reaction, we make an effort to choose a principled response instead. We surrender, again and again, deepening our commitment to living by spiritual principles and inviting them to counter our worst instincts.

––––=––––

Spiritual Principle:

Each time one of my shortcomings seems appealing, that’s when I can practice surrender. The gifts of surrender are available to me each day.

––––=––––

© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is your Spiritual Principleof the Day episode featuring a
recovering addict. Hi, my name is Fern.

(00:23):
My claim date is January 5th, 1984.
You're listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is the spiritual principle of the day for August 14th.
Surrendering shortcomings. In the seventh step, we take our
surrender to a deeper level. What began in Step one with an

(00:47):
acknowledgement of our addictionnow includes an acknowledgement
of the shortcomings that go along with our addiction and a
step working guides. Step 7.
Spiritual Principles. Steps are in order for a reason.
Each one prepares us for the next.
We acknowledge that our way hasn't worked.

(01:09):
When we surrender to Step One, some members boil it down to a
single acknowledgement. I need something different.
This admission opens the door for us to recognize our need for
restoration and Step 2 and to make a decision in step three.
With each of these first three steps, we surrender a little

(01:33):
more. In exchange, we gain hope and
enjoy glimpses of freedom. Surrender takes on a new meeting
when we get to step six and seven.
Sure, we were sick of some shortcomings, but others were
still useful. We were rather fond of one or
two that we believe define us. Still other defects kept us

(01:57):
safe. We may even credit some of them
with our survival out there. To become entirely ready to
release the whole list. We ask ourselves, are they still
serving us in our new way of life?
What would life be without them?The answer is always a little
freer. With humility, we surrender our

(02:20):
shortcomings to a higher power and ask for them to be removed.
More than one sponsor has pointed out that the 7th step
doesn't go on to say and we lived happily ever after without
them, does it? Instead, this step 7 surrender
opens us to guidance and requires us to do some more

(02:41):
work. Some of us found we're more
receptive to the suggestions of our sponsors, trusted friends,
and our own insights. When we start to feel ourselves
reach for a defective reaction, we make an effort to choose a
principled response. Instead.
We surrender again and again, deepening our commitment to

(03:03):
living by spiritual principles and inviting them to counter our
worst instincts. Spiritual principle.
Each time one of my shortcomingsseems appealing, that's when I
can practice surrender. The gifts of surrender are
available to me each day. The Voices of Recovery Podcast

(03:27):
is an independent production of the works of Wisdom.
We welcome your questions and donations via PayPal at
[e-mail]. This podcast is an independent
production and is not affiliatedwith, associated with,
authorized by, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected
with Narcotics Anonymous or any of its subsidiaries or

(03:49):
affiliates. While any literature may be read
during episodes for the purpose of supporting recovery, such use
does not constitute an official endorsement or representation by
Narcotics Anonymous. In accordance with any
tradition, the NA name is not tobe used to endorse or be
affiliated with any outside enterprise, and no such
endorsement or affiliation is implied.

(04:09):
Music is by Sage. Thanks for listening to the
Voices of Recovery podcast.