August 17: Spiritual Principle a Day, read by Fern

Spiritual Principle a Day for August 17, read by Fern

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August 17

Willingness to Change

"When we take the Serenity Prayer seriously and really consider what in our lives we do have the courage to change, we find that our ability to shape our lives is limited more by our willingness than by anything outside ourselves."

—Living Clean, Chapter 6, “Finding Our Place in the World”

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We say the Serenity Prayer so often in NA meetings that it’s easy to do it by rote, without intention or commitment. “Sometimes I forget that it’s actually a prayer,” one member reflected. “It was only when it was suggested that I say it outside of meetings as a prayer for willingness that I began to connect to it, to really use it to help me in a moment of strife, confusion, or indecision.”

“It helps me get real,” another member offered. “I need to know what I can change before mustering up the courage to do it. Most of the time it’s me that’s standing in my own way.

Not my past. Not my upbringing, or my culture, or institutions, or even other people. Just this addict.”

Change is hard because it’s often painful. Our current level of discomfort is familiar, at least. Trading it in for the unknown seems risky. We fear the pain will be worse on the other side of a decision. Who wants to experience rejection or failure? Or what if we succeed? Then, there may be a slew of new responsibilities to deal with. Will we be able to manage those?

In the simplest terms, these are fears that limit our capacity to grow. Change is even harder when we view the world as hostile to us, when we listen to the voice in our heads telling us “you can’t” or “don’t do it.” Ignoring that voice and practicing willingness to change the things we can—and then taking an action toward that change we want to make—requires a lot. We have to simultaneously accept where we are right now and be willing to take a risk.

There are lessons to be learned, no matter how things turn out. A bonus of NA membership is that we get to report back and share those with each other.

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Spiritual Principle:

I’ll carefully consider what I have the power to change in my life right now. Instead of cursing the dark, I pray for willingness to change the lightbulb. Sometimes it is that simple.

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© 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 clean date is January 5th, 1984.
You're listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is the spiritual principle of the day for August 17th.
Willingness to change. When we take the Serenity Prayer
seriously and really consider what in our lives we have

(00:47):
courage to change, we find that our ability to shape our lives
is limited more by our willingness than by anything
outside ourselves. Living Clean, Chapter 6.
Finding our place in the World We say the Serenity Prayer so
often in NA meetings that it's easy to do it by rote, without

(01:09):
intention or commitment. Sometimes I forget it's actually
a prayer, one member reflected. It was only when it was
suggested that I say it outside of meetings as a prayer for
willingness that I began to connect to it, to really use it
to help me in a moment of strife, confusion, or

(01:30):
indecision. It helps me get real.
Another member offered. I need to know what I can change
before mustering up the courage to do it.
Most of the time, it's me that'sstanding in my own way.
Not my past, not my upbringing, nor my culture or institutions

(01:51):
or even other people. Just this addict.
Changing is hard because it's often painful.
Our current level of discomfort is familiar, at least.
Trading it in for the unknown seems risky.
We fear the pain will be worse on the other side of a decision.

(02:13):
Who wants to experience rejection or failure Or what?
If we succeed? Then there may be a slew of new
responsibilities to deal with. Will we be able to manage those?
In the simplest terms, these arefears that limit our capacity to
grow. Change is even harder when we

(02:34):
view the world as hostile to us,when we listen to the voices in
our head tell us you can't or don't do it.
Ignoring that voice and practicing willingness to change
the things we can and then taking an action toward that
change we want to make requires a lot.

(02:55):
We have to simultaneously acceptwhere we are right now and be
willing to take a risk. These are lessons to be learned
no matter how things turn out. A bonus of any membership is
that we get to report back and share those with each other.
Spiritual principle. I'll carefully consider what I

(03:18):
have the power to change in my life right now.
Instead of cursing the dark, I will pray for willingness to
change the light bulb. Sometimes.
It is that simple. The Voices of Recovery Podcast
is an independent production of the works of Wisdom.
We welcome your questions and donations via PayPal at

(03:41):
[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
affiliates. While any literature may be read
during episodes for the purpose of supporting recovery, such use

(04:02):
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.
Music is by Sage. Thanks for listening to the
Voices of Recovery podcast.