October 1: Spiritual Principle a Day, read by Sabina

Spiritual Principle a Day for October 1, read by Sabina

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October 1

Compassion as Contrary Action

"Our instinct is to meet disease with disease, but when we meet it with love and compassion instead, we create an opportunity for recovery."

—Guiding Principles, Tradition One, “For Members”

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As harmonious as we may wish Narcotics Anonymous to be, there are times when another member’s behavior really gets under our skin and seems to demand that we respond in kind. Maybe they tear into us verbally or try to goad us into a physical altercation. A member’s actions can place our meeting’s location in danger. We’ve also seen members try to undermine a group decision, and when it doesn’t go their way, take to social media to bad-mouth NA. And what about members who act in these ways but never make amends for their behavior? How dare they mess with our serenity?!

Our first impulses will likely be to respond to another’s resentment, selfishness, or accusations—with our own. We can, however, cool our own fury—and consider its source.

Meeting another’s disease with compassion means that we suspend judgment. We try to separate the person from their disease. Maybe they’re going through a rough time. Maybe we unintentionally disrespected them, and they don’t know how to express their pain in another way. Maybe they are afraid of being wrong and looking uncool in the face of controversy. Maybe they’re just misinformed. And maybe we’re more alike than we care to admit. Bingo! At the end of the day, we are all recovering as best we can.

Having compassion for another doesn’t mean we ignore issues that arise. With unity as a priority, we end up practicing a lot more acceptance than our disease would otherwise have it. We may not understand where someone is coming from, but we can recognize the feelings and relate. Ideally, our response will consider what’s best for the common good.

With practice, we spend a little less energy contemplating how we might meet disease with disease. We learn the benefits of responding with compassion instead.

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Spiritual Principle:

Next time someone flips out on me or the group, I’ll test out meeting them with compassion instead of my ego. What’s best for the group is best for my recovery.

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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 Sabina.

(00:24):
My clean date is September 9th, 2000.
You're listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is the spiritual principle of the day for October 1st.
Compassion as contrary action. Our instinct is to meet disease

(00:45):
with disease, but when we meet it with love and compassion
instead, we create an opportunity for recovery.
Guiding Principles Tradition onefor members As harmonious as we
may wish Narcotics Anonymous to be, there are times when another
member's behavior really gets under our skin and seems to

(01:09):
demand that we respond in kind. Maybe they tear into US verbally
or try to goad us into a physical altercation.
A member's actions can place ourmeetings location in danger.
We've also seen members try to undermine the group's decision

(01:29):
and when it doesn't go their way, take to social media to
badmouth NA. And what about members who act
in these ways but never make amends for their behavior?
How dare they mess with our serenity?
Our first impulses will likely be to respond to another's

(01:50):
resentment, selfishness, or accusations with our own.
We can, however, cool our own fury and consider its source.
Meeting another's disease with compassion means that we suspend
judgment. We try to separate the person
from their disease. Maybe they're going through a

(02:13):
rough time. Maybe we unintentionally
disrespected them and they don'tknow how to express their pain
in another way. Maybe they are afraid of being
wrong and looking uncool in the face of controversy.
Maybe they're just misinformed. And maybe we're more alike than

(02:35):
we care to admit. Bingo.
At the end of the day, we are all recovering as best we can.
Having compassion for another doesn't mean we ignore issues
that arise. With unity as a priority, we end
up practicing a lot more acceptance than our disease

(02:56):
would otherwise have it. We may not understand where
someone is coming from, but we can recognize the feelings and
relate. Ideally, our response will
consider what's best for the common good.
With practice, we spend a littleless energy contemplating how we

(03:16):
might meet disease with disease.We learn the benefits of
responding with compassion instead spiritual principle.
Next time someone flips out on me or the group, I'll test out
meeting them with compassion instead of my ego.

(03:36):
What's best for the group is best for my recovery.
The Voices of Recovery Podcast 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 affiliated

(03:57):
with, 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 readduring episodes for the purpose
of supporting recovery, such usedoes not constitute an official
endorsement or representation byNarcotics Anonymous.
In accordance with any tradition, the NA name is not to

(04:19):
be 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.