October 8: Spiritual Principle a Day, read by Sabina

Spiritual Principle a Day for October 8, read by Sabina

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October 8

Accepting Others

"Our attitude ought to be one of loving acceptance toward all addicts, regardless of any other problems they may experience."

—It Works, Tradition Three, “Applying Spiritual Principles”

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Many of us crawl into our first meetings totally paranoid and not having bathed for weeks or fresh from getting high in the hallway bathroom. Or we’re surrounded by a 50-foot concrete wall with DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT TALKING TO ME graffitied across it. Others slink in with a court card, counting days until they can get back to the business of getting and staying high. Still others waltz in, heads held high with enough entitlement, defensiveness, and been-there-done-that to fill all the dried-up wells in hell.

Tradition Three tells us that the only requirement for NA membership is a desire to stop using. It calls on members to welcome anyone who enters the room. But how do we know that someone else really has the desire to get clean? How do we measure it? We can’t.

No addict is a sure bet for staying clean, and none of us can predict the future. We all know that perpetual newcomer who everyone thought would never “get it”—until they did. And what about the other situation we never saw coming? That revered oldtimer, who helped countless newcomers to dismantle their 50-foot walls, did every service commitment, and was the most beloved circuit speaker—until they relapsed.

It’s human nature to judge each other and compare ourselves to determine where we fit.

But it’s only our personal recovery that we can truly assess and take responsibility for. And one of the most important measures of that recovery is our willingness to accept others for who they are—not for who we think they should be—just as we were accepted.

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Spiritual Principle:

Despite my judgments, I will practice our Third Tradition by accepting and welcoming others, regardless of their appearance, circumstances, or reputation.

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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 8th.
Accepting others. Our attitude ought to be 1 of

(00:45):
loving acceptance towards all addicts, regardless of any other
problems they may experience. It works.
Tradition 3 Applying spiritual principles.
Many of us crawl into our first meetings totally paranoid and
not having bathed for weeks refresh from getting high in the

(01:08):
hallway bathroom or we're surrounded by a 50 foot concrete
wall with don't even think abouttalking to me gratified across
it. Others slink in with a court
card, counting days until they can get back to the business of
getting and staying high. Still others waltz in, heads

(01:30):
held high with enough entitlement, defensiveness, and
been there, done that to fill all the dried up wells in hell.
Tradition 3 tells us that the only requirement for any
membership is a desire to stop using.
It calls on members to welcome anyone who enters the room.

(01:51):
But how do we know that someone else really has the desire to
get clean? How do we measure it?
We can't. No addict is a sure bet for
staying clean and none of us canpredict the future.
We all know that perpetual newcomer who everyone thought
would never get it until they did.

(02:13):
And what about the other situation we never saw coming?
That revered old timer who helped countless newcomers to
dismantle their 50 foot walls, did every service commitment,
and was the most beloved circuitspeaker until they relapsed.
It's human nature to judge each other and compare ourselves to

(02:36):
determine where we fit. But it's only our personal
recovery that we can truly assess and take responsibility
for. And one of the most important
measures of that recovery is ourwillingness to accept others for
who they are, not for who we think they should be.
Just as we were accepted spiritual principle.

(03:03):
Despite my judgments, I will practice our third tradition by
accepting and welcoming others regardless of their appearance,
circumstances or reputation. The Voices of Recovery Podcast
is an independent production of The Works of Wisdom.

(03:23):
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
affiliates. While any literature may be read

(03:44):
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.
Music is by Sage. Thanks for listening to the

(04:05):
Voices of Recovery podcast.