Step 12: A Journey into Spiritual Awareness – 439

Spencer and Eric explore Step 12, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” We follow the reading on the step from the book How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics, interleaving it with our own responses to each paragraph.. 

Spiritual Awakening: A Personal Journey

We reflect on the nature of spiritual awakenings, noting the deeply personal and often gradual nature of this transformation. Spencer highlights the varied pace at which individuals may experience this awakening—some may have a sudden realization, while others, like Eric, feel a perpetual yet evolving awareness of spirituality. Eric encapsulates this journey as living his best life, embracing the beauty in the mundane, and continuously pursuing greater wakefulness.

The Role of Spiritual Principles in Everyday Life

One of the central themes is that the principles of Al-Anon extend beyond addressing alcohol-related issues, but can apply in all facets of life. Eric says it is, for him, a way of life, suggesting that these principles foster patience, empathy, and understanding. He applies these in all interactions, from driving in traffic to managing personal relationships. 

Al-Anon’s principles can provide comprehensive guidance, extending to aspects like financial responsibility and family life. Kate, a listener, shares how she applies program principles to her handling of finances, balancing self-support with prudent reserve, directly influenced by Al-Anon’s traditions and concepts of service.

David, another listener, asks the question “What are these principles?” While we cannot provide a comprehensive answer, we do know that the principles include the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts of Service. We also reference a set of principles or virtues as laid out in the Alcoholics Anonymous book 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. These include Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Love, Discipline, Perseverance/Patience, Awareness, and Service.

Sharing the Message: An Act of Service

Eric and Spencer touch on the importance of sharing their experiences to aid newcomers. While initial participation in Al-Anon might be prompted by a crisis, growth within the program hinges on the willingness to carry its message forward. As part of our commitment, we both have engaged in service beyond personal recovery, through activities like podcasts and public outreach, aimed at connecting with those yet to discover Al-Anon.

A Life of Promise and Hope

As we conclude our exploration, we reflect on the unexpected opportunities and connections brought about by living out these steps. Eric’s narrative illustrates that, even after experiencing loss, one can chart new dreams and embrace life's changes positively. We hope that our discussion ultimately invites listeners to consider how Al-Anon’s spiritual principles can convert trials into triumphs, highlighting the program’s enduring promise of hope, transformation, and serenity for all its members. 

Readings and Links

We read from How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics, Chapter 8, section “Step 12”, pp 63-65.

We read an excerpt from Courage To Change, Jan 26, p. 26.

A blog post on the principles or virtues in the AA “12 & 12” is here.

Eric brought a poem, titled “I asked God”. There are many variants of this poem on the internet, and I am not able to tell which is “the original.” Here is the text as Eric read it, and a TikTok video featuring Anthony Hopkins reading it.

Contact us

Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecovery.show with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.

Transcript

Music from the Show

Van Morrison – Into The Mystic
Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Southern Cross

A couple listeners sent us songs that speak to them in their recovery.

Shinedown – Monsters (from Ray)
Dolly Parton – Broken Angels (from Pete)

2 comments on “Step 12: A Journey into Spiritual Awareness – 439

  1. Eric B says:

    From somewher in our readers.

    “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Some attribute to Einstein. Other do not. Eather way, I choose to believe that latter..

    Eric B.

  2. Beth B says:

    This might be my favorite episode so far! How awake can I get? I love that idea as a spiritual goal. I have come to believe that every time I gain deeper understanding of something or have an A-Ha moment, that is a spiritual awakening.
    I wanted to pass on a couple of things that may be helpful for the show links. The poem Eric read, “I Asked God” was originally written by Claudia Minden Weisz and published in 1980. She grew up in an alcoholic home and wrote the poem about her faith and resilience during difficult times.
    I also wanted to respond to David’s email about our principles. I couldn’t believe the timing of this episode and his email…. Was it odd or was it God? I attend a meeting in which we read from our book “Having Had a Spiritual Awakening. The book has been out of print for some time, but my group Is fortunate enough to have secured enough copies to have on hand for our meeting (It’s currently available electronically in the Al-Anon bookstore). We just met on the principles found in the back of the book, so they were fresh in my mind, and I wanted to share them with you and pass on to David if appropriate. I’ve included the citation at the bottom.

    The Working Principles of Al-Anon
    The basic ideas of Al-Anon, like those of Alcoholics Anonymous, are as old as recorded history. They are the concepts on which all spiritual philosophies are based. These elements are:
    Acknowledgment of our dependence on a Supreme Being. Love for our fellow man and recognition of his dignity and value. Awareness of the need to improve ourselves through self-appraisal and admitting to our faults.
    Belief in the effective spiritual power of true personal humility and conscious gratitude.
    Willingness to help others.
    The working philosophy of Al-Anon is a pattern for right living, for overcoming difficulties and for helping us to achieve our aspirations.We come into Al-Anon to solve the specific problem of alcoholism and its disastrous effect on our lives. We apply the basic spiritual ideas by means of what we call the Twelve Steps. These are reinforced by the Twelve Traditions, by the Serenity Prayer and by a group of concepts known simply as the Slogans.”

    Excerpt From
    Having Had a Spiritual Awakening
    Al-Anon Family Groups
    https://books.apple.com/us/book/having-had-a-spiritual-awakening/id615774610
    This material may be protected by copyright.

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