Summary: <br> What are the four primary ideas? How have they been active in my recovery?.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * We are powerless over the problem of alcoholism.<br> <br> * Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Admitting my powerlessness freed me to come to Al-Anon<br> <br> <br> <br> * It took many events to bring true acceptance of my powerlessness<br> <br> <br> <br> * I could not find serenity and peace in my life until I accepted my powerlessness<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * We can turn our lives over to a Power greater than ourselves.<br> <br> * Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.<br> <br> <br> <br> * I don’t have to do it alone.<br> <br> <br> <br> * The groups and the literature are a source of help / new ideas / tools.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.<br> <br> <br> <br> * I discovered that if I listen, if I pay attention, I will get guidance.<br> <br> * “Still, small voice”<br> <br> <br> <br> * Other members<br> <br> <br> <br> * “coincidences” <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * The phrase “care of” God is important to me.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * We need to change both our attitude and our actions.<br> <br> * What attitudes did I need to change?<br> <br> * I know what is best for my loved one.<br> <br> <br> <br> * It is my duty to “fix” other people.<br> <br> <br> <br> * If I can’t, I am a failure.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * What actions came from those attitudes?<br> <br> * All the things I did to try to convince her to stop drinking<br> <br> <br> <br> * Raging<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * But also,<br> <br> * I’m not allowed to be happy unless others are happy.<br> <br> <br> <br> * It is selfish to do things I want to do, if others don’t want to do those things<br> <br> <br> <br> * My well-being is dependent on my loved ones’ well-being.<br> <br> <br> <br> * I need your approval to know that I am a good person.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * And what actions came from those attitudes?<br> <br> * Putting others' needs and wants ahead of mine.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Not knowing my own needs and wants.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Not doing things that I want to do<br> <br> <br> <br> * Approval seeking<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * We keep Al-Anon’s gifts by sharing them with others.<br> <br> * You were there for me!<br> <br> <br> <br> * When I listen to you, I hear my own experience. (“How is that you are living inside my head?!”) This won’t happen if I’m not in a meeting or talking with another member.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Being a sponsor required that I dig deeper into my own recovery.<br> <br> <br> <br> * Sharing my own ESH reminds me of where I came from and how much progress I have made. It inspires me to keep on working.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Readings and Links<br> <br> <br> <br> We read from the <a href="https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/">2022–2025 Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual</a>, p. 20, “Four Primary Ideas”<br> <br> <br> <br> Upcoming topics<br> <br> <br> <br> You can contribute to our annual gratitude episode. What are you grateful for today? Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email <a href="mailto:feedback@therecoveryshow.com">feedback@therecovery.show</a> with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Music from the Show<br> <br> <br>
