NA Way of Life: Chapter 1

"Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity."

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Tradition One

AOur common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity.@

Throughout the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, each member is but a small part of a much greater whole. NA must continue to live, for without the recovery born of this fellowship, many of us would surely face the alternatives of jails, institutions, dereliction, and death. It is in the spirit of unity that we are offered freedom from active addiction by collectively practicing the principles of NA=s Twelve Steps in our daily lives. Our meetings, and our groups, are the forum by which one addict works with another, freely giving what was so freely given to us.

The spirit of unity is born through identification and empathy. Identification ‑ a conscious awareness of our common [fellow=s] thoughts, feelings, and problems, is our initial connection. Empathy - the emotional insight [association] and spiritual bonds, compliments that connection. [as] They become our primary vehicles of communication [together] where words leave off [all others are lost], this is our language. It is with this language that a member can suddenly stop sharing in a meeting, begin to shed tears or choke up[cry], and as the room grows quite, words no longer need be used. In this environment of unique love and concern, [like no other], our message is still being carried and understood by all members present. Part of the proof of this is when non-members are present and later say they didn=t >get it.=

In Narcotics Anonymous, individual welfare is held nearly [equally] as important as our common welfare. Though our common welfare comes first, we continue to enhance our individual welfare by offering each member as much dignity and respect as any other. [One of the most important concepts of] Unity comes from understanding and maintaining a similar sense of surrender and humility. This ideal is found when we place ourselves rightly [and relatively] in respect to God and the people around us, thereby[fore] creating a fellowship. The word fellowship, by its very nature, implies a body of equals, none of any greater or lesser value in NA. This equality may be the key to our unity. We don=t like bosses, especially when they have done nothing to earn or maintain our respect. We have found that the spirit of recovery resides equally in all who can share their pain and desire for recovery.

Each member, by their own conscience, will bears both the burden of labor and enjoy the fruit of harvest[, if they so desire]. We have no rulers, governors, or managers; no member can be punished or expelled. A group of members is neither greater than the individual, nor is any individual member greater than a group. This concept is complimented by the simplicity of having only one membership requirement. Our Ninth Tradition protects us from having [implementing, or suggestions implying,] rules for conformity. Sharing our pain and desire for recovery is what makes us surrender - and surrender makes us members. Tradition Two removes the threat of appointing people who rule by title to enforce such rules. Our leaders lead by example. Our unity is simply maintained from the understanding and application of all Twelve Traditions, here each tradition compliments the others.

The fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous is a society, or culture, like few others in the world today. There are no masters or rulers demanding obedience, only leaders and servants inviting respect. Though some [this may seem difficult to understand in a world accustomed to societies] are organized by [relative,] economic or geographic boundaries; ours is based on the actions we take today. [simply not so.] NA is made of up people with a common problem - addiction, and a common solution - The Twelve Steps. [Unlike the others,] NA members need no human authority to maintain order; the punishment we give ourselves through a relapse is far greater than any government could ever order. Each member will eventually begin living the principles necessary to ensure their daily reprieve.

The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, as implemented in the lives of each of our members, are often viewed as his or her personal recovery. Our spiritual connection with each other=s personal recovery creates one of the strongest bonds holding us together. Eventually, every member who has suffered the horrors of addiction and gains hope of recovery, understands the necessity and vitality of a spiritual way of life. As this awakening of the spirit occurs and flourishes, [so does] it is reflected in our unity. As we apply the Twelve Steps in our lives as a design for living, we open the door to humility. Our need for false pride and ego is replaced by skill and ability.

Generally compliance or noncompliance with any of the principles in NA is [a matter best] left to the conscience of each individual, as influenced by his or her understanding of God=s will. Major disruption or causing harm to fellow members is not allowed. With this in mind, we are free to practice acceptance, patience, and tolerance towards one another. The unity called for in our First Tradition is threatened when our principles are compromised by fear of diversity. Our diversity is our strength, the broader our base the higher our point of freedom. Whenever we do not accept others as they are [and attempt to exert our will on them to conform, it is often] we[, who] are doing harm to the unity of our fellowship. [the greater harm.] Because of the nature of our disease, we are vigilant to keep our meetings safe for addicts seeking recovery. Each group has its own conscience.

Tradition One asks us to overlook the differences that may divide us and focus on our common identity as unified and equal members of a greater whole. It is through this commonality that one learns that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each part has its own uniqueness, a difference necessary to fit exactly where God had intended it, just for today.

Our common welfare hinges not so much on our ability to impose uniformity as it does with every individual member=s willingness to surrender any defect standing standing in the way of unconditional love and acceptance of our fellows. Unity is love, family, and the NA way of life. Working together to love one another, we have a better chance at helping the next suffering addict stop using, loose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.

TRADITION 1

"Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity."

The willingness to work this tradition comes as a direct result of the spiritual awakening that I experienced by working and applying the 12 steps to my life, on a daily basis, to the best of my ability. Previously, I had read most of the traditions and have attended a few tradition meetings. Nevertheless, I could not understand what purpose the traditions would serve, other than some basic guidelines that would at least keep the chaos to a reasonable level so that a regular calendar of area NA events would be possible.

I could not comprehend the concept of common welfare or unity initially because I could not see past my own personal agenda. My experiences with other 12 step fellowships had been negative. When I began to see and feel what recovery was like in NA, I would hear people speak and share at meetings and say things that where contradictory to the way I worked my program and they were just wrong misinformed people. I would get very upset and I would think of ways to be even more outrageous than they were. I would go to a meeting only to feel alone and different from most or all of the people in the meeting, I felt isolated and unique in some meetings. I sensed that this was a dangerous state of mind. I made a conscience effort to focus on the similarities rather than the differences and that diversity can be our strength. However, lives do hang in the balance.

My primary purpose is to stay clean and increase the quality of my life, mentally, physically and spiritually to be happy, joyous and free. I can only keep what I have by giving it away and I cannot give it to myself. Therefore, without the group and its members I am doomed. The groups support NA as a whole. I can well understand why a worldwide fellowship is vital to the individual member�s survival. I have attended meetings in other countries and in other states and did not feel alone. NA was there and I was welcomed. I can go anywhere in the world and I have nothing to fear.

We suffer from a common affliction. More importantly, we have found a common solution; NA. If we truly believe in NA and that our personal recoveries depend on NA, then NA must survive. A spirit of unity on a foundation of goodwill should guide the individual members in their personal conduct, as well as exercising their point of view at the group level or any other NA service position, see past their own personal objectives, and consider the affects on the group and NA as a whole.

I apply this tradition by slowing down in the moment and ask myself is what you are about to say in the spirit of unity and on a foundation of goodwill? Is what I am about to say intended to polarize the group and cause people to take sides? On the other hand, am I just trying to make some one that I do not like or disagree with look stupid? Am I considering the addict that has yet to walk through the door here or on the other side of the world? What would someone think if it was their first meeting? Would that person feel unconditional love in spite of whom they are? If I contemplate these questions carefully before I speak or interact with others, my part in NA unity and our common welfare will be preserved.

John H
Queens, New York - May 22, 2006

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Reprinted from the
Narcotics Anonymous Way of Life
2006 Form being edited on this site.

N.A. FELLOWSHIP USE ONLY
Copyright � December 1998
Victor Hugo Sewell, Jr.

N.A. Foundation Group
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All rights reserved. This draft may be copied by members of Narcotics Anonymous for the purpose of writing input for future drafts, enhancing the recovery of NA members and for the general welfare of the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship as a whole. The use of an individual name is simply a registration requirement of the Library of Congress and not a departure from the spirit or letter of the Pledge, Preface or Introduction of this book. Any reproduction by individuals or organizations outside the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous is prohibited. Any reproduction of this document for personal or corporate monetary gain is prohibited.