Narcotics Anonymous Way of Life

~ 2008 Form ~

When It Works: 12 Basics

The Twelve Principles of Narcotics 
Anonymous

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Spiritual Principles Introduction (NA Way of Life Group Conscience-6-20-08 to 7-11-08)

Spiritual Principles Pamphlet Introduction

The spiritual principles in this informational pamphlet are a gift.  They are given to an addict, any addict willing and unwilling alike, who through grace is given freedom from the bondage of active addiction.    It has been our experience that members who get a sponsor and work the twelve steps are able to receive this gift.

Although we acquire these principles over a period of time, it is crucial that we start with some fortune from our higher power.  It is not an accident that we find ourselves at our first meeting of Narcotics Anonymous.  It is usually at this meeting that we are introduced to the spiritual principle of hope for the first time.    This is why it is crucial to make the atmosphere of recovery match our primary purpose.  We must make absolutely certain that our groups make the newcomer feel welcome within the first few moments that they enter the room.  In Narcotics Anonymous, we save the lives of other addicts by making sure the same atmosphere that attracted us to the rooms is present for the next newcomer.  The essence of NA is making the group suit the needs of the newcomer.    The reason why we say the newcomer is the most important person at the meeting is because they are.   

After walking into our first Narcotics Anonymous meeting, we hopefully hear the lifesaving message shared by various members of the group.  During this time, we might actually spend a few brief moments forgetting about our obsessive desire to use.  This is the first time we experience the spiritual principle of hope.  After listening and watching other addicts who have stayed clean for some time, we begin to think that maybe we too can stay clean.  For the newcomer, seeing is believing.  When we see other addicts staying clean, we can believe that maybe this too can happen to us.   We soon discover how these addicts have been staying clean and finding a new way of life.  We hear for the first time that the answers are in the steps.  We hear that the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonymous are the key to finding this new way of life. 

We must also experience the spiritual principles of surrender and willingness if we plan to get on the journey with the rest of the members that are clean.  We must ask a member of Narcotics Anonymous to be our sponsor so we can be guided through the twelve steps.  It we do not take this crucial step, we will eventually go back to where we came from.  The spiritual principle called surrender must be present if we are to ask for help.  We must be open to the idea that we can not stay clean alone so we must seek help.  We must also be physically willing to go up to another person and ask them to sponsor us.  Our journey towards freedom from active addiction begins when we surrender and find the willingness to get a Narcotics Anonymous sponsor to guide us through the steps.  It is through this process that we can acquire the remaining principles mentioned in this IP.  Our purpose for writing this IP is to give more information on the spiritual principles we are trying to obtain when working the steps.  We have come to understand in Narcotics Anonymous that we are powerless over our addiction,  however, we are not powerless over what we do to recover.  Knowledge is power.  We hope to provide addicts with more knowledge on the spiritual principles mentioned in step twelve of our basic text. 

As a result of obtaining some of the spiritual principles embedded in the steps, the addict starts to handle problem situations with integrity.   They take the spiritual principles obtained and apply them to their life.  This process allows less time to be spent on the problem and more time to be spent on helping other addicts and enjoying life.  Applying the spiritual principles discussed in this IP does more than just helping the addict, it helps everyone the addict associates with.   We begin to feel bad when addicts are speaking negatively about another member.   Instead of chiming in, they share their experience, strength, and hope about the pain they felt after speaking negatively about another addict.  They share that usually the same character defect they were accusing another addict of having happened to be the same one they were struggling with themselves.      They begin to tell the truth even when it makes them look bad.   They start to feel the program of Narcotics Anonymous in their heart.

Another result that comes from living the spiritual principles in our lives is ability to love another addict unconditionally.    The addict starts to develop empathy towards other addicts that are having a difficult time.    The miracle of empathy happens when an addict feels the heart of another sick and suffering addict in their own.   Empathy is demonstrating the love for another addict through action.  Instead of just feeling love for another addict who is sick and suffering,   we use the principles obtained through working the twelve steps and take our love a step further.  We demonstrate through action that they too can get clean, loose the desire to use, and find a new way of life.  We hug the addict and tell them that we love them.  We stay after the meeting and discuss things that helped us stay clean.  We exchange phone numbers so the addict has people to call if they need help.  We review the meeting schedule so the addict knows the next place and time a meeting is taking place.  Most importantly, we let the still sick and suffering addict know that we are there to help in anyway possible.  It�s no wonder that as our understanding and application of the twelve steps grows, so does our understanding and application of the twelve principles mentioned in step twelve of our basic text and discussed in the NA Way of Life.    We start to understand that all of the spiritual principles discussed in this pamphlet are used together to help make more dreams come true.   The spiritual principles acquired in Narcotics Anonymous help move addicts from the problem into the solution.   The following spiritual principles can be used by addicts to help their dreams come true too.   With a continued commitment to working the steps with a sponsor, the spiritual principles mentioned in this IP will start to become more than just a part of an addict�s life, they will become the foundation for a new way of life beyond our wildest dreams!  

 [from Connecticutt 7.30.08]

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Reprinted from the 
Narcotics Anonymous Way of Life, 
Traditions War: a pathway to peace,
The Spirit of NA 
or NA Twenty Plus
being edited on this site.

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

NA Foundation Group
6685 Bobby John Road Atlanta, GA 30349 USA
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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.