Originally posted by bettie
Originally posted by paul315
… I have yet to figure out what to say to my sponser …
Good evening Bettie,
Being right or wrong about an opinion is not important, the opinions of others do their best in getting other to think and encouraging to do what is right in their actions. You are now faced with another action that needs to be taken head on and will use the same source of my previous reply to respond to your new post.
A sponsor is some one to turn to, someone to listen to you without judgement, and is there to help you work out problems and follow a path that is already laid out. Ask her to help you in overcoming the character traits of a CG that are holding you back form being the person that you are meant to be; ask her to help you work the Steps which are a program of recovery. Perhaps giving a little more attention to the fearless inventory required of Step 4, in asking for for shortcomings to be removed in Step 7, and the ability to "Let go and let God" in working Step 11. All the steps are tied together in some fashion so in working these Steps "out-of-order" you are also working the others. (Hopefully there is not a presumed sequence and power-based demand of adherence of your sponsor to follow the Steps in order if you have not worked on these Steps before now — and with you being a member of GA over the past year, you have had to have worked on all the Steps in some fashion, and are now refining and enforcing the previous actions that you have taken. In my thinking, the only Step that needs to be taken in strict order is Step 1, and Step 12 does speak of "Having made an effort to practice these principles" giving advice about us not sacrificing our own recovery to try to help others. Even page 17 of the Combo Book that speaks of working the Steps, ask us to "Read the Steps often" and to "practice" them; there is no restrictions as to the order.)
I don’t think of these actions of being right or wrong, only a logical course to consider and take.
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep aware.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all , I will continue to remain gambling free.