“We entertained the thought that staying clean was not paying off and the old thinking stirred up self-pity, resentment, and anger.”– Basic Text, page 98 In recovery, it’s natural to
“The relief of ‘letting go and letting God’ helps us develop a life that is worth living.”– Basic Text, page 26 In active addiction, many of us clung tightly to
“As we begin to function in society, our creative freedom helps us sort our priorities and do the basic things first.”– Basic Text, page 83 Recovery brings new opportunities—careers, relationships,
“If [character defects] contributed to our health and happiness, we would not have come to such a state of desperation.”– Basic Text, page 34 The Sixth and Seventh Steps of
As we navigate the complexities of life, it’s easy to get caught up in our past regrets or anxieties about the future. For those in recovery, particularly those who have
“…we could feel time, touch reality, and recognize spiritual values long lost to many of us.”– Basic Text, page 85 Addiction often leads us to compromise our values and abandon
“Although ‘politics makes strange bedfellows,’ as the old saying goes, addiction makes us one of a kind.”– Basic Text, page 84 In the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous, we encounter a
“Everything we know is subject to revision, especially what we know about the truth.”– Basic Text, page 91 Many of us entered recovery convinced that we understood “The Truth.” We
“Praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”– Step Eleven For many of us, prayer feels unfamiliar when we first come to
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”– Serenity Prayer Recovery
“We did not choose to become addicts.”– Basic Text, page 3 No one dreams of becoming an addict. As children, we imagined futures filled with possibility—family, careers, and meaningful experiences.
“With the love that I am shown in Narcotics Anonymous, I have no excuse for loneliness.”– Basic Text, page 262 Addiction isolates us. Even when surrounded by people, the emotional
“Words cannot describe the sense of spiritual awareness that we receive when we have given something, no matter how small, to another person.”– Basic Text, page 100 The world can
“When we admit that our lives have become unmanageable, we don’t have to argue our point of view… We no longer have to be right all the time.”– Basic Text,
“Our best thinking got us into trouble… Recovery is an active change in our ideas and attitudes.”– Basic Text, page 53 In active addiction, the world often felt intolerable. We
“Before we got clean, most of our actions were guided by impulse. Today, we are not locked into this type of thinking.”– Basic Text, page 87 In active addiction, many
“We emphasize setting our house in order because it brings us relief.”– Basic Text, page 93 In recovery, it’s tempting to focus on the flaws and actions of others as
“We suspect that if we do not use what we have, we will lose what we have.”– Basic Text, page 75 In active addiction, our lives were dominated by destructive
“As recovering addicts, we find that we are still dependent, but our dependence has shifted from the things around us to a loving God and the inner strength we get
“Projections about actually making amends can be a major obstacle both in making the list and in becoming willing.”– Basic Text, page 38 Making amends is a critical part of
“Many of us have difficulty admitting that we caused harm to others… We cut away our justifications and our ideas of being a victim.”– Basic Text, page 37 Recovery brings
“We have learned from our group experience that those who keep coming to our meetings regularly stay clean.”– Basic Text, page 9 One of the most vital elements of recovery
“When we first begin to enjoy relief from our addiction, we run the risk of assuming control of our lives again. We forget the agony and pain that we have
“Our egos, once so large and dominant, now take a back seat because we are in harmony with a loving God. We find that we lead richer, happier, and much
“We grasp the limitless strength provided for us through our daily prayer and surrender as long as we keep faith and renew it.”– Basic Text, page 44 Recovery is a
“We learn that pain can be a motivating factor in recovery.”– Basic Text, page 29 Pain is often seen as something to avoid, a source of suffering that serves no
“Hopeless living problems have become joyously changed. Our disease has been arrested, and now anything is possible.”Basic Text, page 102 Embracing Freedom in Recovery The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) program has
“We examine our actions, reactions, and motives. We often find that we’ve been doing better than we’ve been feeling.”Basic Text, page 42 The Connection Between Actions and Feelings The way
The steps offer “a big change from a life dominated by guilt and remorse. Our futures are changed because we don’t have to avoid those who we have harmed. As
“These defects grow in the dark and die in the light of exposure.”Basic Text, page 31 The Power of Secrets The Fifth Step of Narcotics Anonymous asks us to share