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February 2nd’s “Just For Today” meditation offers profound insights into the transformative power of goodwill in the journey of recovery. It addresses the core spiritual malady of addiction—self-centeredness—and presents a pathway towards healing through service to others.
Addiction teaches us a skewed way of interacting with the world, where our desires and needs take precedence over everything and everyone else. This obsession with self, deeply ingrained in our behaviors and thoughts, forms the foundation of our addictive patterns. But recovery asks us to challenge and change these patterns by adopting spiritual principles that foster growth and healing.
Goodwill, as described in the Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, is the antithesis of self-centeredness. It’s not just a feeling or an attitude but a principle demonstrated through action—”Doing the right thing for the right reason.” This means shifting our focus from self-serving motives to the welfare of others. It’s about serving not because we expect recognition or reward, but because it’s the right thing to do. This shift doesn’t happen overnight but is a gradual process of learning and application.
How do we apply the principle of goodwill in our daily lives? It starts with the small choices we make every day. When interacting with others, we can practice thinking first of their comfort and well-being. In situations where we’re faced with moral decisions, we pause and consider what action would serve others best, recalling and applying spiritual principles to guide our choices.
This practice of serving others and prioritizing their welfare over our selfish desires initiates a profound change within us. It helps erode the stronghold of self-centeredness that addiction had built in our lives. As we continue to practice these principles, not just in isolated incidents but in all our affairs, we begin to experience true recovery. We transition from being controlled by our disease to living a life guided by the spirit of goodwill.
The journey from self-centeredness to goodwill is marked by a growing awareness of our place in the world and our relationship with others. This spiritual awakening allows us to see beyond our immediate desires and to understand the joy and fulfillment that come from serving others. It’s a testament to the power of the NA program and its principles in transforming lives.
Today, let us embrace the principle of goodwill. Let’s look for opportunities to serve others, to contribute positively to their lives without expecting anything in return. When faced with decisions, let’s choose the path that offers the most good for others. This commitment to doing the right thing for the right reason is what will keep us moving forward in our recovery, one day at a time.
Goodwill is not just a principle for recovery; it’s a principle for life. It teaches us that true happiness and peace come not from satisfying our desires, but from fulfilling the needs of others. Let this February 2nd be a reminder of the power of service and the transformative effect it can have on our lives and the lives of those around us.