Addiction & Recovery

Stuart G

(38,726 posts) Sat Feb 28, 2015, 06:37 PM Feb 2015

"Tradition 3" at the heart of all 12 Step Programs.

I have been thinking about this one for a long time....The only requirement for membership is "a desire to stop drinking"..and "a desire to stop eating compulsively" so,?
. There are no dues or fees, and a person is accepted...period....You can choose your own higher power, or not choose. Work the steps quickly, slowly or very slowly. That is for you/me and the people I work with. Some people take years to "work" the program in a way that works ..That is ok,..why? because that is tradition 3

People we work with often "demand" we do it a certain way..We try, if we can't, then, try again. If we fail, we try again, that is ok, perhaps we change the people we work with..In my opinion, the best meetings accept all who desire to stop the addiction....period.... oh, if it were easy, it would be easy. It is not easy...

6 replies

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"Tradition 3" at the heart of all 12 Step Programs. (Original Post) Stuart G Feb 2015 OP

This is true, however, meeting vary in the degree to which they practice this tradition. NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #1

((brother)) irisblue Feb 2015 #2

At times Old Codger Feb 2015 #3

Well Said, and I agree with you.. Stuart G Apr 2015 #4

Hopefully the desire to get sober is enough Novara Apr 2015 #5

Good Point about the miracle happening. Stuart G May 2015 #6

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. This is true, however, meeting vary in the degree to which they practice this tradition.

Reply to Stuart G (Original post)

Sat Feb 28, 2015, 06:46 PM

Feb 2015

Go to some meetings and mention a different program, like rational recovery, and you might get shut down, stared at, ridiculed.

The same can happen at the mention of using principles from Cognitive Behavior or Dialectic Behavior theories.

Other meetings might be willing to talk about such things constructively.

Fortunately most cities have more than one meeting group and a comfortable one can usually be found.

As you say, we can change the people we work with.

irisblue

(34,155 posts)

2. ((brother))

Reply to Stuart G (Original post)

Sat Feb 28, 2015, 09:48 PM

Feb 2015

I have no answers. this day you checked in, and you have a desire, that is a big deal

Old Codger

(4,205 posts)

3. At times

Reply to Stuart G (Original post)

Sat Feb 28, 2015, 10:59 PM

Feb 2015

I have felt that I needed to change the people I worked with, tried different meetings/groups sometimes that was really what was needed, but a fair portion of the time it was really coming from someplace inside me and that was what was needed changing...

It is a simple program but it is not an easy program,regardless of your approach it takes a lot of hard work and willingness to face your personal demons, slow or fast whatever works.

Stuart G

(38,726 posts)

4. Well Said, and I agree with you..

Reply to Old Codger (Reply #3)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 04:00 AM

Apr 2015

"....it takes a lot of hard work and willingness to face your personal demons, slow or fast whatever works. "

Novara

(6,113 posts)

5. Hopefully the desire to get sober is enough

Reply to Stuart G (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 06:16 AM

Apr 2015

But it often isn't. Hopefully a person sticks around long enough to pick up some tools to use getting sober. Hopefully they stick around long enough to start doing the work, no matter hoe long it takes, no matter what road they take. Hopefully they stick around long enough for the miracle to happen.

Stuart G

(38,726 posts)

6. Good Point about the miracle happening.

Reply to Novara (Reply #5)

Mon May 4, 2015, 07:15 PM

May 2015

But so many of us believe that the "miracle" is like winning the lottery. The miracle in my opinion is staying sober, doing the work, making some great friends and trying to enjoy life each day, no matter what. And if we cannot enjoy, then we need to take it one moment at a time to get through. If it were really easy, everyone would stay sober. It is not easy.

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