I've been going to meetings for awhile, I'll be sober 6 months on the 6th of june, but I still can't bring myself to share, there is so much that I've learned from just listening, but they say you must share inorder to stay sober. I don't understand that I don't want to keep coming back to meetings I want to stay, someone please give me advise on this.
hello there i am in another 12 step program and when you feel comfortable sharing you will know. i am not a big sharer yet myself, however i do talk to my sponser daily and work the steps. dont worry about what others may think, just keep coming back. congratulations on 6 months!!
take care
carol
take care
carol
Thank you Carol, sometimes I think the people are just waiting for me to talk since I've been going to that one for awhile, but I guess your right, when the time is right I will no it. I don't have a sponsor yet but am still looking for the one who has what I want, I'm working the first 3 steps and ask my god to give me strength everyday to help me get though another day and I found that getting on my knees to pray has strenghten my faith. Again Thank You
Hi Whitekitty.
I dont know how the meetings are run where youre at because there are a few different formats.
But here in Sydney at our open meetings people are ask to share there stories in a general way. What it was like .What happened and what it is like now.
And when I first started going to meetings I would look for the biggest person in the room and sit behind them so the person chairing the meeting wouldnt see me.
I had no self esteem and still had a lot of fear and the thought of sharing I guess terrified me. It was suggested to me to make up my mind before I went into the room whether to share or not so I didnt have to sit there and worry if I was going to be ask to share or not.
But if I was ask, to stand and identify .My name is lionel and I am an alcoholic / addict. Then say not to nite and sit down. And this helped me get over my low self-esteem and fear.
One day when I was ask to share I did and havent stopped.
"Give Time Time."You know I believe thats why God gave us two ears and one mouth He probably wanted us to listen twice as much as we spoke. LOL. There are some Paradoxes in AA.You have to give it away to keep it. You have to surrender to win. You have to let go to hang on. But this all takes time.
In order to stay sober we dont pick up that first drink or drug .and eventually do something about the program. Which are the 12 steps? Find a Higher Power and Hopefully find a sponsor. There are no Bosses in AA the highest you can reach is servant. Very humbling.
I have found I am not responsible for what others think of me thats there business .I am only responsible for what I think of me.
And that people that matter dont mind. And people that mined dont matter.
I hope I havent confused you to much.
Congratulations on your six months. Keep coming back.
Your Wanted, Needed and LovedGod Bless
I dont know how the meetings are run where youre at because there are a few different formats.
But here in Sydney at our open meetings people are ask to share there stories in a general way. What it was like .What happened and what it is like now.
And when I first started going to meetings I would look for the biggest person in the room and sit behind them so the person chairing the meeting wouldnt see me.
I had no self esteem and still had a lot of fear and the thought of sharing I guess terrified me. It was suggested to me to make up my mind before I went into the room whether to share or not so I didnt have to sit there and worry if I was going to be ask to share or not.
But if I was ask, to stand and identify .My name is lionel and I am an alcoholic / addict. Then say not to nite and sit down. And this helped me get over my low self-esteem and fear.
One day when I was ask to share I did and havent stopped.
"Give Time Time."You know I believe thats why God gave us two ears and one mouth He probably wanted us to listen twice as much as we spoke. LOL. There are some Paradoxes in AA.You have to give it away to keep it. You have to surrender to win. You have to let go to hang on. But this all takes time.
In order to stay sober we dont pick up that first drink or drug .and eventually do something about the program. Which are the 12 steps? Find a Higher Power and Hopefully find a sponsor. There are no Bosses in AA the highest you can reach is servant. Very humbling.
I have found I am not responsible for what others think of me thats there business .I am only responsible for what I think of me.
And that people that matter dont mind. And people that mined dont matter.
I hope I havent confused you to much.
Congratulations on your six months. Keep coming back.
Your Wanted, Needed and LovedGod Bless
Hi Carol it was good to read your post.God Bless
Hi,
You wrote "...must share inorder to stay sober. " I knew a man who didn't speak in meetings for 2 years. Just think if our traditions or steps said he MUST do that. He may not have had the chance at his 15+ years of sobriety.
Remember that some are sicker than others and although we may be sober, it doesn't mean that we're RIGHT! There is nothing in our literature (to my knowledge) that says you must share to stay sober. Maybe the person(s) who said this meant, you should "give it away" to stay sober. Try not to take what they said literally and keep "comin' back." And, if you find you don't like the context of that meeting, go to another one. Also, find a good sponsor who really understands the traditions of AA. If it was your sponsor who told you this, maybe they were just trying to get you out of your shell. Tell them you're not comfortable yet and that if they don't understand, it may be time for you to find another sponsor. No harm done. :-)
I don't know you...but I do, and you are loved!
Another Alkie
You wrote "...must share inorder to stay sober. " I knew a man who didn't speak in meetings for 2 years. Just think if our traditions or steps said he MUST do that. He may not have had the chance at his 15+ years of sobriety.
Remember that some are sicker than others and although we may be sober, it doesn't mean that we're RIGHT! There is nothing in our literature (to my knowledge) that says you must share to stay sober. Maybe the person(s) who said this meant, you should "give it away" to stay sober. Try not to take what they said literally and keep "comin' back." And, if you find you don't like the context of that meeting, go to another one. Also, find a good sponsor who really understands the traditions of AA. If it was your sponsor who told you this, maybe they were just trying to get you out of your shell. Tell them you're not comfortable yet and that if they don't understand, it may be time for you to find another sponsor. No harm done. :-)
I don't know you...but I do, and you are loved!
Another Alkie
