Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.

Meditation on the 12 Traditions.


Whenever a 12-Step group is trying to decide how to proceed with group organizational procedures (such as the meeting format, or which meeting room to use, or how to organize expenses, etc.), the group usually does a meditation on the Twelve Traditions.  This can simply be some time spent in quiet reflection.

Whenever such topics come up, rather than endlessly debating ....  Instead I suggest that we all meditate on the 12 Traditions:
http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/files/PA_Traditions.html

... and meditate on each of them equally.

Can we reflect on the Traditions -- without any attachment to any particular point of view?  Just let the Voice of Higher Power guide us.

This is what most 12-Step Groups do when there are issues to be decided.

I will commit to letting go of all of my own preconceived notions and attachments -- and especially let go of my "self-will".

I will also own my part in causing controversy.   This is my effort to make amends.

My suggestion is for those who wish ... would be to meditate on the 12 Traditions for a few days, and not even think about organizational issues at all.

I have faith in Higher Power.

Often, after doing this, solutions will come to us.

Blessings,
movingalong
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[Editing to clarify that this thread was originally posted when we were trying to figure out a procedural matter.   I see now that the topic is actually universal, and not specific to any one event.  Fascinating.]
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Voice of Higher Power

What exactly is the "Voice of Higher Power"? Is it a religious concept?

My concern is that there seems to be a contradiction between Tradition 3 ("The only requirement for P.A. membership is a desire to stop procrastinating"), and Tradition 2 ("For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority").

It seems to exclude the non-religious, while professing not to.

If God helps you, all power to you, I will not interfere. But, like Bertrand Russell, some of us simply cannot believe in God.

Procrastination is an affliction that paralyses the non-religious and religious alike. And the non-religious and religious alike, I believe, can have the compassion and understanding to help others regardless of the faith/non-faith of the afflicted.

I think Tradition 1 affirms my point: personal recovery depends upon P.A. unity.

HiPo

this has to be one of my favorite threads.

I come from a religious tradition, which i questioned for 10 years, and eventually came back to, not because it was the best answer, but because i couldnt find anything better.

Reading some of the Big Book which Moving has posted links to the online version of (that's not correct grammar, oh well) i was struck, profoundly, about how Bill S extracted this nugget from religion and shared it with all. Step 1-3 are extremely vague, but they contain one HUGE concept: deference of self for Something Greater. As Grail so aptly put, it's when we strive for Something Greater that we're willing to lose our selves, and it's the losing of our selves which appears to be the secret ingredient for recovery.

My experience is that once i've given up myself, it's the crack in the armor, the leak in the dam, that allows me to get over the hump and start using the tools to overcome the dread, the overwhelming feeling, the stuck negative cycle, and start on a positive cycle.

Now i often would prefer to put some doctrinal and/or theological meat on those Higher Power bones, but it's not necessary, and it's not central. I was struck, again, at how when i look at my own particular spiritual practice, at how that loss of self into god is such a central theme. Bill W doesnt know me, how could he have plucked out something so personal, so deep with me? It's enuf to believe we are all truly connected in some fundamental way.

But, the other thing about 12 steps is we "share our experience strength and hope" and this excerpt from the 12 step meeting format: "we would like to remind you that the opinions expressed here were strictly those of the individual who gave them. Take what you like and leave the rest.".

That basically says that i'm free to experience this 12 step recovery in a very personal way, and to share that, and it is only one person sharing their own personal experience. Some may benefit. Some may not. Same with all the people who share with us here. Some i benefit from more than others.

That just seems like the perfect interplay of the very personal and particular with the very public and generic. That seems simply brilliant to me. To this day, i just sit back in awe. Again it is easy for me to believe that the founders were truly inspired. It has the mark of god in it, which is another of those personal spiritual feelings that this one particular member gets.

Take what you like and leave the rest.

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http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1114#comment-23050

re: P.A. Unity ... and "higher power"

I wrote something about "higher power" on another thread.   The thread-header is rather long, as it mentions excerpts of various books, but partway through it, there is a section that starts with the words
    If you are uncomfortable with the word "God"
http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1432

Perhaps that was my way of reaching out in the spirit of P.A. Unity, in that I was reaching out to various philosophical viewpoints, and showing that we can all find our own ways of interpreting Twelve Step concepts.

Higher Powers

Well,
the whole 'Higher Power' thing it's been taken from AA, you can find many further explanations of the principle from Athiest AA'ers (AAA'ers?), and don't let ideas of god botherers bother you if they choose to substitute Higher power for God, and then occasionally phrase things thusways. It's whatever works for us.

I thought of listing my own notions for example, but that's not really the point, is it?

Anyway, from AAA'er material, several times I've seen the Higher Power defined as the collective wisdom, knowledge, and experience of AA'ers. I'm thinking you might have too? Phrasing it as the unity of AA'ers works just as well.

The Higher Power thing seems to stem (in my conception) from the idea that basically, many addicts are control freaks. They often won't tell anyone about their problems, or get help, because it's up to THEM that they 'fix' themselves.
But they can't.

The first thing to acknowledge, is that there's some things in the world, even some personal problems, bigger than what you can single-handedly solve yourself. You have to a) GIVE UP your unhealthy notions of control, and b) give yourself a break!

Paradoxically, by realising that there are some outside points that may, may I say, be more valuable than your own, you can allow yourself to try new options, solutions. To go back to old options you'd dismissed offhandedly. To seek the advice, experience and support of others.

And theren lies the paradox, because of course, by giving up the notion of control, we actually assume more control over our lives. Healthy control.

Damn, I totally went into a tangent there, apologies.

Anyway, reading movingalongs post when it happened, I viewed and regarded it as akin to the 'voice of inspiration'. It is the voice of whatever inspires us as a higher power (I'm sure we had someone who said it was the calm they felt viewing the pacific ocean?). For myself, I was considering it to be the Voice of experience and unity in PA. Were we taking the best actions for our recovery, and the group as a whole? I much appreciated it at the time, and tried to take the time to consider what my actions might be that would be most helpful, most beneficial, for the good of the group AND my recovery.

Control Freaks

Grail said :
 
The Higher Power thing seems to stem (in my conception) from the idea
that basically, many addicts are control freaks. They often won't tell
anyone about their problems, or get help, because it's up to THEM that
they 'fix' themselves.
But they can't. 
 
Amen.  
 
Jo
 
 
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C. S. Lewis

Grail, was helpful about HPs

Thanks for that Grail--I will reread it again.

For me this has been the hardest and most counterintuitive concept, yet moving towards it since joining here has been the first thing that gave me hope and let me experienc progress. I know that the will created my problems. the divided will drains energy, and this HP stuff, no matter how little I understand it, brings a glimpse of another way to make progress.

HP discussion

I did a quick internet search on AA for atheists and found an interesting comment.  I think it was on Yahoo answers but of course I cant' find it again today.  Anyway, it went something like this:

"If you are an addict, then you already answer to a higher power, and that is your addiction."

Not saying I agree with that but it's an interesting way to look at the whole resistance to the HP thing.

Jo  

 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 

There are non-theistic alternatives to AA

 One is called "SOS"--secular organization for sobriety I think--and there's another one, too, I'm pretty sure. They are conceived as 12-step-style programs for people who don't find benefit in the whole HP/God thing.

I emphasize that is NOT a problem for me and so I've never personally investigated these groups. For what it's worth...

 

The Hero's Code:

Show up. Pay Attention. Speak the Truth. Let Go of the Outcome.

What is HIgher Power?

If you choose to do the 12 steps, your Higher Power is what you believe in.  It could be the "higher" part of your own consciousness, or in the words of AA "God as we have come to understand Him".  

It's not necessary to do the 12 steps to participate here, there are plenty of tools and forums outside of the 12 steps here, and lots of cool, friendly, supportive people. 

Although those of us who have drunk the koolaid would probably say that a serious attempt at Step 1 would be beneficial for anyone :), it's totally your choice if you want to do them or not.  Use whatever tools you find here that are helpful to you.  No one will try to force you into the "program".

"Take what you need and leave the rest"

Jo

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." 

re: Meditation on the 12 Traditions

You're right, Moving...I hadn't seen this thread earlier, but now that I have, I think I'll take the time to steer clear of the topic and just medidate on the 12 traditions. *hugs*

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson

i'll med on the 12 trad

mov, i join you in your faith in the Higher Power.  i will mediated on the 12.  It is a beautiful direction that you've steered us.  Our common goal of recovery.  But i dont want to say too much until i do what you said, and meditate on the 12 traditions for a few days, and let the Higher Power speak to me.  so i'll be quiet now and listen.

Thanks, again.

> 1. Our common welfare

> 1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon P.A. unity.

This is very important to me.  Unity.  I think we all here want that.  An elusive quality in human groups.  I am willing to give up what i feel like might be the "better" chat for the sake of Unity.


> 2. For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as may be expressed in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

I am totally willling to follow this, but i think knowing god's will is difficult.  "Our group conscience..." that's a clear thing when we all agree.


> 3. The only requirement for P.A. membership is a desire to stop procrastinating.

i love how this encourages us to welcome all to the site, regardless of any characteristic.  I think we do this and i'm proud of us.


> 5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the compulsive procrastinator who still suffers.

This builds on #3, and encourages me to interact with new people on this site, so that they know that they have an opportunity for recovery here.  I am so glad that so many here do this.


[the intervening ones area all about interacting w/ the outside world.  Our current matter seems to be an internal one.]


> 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

I understand anonymity, and cherish it for myself here.  I am not sure how to apply placing principles before personalities.  I'm not sure how anonymity is connected to principles before personalities.  Even tho we dont "know who each other are," you can still glean from people's posts something about their personalities.