God showed me that fear prevented me from experiencing healthy guilt. Guilt tells me I have done wrong. Fear also prevented me from feeling healthy shame. Shame is a slight embarrassment that others may see my wrongs. But fear primarily tried to stop me from experiencing toxic guilt and toxic shame. Toxic guilt tells me that because I have done wrong, I am less than. Toxic shame is the overwhelming feeling that tells me my very being is less than human, whether I do right or wrong. By taking the Steps, God removed my fear, toxic guilt, and toxic shame. The Steps allow me to experience healthy guilt and shame, and open me up to the reality of who I am and Whose I am.

In this edition, members share their understanding of fear, guilt, and shame and how God removed them. One member shares how shame is a form of pride. Another member describes perfectionism as the defect used to cover up shame. Doing a fear-to-faith inventory helps this member outgrow fear. We will explore how the solution, sometimes accompanied by professional help, moves us out of hiding and into the healing light of recovery, unity, and service.

In Fellowship,