Not Saints Yet
This member finds hope by not leaving out the possibility of one day becoming a saint. This morning in my meeting, we read from Chapter 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is occasionally referred to in AA meetings as “the preamble”.
Work, Work, Work, Work…
Without God, I can’t; Without me, God won’t (SA 96) In Step One, I admitted that I was powerless over lust and that my life was unmanageable.This is absolutely true, but my sponsor reminds me that I have to work my SA program.
Wisdom-to-Knowledge Ratio
Exercising the principles of the program daily produces a wisdom that knowledge alone can never provide.
Changing Me: Steps Six and Seven
He discovered that continuing to take Steps Six and Seven, he became more willing to have God remove his defects.
A Great Caution in Amends
While caution is suggested to the newcomer in the beginning of the White Book, similar caution can be found in abundance on Step Nine throughout our literature.
Daily Surrender, Steps 10-12
He learned the difference between white-knuckling (reliance on self) and true surrender (reliance on God). When I was still deep in my addiction, I thought I knew how to interact with women: I performed, I craved, I hunted for the thrill of being wanted.
Keep The Curtains Open
Taking a look at himself and sharing what he found let the light of recovery shine on his shame. An unknown SA member said, “If you want light, keep the curtains open. The curtains are made of selfishness.” I was not only driven by a hundred forms of fear, as the Big Book says, but also by a thousand forms of guilt and shame.
Recovery: My Way Out of Shame
Step Nine showed him how to proceed without putting himself down. I am Tim, from Brussels. I discovered I am a sexaholic about two years ago. After a summer of destructive acting out, a painful rock bottom, and therapy, it became clear that I needed help from a 12-Step program. It was a great relief. I have been addicted to lust since my teenage years without knowing it.
Not That Different
Hearing others share from their weakness helped him realize he was not alone. Hi, I’m Justin, I'm a grateful recovering sexaholic. I came to SA in 2019 when a priest friend introduced me to the Fellowship. I had just started a new job and it was summertime. He invited me to a meeting, gave me the SA White Book, and encouraged me to attend. At that first meeting, I heard other men share openly about their struggles—not just with masturbation and pornography, but with lust itself. I immediately felt connected. For the first time, I realized I wasn’t alone.
There I Am Also
Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. I began service in SA to practice leadership based on the principles and values I am learning from our 12-Step program and to learn a new sober way of life and functioning in the world. SA service means I am too focused on helping sexaholics find the Program and affirming them in their recovery.
