How do you apply the principles of Abundance, Unity, and Understanding in your recovery journey?
April’s topic is, “The 2022 World Service Conference theme is ‘Enhancing our Recovery through Abundance, Unity, and Understanding.’ How do you apply these principles in your own recovery journey?”
As always, you can also write about Al-Anon’s three Legacies. This month features Step Four, Tradition Four, and Concept Four. Sharings on the Member Blog may be used in future Al-Anon publications. New topics are being added each month!
Abundance, Unity and Understanding. For me abundance is about knowing I have enough and that my needs will be met, rather than thinking in terms of scarcity and what I don’t have. Unity is coming together for a common thing, knowing we all have that thing’s best in mind. Unity allows us to flourish. And Understanding. I have to be careful with this one, in the past, I understood everything. Everything my former spouse, my parent, my child, my friend did, and because I understood I did not set boundaries or make others accountable. Today I know I can understand… Read more »
Abundance means that I have help wherever and whenever I need it with Al-Anon meetings, my sponsor, literature, and other group members. It means I no longer need to feel alone to deal with difficulties in my life. It means I can rely on others. I can ask for help. Unity reminds me that it is easier to be part of a team instead of always wanting to be the boss of the team. We can make decisions together and everyone has a voice. Understanding means that I have compassion for others and allow them to make their own decisions… Read more »
Abundance, Unity and Understanding are becoming clearer to me in the program as I recover and grow. As I better understand them and as they become more important to me I can better apply them to my life. I have received in Abundance from this program and the Abundance received has brought me to have a grateful heart. The Unity that exists in our fellowship, when we join together to achieve something, has given me a humble heart. The Understanding received by the members in trying times and the sympathy manifested have given an open heart. Today I have a… Read more »
Leaving my last name behind. – Thoughts on Unity Many years ago, decades even, before I got to know Al-Anon, I felt incredibly isolated. My reactions to my loved one’s alcoholism and addictions were making me physically ill. Because our work, family and social circles all overlapped, I felt there was no one I could talk to about this growing feeling of guilt, incapability and self-loathing, and my fears for my and the children’s safety. I believed I was responsible for everything and everybody, and despaired daily as I failed to meet these unreasonable expectations. Finally, while on the phone… Read more »
I like this question. Here’s what these principles mean to me. Please take what you like and leave the rest. “Abundance” brings to mind the value of learning to believe that whatever I have to give is enough. The first inspiration I received was in our local Al-Anon Information Service (AIS) newsletter. Once a quarter the newsletter included a list of groups that had sent donations to the AIS office and the amount donated. Some small groups sent $5. They were listed right along with the larger groups that contributed $100. I admired those small groups; they didn’t let the… Read more »