Tradition Six
Our Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim. Although a separate entity, we should always co‑operate with Alcoholics Anonymous.
Please share your experience, strength, and hope as it relates to Tradition 6. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
Tradition Six redirects my focus to remind me that our primary spiritual aim is to help families of alcoholics. One way I am able to practice this Tradition is by showing my support at AA conventions and open AA speaker meetings. When I joined Al-Anon, I was hesitant to attend any events which were held or hosted by AA. I felt like my entire life prior to Al-Anon had been centered around my alcoholics and the effects of alcoholism on myself and my family, and I did not think I had any more of myself to give to the disease.… Read more »
The Steps helped me get an understanding of how I am affected by the family disease of alcoholism. Studying the Traditions has given me a deeper understanding, especially in my relationship with another person. I was humbled to realize that almost all my decisions were based on prestige, property, and money. I was also made aware, studying Tradition Six, how easily I can get distracted; not just from my primary purpose in Al-Anon but almost in every other situation I was in, especially if it was a conflict and I needed to state my opinion. The last statement, “we should… Read more »
Tradition Six helped me getting back to the reality of living by focusing on important things in my life. Before coming to Al-Anon, and for a while after, I was scatter brain and going in all directions. I was not paying much attention to my well-being in general. It is into starting to recover that I realised that I was very distracted by all kinds of things and that I was more focused on others than on myself. I finally realised that I had to pay attention to myself and to my needs, by slowing down and giving all areas… Read more »
This is (naturally) a good follow-up to the 5th Tradition. The 5th Tradition encourages me to say “yes” to my purpose. The 6th Tradition clarifies that it is ok to say “no” to everything else. This is about Focus. I am more likely to achieve my priorities if I am able to say “no” to distractions.
How does Tradition Six apply to my life? I must at all time see that what is good for my individual and spiritual growth remains the priority in my life. For example, before I get involved in a project I have to see if this will be beneficial to my recovery and if this is really what I wanted to do and/or need to do. There comes the wisdom to know the difference!!!!! I must avoid to get distracted and even troubled by external things. I must bring myself back to my primary goal which is my recovery from the… Read more »
Tradition Six has been important to me by teaching me to be more discreet and tactful. I was one to get attention by sharing with others my problems and my bad lucks in life, ignoring that some of those sharings could be affecting negatively those around me. I wanted attention and support, but didn’t go correctly about it. I was ignoring my primary aim, which should have been the wellbeing of my family and the people surrounding me. By lacking discretion and tact, I was making them part of a situation in which they should not have found themselves in.… Read more »
Tradition Six invites me to be part of a group that is not seeking money, property or prestige. Tradition Six helps guide me and my fellow members in the pursuit of our primary purpose – to help families of alcoholics. We are a spiritual fellowship, an organization based on and rooted in spiritual principles. While the rest of the world may need to operate from other standpoints, here in Al-Anon I can practice always choosing this spiritual basis as the fundamental aim of my life. Tradition Six helps me imagine being able to cooperate with others, to make choices, to… Read more »
I just read the June Forum on Tradition Six and I have a better understanding why my name, or the Al-Anon members and organization, should be valued – especially in regard to finances. My husband and I have purchased vehicles for our son and when he stopped making payments, we just paid the final cost and decided that that was just a gift. So the times when we helped one of our daughters with assisting her in paying off a credit card debt, we actually made money on interest, and she paid it off, and was responsible to follow-through. I… Read more »
Prior to Al-Anon, my primary purpose was people pleasing. This diverted me from my primary spiritual aim. With my values and priorities out of alignment, I caused great pain in my life. When I began the program, the first three meetings I attended each had the topic of prayer. I heard at each meeting that a minimum of an hour a day with our Higher Power was recommended and two hours a day if I’m going through an especially difficult circumstance. I was surprised to hear that. All I did was say grace before meals and go to church on… Read more »
Prior to Al-Anon, my focus was on everybody else, because I did not like what I saw when I put the focus on myself. I was distracted from my own life and this suited me well. Focusing on other people’s lives and choices, as well as outside issues was keeping me busy. Something else, that was a concern in my life, was money and prestige. I must admit that one of my most important aim in my life was to show what I possessed and the prestige that went along with it. Those superficial aims, that I established , brought… Read more »