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This page contains excerpts from "How To Begin Living In The Solution,"
which is R.A.'s Newcomer Guide. You can preview the online version or
you can download a Free PDF version of the Guide that you can print
out yourself.
A Simple Idea:
The foundation of R.A.'s program is a simple idea—that there is a loving, caring, all-powerful God. Do not be concerned if you do not presently believe in or accept this concept. Fully working all Twelve Steps of this program produces results. It is these results—your own experiences—that will lead you to believe. No matter what your past or present beliefs may be; you have the freedom—the right—to experiment 5 with what we have found. A God who is "love, superhuman strength and direction" 6 —who "is concerned with us humans when we want Him enough" 7—who will do "for us what we could not do for ourselves" 8—who will "restore us to sanity."
A Practical Program
Of Action:
R.A. is a practical spiritual program of action. If you want the program to work for you, you need to immediately begin to work the program. One of the earliest descriptions of the program says: "You admit you are licked; you get honest with yourself; you talk it out with somebody else; you make restitution to the people you have harmed; you try to give of yourself without stint, with no demand for reward; and you pray to whatever God you think there is, even as an experiment."9 You pray for the "power to practice these precepts."10 These concepts, "broken up into smaller pieces,"11 now make up our Twelve Steps.
Progress Not Perfection:
Our program is "simple, but not easy."12 You will learn it as you practice using it in your daily life. By living our way of life, you will become better at it. However, do not expect to do any aspect of it perfectly. None of us work this program perfectly, and we have still recovered. "We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection."13 To duplicate what we have found you "must walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress. If you persist, remarkable things will happen."14
Getting Started:
The first thing to do to start working the R.A. program is to pray; even if you do not believe in God, or in the power of prayer—pray! Second, use the "Suggestions For The Daily Quiet Time,"18 on page 6 of R.A.'s Newcomer Guide. For examples of how to follow these suggestions, refer to "An Example Of The Daily Quiet Time," on page 8 of R.A.'s Newcomer Guide. Even if you already devote a part of your day to religious observance, or to prayer and meditation, follow these suggestions in addition. Some people call "The Daily Quiet Time,"15 "The Morning Quiet Time." However, experience has shown that the time of day you do it is not important. Some of us even split it into morning and evening sessions. What is important is to fully work all Twelve Steps. This means to consistently make having a "Daily Quiet Time" a priority in your day.
Getting Results:
As you pray and meditate, as you take the actions needed to work all Twelve Steps, it is important that you also try to start behaving sanely and normally. For example, if you are eating, drinking, gambling, smoking, spending, working, using, abusing, feeling depressed, dependent, etc., to a harmful extreme—pray! If someone is hurting you—pray! Especially at the moment of temptation—pray! Ask God to do for you what you have that used to baffle you. Pray for this so that you can bear witness to those you would help of God's power, love, and way of life. However, you won't know God's answer unless you also try to behave sanely. This is very different from the self–reliant, self–centered trying that didn't work in the past, because you are now throwing the responsibility for success upon God. Trust in this process. Trust that God is helping you. Keep on in this way, no matter how many times it may seem to fail. If you persist you will find, as you work all Twelve Steps, that you will, sooner or later, start reacting sanely and normally; and, if you continue to work this program each day for the rest of your life, you will find that your restoration to sanity—your recovery, will be permanent.
Sponsorship:
Within R.A., working with others is a vital part of the recovery process. In R.A., sponsors and sponsored meet as equals. They call each other "friend."16 There is no separate class or caste of sponsors. Therefore, for someone to become a sponsor within R.A., there are only two requirements. These are the desire to recover, and the need to help others. Ask someone to be your sponsor as soon as possible—working with you is vital to his or her recovery. Working with others is vital to your recovery. Become a sponsor and get a sponsor immediately. Within R.A., "Helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery."17
The Welfare Of Others:
An important part of
your recovery process is to begin to "place
the welfare of other people ahead of [your] own."18 The full implementation of the Twelve
Steps has restored us to sanity. Therefore, even those of us who had a
problem with "people pleasing," trust that we will now help others sanely,
based upon God's direction and guidance. This is very different from our
past attempts to control, manipulate, and obligate others by doing things
for them. One of our books reminds us that placing the welfare of others
ahead of our own "is the ceaseless and anonymous
triumph of a truly loving spirit. 'I shall pass through this world but
once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can
show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect
it, for I shall not pass this way again."'19
Meetings:
Fully working all Twelve Steps will produce your recovery. However, frequent attendance at R.A. Discussions is vital to the full development and maintenance of your recovery. Therefore, attend, participate in, and do service at as many R.A. Discussions as you can go to. This will help to take the focus off your problems. It will let you help others, and fulfill your obligation to be there "for the sake of the new man or woman who might walk through that door."20 Sometimes the existing R.A. Discussions are not convenient. If you would like to attend more meetings than are currently available in your area, please download R.A.'s free Start A Group Kit. It contains all you will need to start an R.A. Group and hold R.A. Meetings.
Introducing Ourselves:
The Big Book says that we should each introduce ourselves "as a person who has recovered."21 In R.A. we use the term "recovered" as a statement of fact. We also use it as a statement of hope. In other words—we use it as a positive affirmation of God's power to restore us to sanity. Therefore, many of us, even newcomers, introduce ourselves as having "recovered, by God's grace,22 through this Twelve Step program of recovery." Others introduce themselves as "living in the solution, by God's grace, through this Twelve Step program of recovery." Both introductions give credit to God as the source of our recoveries. They acknowledge the Twelve Steps as the method by which we recovered. They also let others know that we are living in the solution rather than in the problem.
Anonymity:
Within R.A., we use the original concept of anonymity.23 This means that there is only one time it is not appropriate to use our full names. This is at the public level of press, radio, television and films. For example, if an R.A. member appears on, or is quoted in, any public media, while talking about R.A., they should not use their full name. However, R.A. members do not need to be anonymous when talking: among ourselves, with friends and family, at R.A. Meetings, or before public or semipublic gatherings.
Confidentiality:
Within R.A., you have a right to expect that anything you share in confidence will remain private. No one has the right to repeat anything you say, without your permission.24 This includes your sponsor. Remember that you have the same responsibility. You cannot repeat anything shared in confidence with you. However, keep in mind that many people who attend our meetings are there because they are not well. They may not respect your privacy. Therefore, at our meetings, we suggest that you share your experiences with, and understanding of, the spiritual solution that is in our books. Only share the intimate, personal details of your life on a one to one basis, with someone you trust.
Family And Friends:
Within R.A., we welcome, even encourage, family and friends, to join in every
aspect of our Twelve Step Program of Recovery. Experience has shown that there are many benefits for us, and for them. When the people in our life have the option of joining in the practice of our program, and of attending our meetings, they can feel included instead of excluded. They often become supportive. They don't feel threatened by something they don't understand. They often need and benefit from working our program in their own lives. Within R.A., we don't stay away from our problems and behaviors—we grow away from them. "And if our spouses [and friends] don't grow along with us, we grow away from them." 25
Bearing Witness:
Within R.A., when talking to a group, we suggest that you not go into detail about your problems,26 your behaviors, or your life. Most of us already know how to hurt ourselves, and others. We are here to learn how to become, and stay sane. Therefore, we suggest that you try to "bear witness" 27 or give "testimony" 28 about the solution that is in our literature. This simply means to give a personal report of your life before this program, how working the Twelve Steps restored your sanity, and how your life has changed since your recovery. Do not preach or lecture. Your sharing should be personal. Talk about you and your recovery. If you are new to our program, talk about you and your understanding of the pioneers' recovery as detailed in our literature.
Sharing:
When sharing, the ideal is that no one feels preached to or at, and yet they hear what they need to know so that they can become and stay sane. We suggest that you try to share so that people can apply what you say. We can also suggest several ways to increase the effectiveness of your sharing: When talking to a group, try to address the entire group. Do not single out an individual. Do not use members' names. Do not tell anyone what he or she should do. Simply share what you do. For example, try to avoid the use of "us," "we," or "you," in your sharing. Saying "the Big Book tells me that if I want to get well, I need to work the program," is far more effective than saying "the Big Book tells us that if we want to get well, we need to work the program," or "if you want to get well, you need to work the program."
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