Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Going Against Our Natural Desires

In yesterday's meeting I got the paragraph in the 12 & 12 that talks about how hard Step 5 is - telling our secrets to another trustworthy human being.  I thought that was cool since I've been thinking about how hard that is for most everyone.  We're terrified of being judged (because we're judging ourselves).  But it is so freeing to find out that almost everyone has the same secrets. 

"This practice of admitting one's defects to another person is, of course, very ancient.  It has been validated in every century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered...people... Psychiatrists and psychologists point out the deep need every human being has for practical insight and knowledge of his own personality flaws and for a discussion of them with an understanding and trustworthy person."  Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

It's interesting that it says that all people have the need to show their true selves to somebody - not just drunks and crazy people!  I wonder how much misery would be eliminated if all of us quit hiding and found out how similar we all are.

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