By joining forces in a commitment to the greater good of Narcotics Anonymous, our own well-being is greatly enhanced.
How and Why It Works, Twelfth Tradition
We are people who have had a lot of direct personal experience with exclusive devotion to a particular purpose. Before we came to NA, the purpose to which we were so devoted was to obtaining and using drugs. Or, perhaps more specifically, we were devoted to our efforts to change the way we felt, to predict or control our feelings, or to try to stop feeling altogether.
Once we find NA and commit to the process of recovery, we begin to shift our commitment from changing the way we feel to staying clean, no matter what. Commitment means sticking with something even when our enthusiasm for it wanes or our mood changes. We commit to our own recovery and we commit to serving NA. It often starts simply by choosing a specific group and committing to attending it regularly. We make a formal commitment, such as welcoming members or cleaning up. Commitment involves both our feelings and our actions.
Because we are grateful for our recovery, we feel a sense of dedication to helping NA. This feeling is evident in everything we do for the greater good of the Fellowship.
For many of us, our commitment to NA is a result of what the program has given us. As we give back, we receive so much more. The first gift is the opportunity to stay clean and find a better way of life. We make many commitments to NA—to show up regularly, to participate in each other’s recovery, to serve our group and our service bodies. Our commitments help the Fellowship grow and thrive. The more vibrant and alive Narcotics Anonymous is, the more we can thrive and grow in our own recovery.
When I keep my commitments to NA, the Brotherhood will continue to grow – and so will I. I will keep my commitments today.
