A balance between willingness and humility means being able to take on the work we can do, but also admitting that sometimes we need help.
The Principles That Guide Us, Tradition Eight, “Spiritual Principles”
Recovery offers us many opportunities to form a realistic view of who we are. Humility deepens when we admit our weakness in the First Step, accept help in the Third and Seventh Steps, and gain a clear picture of our strengths and weaknesses in the Fourth, Sixth, and Tenth Steps. We gain experience in discerning what we can and cannot do for ourselves. Sometimes, we embrace our strengths or expand our potential. Other times, we accept our limits.
When deciding what we can realistically achieve on our own, Tradition Eight reminds us to exercise humility and prudence. This is good advice for teams and services but it applies equally to our personal lives. We strive to be self-sustaining, as the Seventh Tradition suggests, but that does not mean we are self-sufficient. In NA and at home, humility helps us tell the difference.
Making the NA message widely available often involves activities or projects that require more time or expertise than we have. We can and do hire skilled workers for many functions in NA, from printing muster lists to proofreading and guiding trade regulations. When it comes to showing NA's credibility and expanding our life-saving message, sometimes it's wise to hire some help.
Seeing our principles at work in NA services helps many of us learn to apply them in our personal lives. “I wanted to save money by fixing a leak myself,” one member recalled. “My partner reminded me that I had made several valiant attempts at house projects over the past year, and none had turned out well. If I want to become a handyman, I can find time to take a class or ask a friend for help. But since the water is dripping, I might have to call a professional plumber.” This is the practice of willingness, self-preservation, and humility … all while preventing unnecessary destruction!
I don't have to be good at everything. If my needs or wants exceed my abilities, I will practice humility by asking for help.
