A new idea cannot be incorporated into a closed mind.
Core Text, Chapter 9: Just for Today-Living the Program
“Approaching Step Two with an open mind was a real challenge for me,” shared one member. The idea that a power greater than ourselves could bring us back to reason is a real dilemma for some of us. "Fortunately, a well-worked First Step opened my mind enough to convince me that my way wasn't working," the member continued. "This tradition prepared me for the Second Step and I came to believe that maybe this NA could work for me too."
Each of us struggles with the concept of "spiritual, not religious" in the context of our own worldview. The Core Text promises that there are no pitfalls in the proposition of finding a Higher Power of our own understanding, and our experience bears this out. Some of us come with deeply held beliefs based on a religious tradition. Others have folk beliefs to which we may be equally committed. Regardless of our viewpoint or experience prior to NA, we find that an open mind is an important asset, allowing us to consider ideas that are new to us.
In recovery, we find that being open to spiritual concepts enriches our own beliefs. We are not asked to "eat up" the new ideas, as we may have feared, or to replace an existing belief system with some preconceived doctrine. Instead, being open-minded allows us to learn from the experiences of others, taking what feels right and leaving the rest. It is an implantation, not a transplant. Instead of closing our minds to new ideas, an open mind frees us to try them out. If the implantation succeeds, it can reinforce our previous beliefs. If not, it may still clarify our own ideas. In any case, growth comes from keeping an open mind.
I will remember the benefits of a more flexible and open approach to new ideas, even those concerning the spiritual aspects of recovery.
