Step We Are On: Four
Page: 68
Chapter: 5 "How It Works"
Subject: Resentment Inventory, Fear, Trouble
Good morning. We are going through the columns of the 4th step directions.
We are looking at fear — a very misunderstood word.
Fear – an emotion characterized by dread or expectation of harm; anxiety. 2. Desire to escape, avoid displeasure. [1]
We are looking at fear — a very misunderstood word.
Fear – an emotion characterized by dread or expectation of harm; anxiety. 2. Desire to escape, avoid displeasure. [1]
Page 68
- How can we classify fear?
Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing.
- Does fear cause more or less trouble than stealing?
It seems to cause more trouble.
The comparison the co-authors are making here connects the troubling nature of fear, an emotion, and stealing, an immoral act. Both bring evil into our lives and into the lives of those around us. The co-authors appear to have felt that stealing brought these unfortunate circumstances — the kind that stealing does, except more of it.
Most people are well aware of how corrupt behavior, like theft, can mess up one’s life — but less aware of fear's harms (one of many emotional flavors of resentment). That is because ego always stands steadfastly in the way — and no one ever ‘catches’ you ‘in fear’ the way they might catch you stealing.
Fear is a failure to trust God. It sets us up for a rudderless, existential coin-toss of a life — instead of a life traveling the God-disciplined path illuminated by Spiritual Sunlight.
Stealing causes trouble, sure. Fear causes even more trouble than that. That’s a lot of trouble.
Most people are well aware of how corrupt behavior, like theft, can mess up one’s life — but less aware of fear's harms (one of many emotional flavors of resentment). That is because ego always stands steadfastly in the way — and no one ever ‘catches’ you ‘in fear’ the way they might catch you stealing.
Fear is a failure to trust God. It sets us up for a rudderless, existential coin-toss of a life — instead of a life traveling the God-disciplined path illuminated by Spiritual Sunlight.
Stealing causes trouble, sure. Fear causes even more trouble than that. That’s a lot of trouble.
- What do we do with our fears?
We reviewed our fears thoroughly.
Comment: We do exactly the same thing with our fears that we did with our resentments. List everybody and everything that we fear. Once they are all listed, we ask ourselves why we have them. After that review, we see how segments of our lives have been affected.
- Do we only write down the fears associated with the items on our resentment list?
We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them.
No not "spiders" or "heights. Silly! This is a spiritual approach to spiritual issues, not Freudian psychology. (If you get a 'sponsor' who gets into that sort of fear in this process, or who uses materials that do - get a new sponsor!)
No not "spiders" or "heights. Silly! This is a spiritual approach to spiritual issues, not Freudian psychology. (If you get a 'sponsor' who gets into that sort of fear in this process, or who uses materials that do - get a new sponsor!)
- What do we ask ourselves?
We asked ourselves why we had them.
(And write the answer next to “what” caused the fear.)
Next: The “WHY”
Peace and Love,
Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
https://www.facebook.com/danschwarzhoff/
[1] ~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938)
[1] ~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938)
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