One Breath at a Time

Hello everyone,

This week we began reading Step 4 and the 5 Precepts. We read up to pg 108 and will begin next week with the 4th precept. We discussed non-harminig (not killing any living being), not stealing or taking what is not ours, and all the ways that can be interpreted, and finally, we ended this week in a discussion about refraining from sexual misconduct or hurting others thru our sexuality.

This brought up a lot of old thinking patterns and unskillful behaviors for me, as I was often using my sexuality to manipulate the situation for drugs or alcohol or simply to gratify my ego. Before recovery, I thought of my sexuality as mine to do with as I pleased. My story involves using sex for financial gain, or at least to survive...I used it like a tool in my addiction to get what I needed.

Now, I've come to see that being mindful of others' emotions and reactions to my behavior is my responsibility and part of Right Action and non-harming. It all starts with awareness and intention and that's why it's so important to take the "Training" to "refrain" from these behaviors because it allows me to continue to grow and evolve and create better karma for myself by being mindful of others.

What about you? Is there any way you've hurt others through your sexuality that you are now more mindful of? or perhaps things you still need to work on?

I love the AA expression that 2 dead batteries won't start a car, which is the idea that we need to wait until we are more whole and stable in our recovery to be involved in a relationship with someone else. What is your experience with that? Or your opinion about relationships in recovery?

Thanks to Chris for sharing an AA resource with us.