Narcotics Anonymous

Just For Today - Daily Email Service

   August 11                                                 Active listening

        "Through active listening, we hear things that work for us."

                                                           Basic Text, p. 102

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   Most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous with a very poor ability to
   listen.  But to take full advantage of "the therapeutic value of one
   addict helping another," we must learn to listen actively.

   What is active listening for us?  In meetings, it means we concentrate on
   what the speaker is sharing, while the speaker is sharing.  We set aside
   our own thoughts and opinions until the meeting is over.  That's when we
   sort through what we've heard to decide which ideas we want to use and
   which we want to explore further.

   We can apply our active listening skills in sponsorship, too.   Newcomers
   often talk with us about some "major event" in their lives.   While
   such events may not seem significant to us, they are to the newcomer who
   has little experience living life on life's terms.  Our active listening
   helps us empathize with the feelings such events trigger in  our
   sponsee's life.  With that understanding, we have a better idea of what
   to share with them.

   The ability to listen actively was unknown to us in the isolation of our
   addiction.   Today, this ability helps us actively engage with our
   recovery.  Through active listening, we receive everything being offered
   us in NA, and we share fully with others the love and care we've been
   given.

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   Just for today:  I will strive to be an active listener.  I will practice
   active listening when others share and when I share with others.