May 1, 2020
Volume 1, Issue 1

Quick Tip of theMonthStrength & Hope
A message in support of emotional well-being.

Trustee reflection—Scott J.
Welcome to May! And welcome to our new monthly membership publication – Strength and Hope — which replaces The Connection. Spring isa time of newness when we watch for growth all around us. This new format of staying in touch with the EA fellowship aims for both.

A trustee will share thoughts on the front page (that’s me this first timearound!). Inside, you’ll find reflections based on the month—in May wefocus on the “5’s”. Finally, we’ll have news on the whole organization,including trustee and committee updates, plus links to the website.
You’ve probably noticed that we’re also sending weekly messages tothose on our email list these days. We’re trying to increase contact with
the EA members because of the extraordinary circumstances we’re living
under right now. These messages are also posted on the website.
So… what can we say about newness and growth? Just this. Every day
that we’re alive presents an opportunity for new experiences andgrowth. I’ve daily observed a power greater than myself constantly present in this world and a part of all the newness and growth that occurs inmy life. This brings huge waves of gratitude to my heart!
On the flip-side, I’ve noticed that I’m often overwhelmed by the challenges that we’re facing due to the pandemic and its consequences. I wasoverwhelmed even before this crisis!! But that’s the nature of life.
I’m also overwhelmed (in a good way) by the amount of compassion andsupport I see as evidence of a power greater than myself being present. People are reaching out to help others. They are speaking with kindness. They are being respectful and patient. They’re making donations tohelp keep EAI afloat. All this gives me hope.
Keep living life to the best of your ability, with the benefit of this program, each day!

This month, reach out to another member with a program related text, call orchat. You can share yourchallenges in the programand help each other better
understand the Steps. Allsharing is valid - you don't
need to be a "long time member" to significantly help or
encourage another!

Your Trustees
Scott J.— MN
507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
President
John W.— MN
612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com

Vice President
Colleen C.— MN
651-245-5461
coyne2003@hotmail.com
Secretary
Paul N.— NJ
201-264-1807
paul@nobleequity.com
Treasurer
Derita P.— OH
216-624-3559
deritapippen@gmail.com
Steve B.— CA
909-438-4938
stevebell_28@yahoo.com

Trusting, Admitting, and Releasing
through the 5th Step

The Month ofMay’s Tools for
RecoveryStep 5Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another humanbeing the exact nature of ourwrongs.
1Promise 5
The feelings of uselessness
and self-pity lessen.
Just for Today 5
I will do somebody a goodturn and not get found out. If
anyone knows of it, it will
not count. I will do at least
one thing I don’t want to do,
and I will perform somesmall act of love for myneighbor.
Slogan 5

From Welcoming the Spiritual Awakening within Me
son to share our 5th Step withis part of that journey oflearning to trust appropriately. This person will not only
listen but may repeat backwhat we’ve said. Wiselyreflecting from their own
perspective helps the person
sharing to hear what he or
she has said, deepening theclarity of the fifth step...

It was not enough to write
things down in our fourth
step inventory. We need totalk about these things - out
loud and in person. As unsettling as this may sound tous, this process will prove to
be a great benefit in our recovery. Step 5 is absolutely
necessary in producing an
enduring Serenity and peaceof mind… It is in the tellingto someone else, and consequently, listening to ourselves that we begin to get atrue understanding of who
we actually are.

With all the new insightsfrom our fourth step we
NEED to share and release
the intense emotions that
accompany the unearthing oftruth...In the 5th step we admit the truth about ourselves,
release the past, and learn
appropriate trust by sharing.

A huge part of our recovery
is learning to trust
again. Choosing a safe per-First things first.
Helpful Concept 5
EA is not a sounding board
for continually reviewing ourmiseries, but a way to learn
to detach ourselves fromthem. Part of our serenity
comes from being able tolive at peace with unsolvedproblems.

Did you know…
The Countries with theMost Visits to the EAI
website in April were:

In April EAI processed…
••

•
•
•
•
•

USARepublic Of Korea
CanadaUnited KingdomGermany•

50 Online orders
35 E-book orders
20 Requests for newgroup information
packets

Tradition 5
Each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its
messages to the person who
still suffers from emotional
problems.

You can find the Trustee Reflections on the website,www.emotionsanonymous.org.
This month we focus on Promise #5.
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Contribution Gratitude

Accepting My Whole Self — A Gift fromEAI could not operate without donations and we deeply appreciate yoursupport! Recent gifts have been received from these groups:

Working the 5th Step — Charlie B.

Lisbon, Portugal
Jerusalem, Israel
Mesa, AZ
Gilbert, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Fort Wayne, IN
St. Paul, MN—W
St. Paul MN– F

Burlington, IA
Westbury, NY
Chicago, IL—S
Rialto, CA—
Daily Groups
Columbia Hts,
MN

In Memory of:Bill B., from Gloria B. & theSunnyvale, CA group

Robert J., from the Apple Valley,
MN group

Administrative NewsWe are doing everything we can during these difficult times to continue tosupport the EA fellowship.
We’ve created a new, weekly email,Experience, Strength & Hope, withmessages especially pertinent to these
uncertain times. Sign up on our website to receive it!
We’ve encouraged groups to switch toremote meetings and many have done
so. THANK YOU! We’ve provided
information on how to switch to alternative formats (phone, Zoom,Skype, chat and others) on our website.
Donations continue to support theseactivities. Please consider an onlinegift.
Staff is all working remotely duringthis time, but orders continue to be
filled and phone calls returned — justa bit more slowly these days!

After finishing my 5th step, I am coming to believe that allparts of me are actually trying to serve some useful function. This understanding began to dawn as I used EA's
"Fearless and Uplifting Fourth Step Guide." It suggested that
our character traits are habits which we learned to get throughlife. What I was thinking of "character defects" were often justcharacter assets "gone astray." So my final inventory suggested
the possibility of finding new healthy balances to transform myold survival behaviors. I also listed the many character traits I
have which seem entirely healthy.
Sharing this wise, balanced and compassionate inventory in my5th step was a hugely uplifting process. Seeing my old painful
habits and emotions as understandable survival tactics made it
clear that my 5th Step sharing should be a breakthrough of forgiveness. I do not see this as permission to continue behaviors
that are hurtful to myself or others. Rather that I compassionately accept all parts of myself and am making a truce. I am
now in an accepting dialogue with the parts of myself that havebeen most hurt, needy, afraid, and ashamed. I am also much
more aware of my gifts and strengths. So a huge gift from my5th step experience was sharing the revelation with anotherperson that I wasn't who I thought I had been. I am much more
complex, well meaning, and whole.
The first promise of the EA program is that we will "realize a
new freedom and happiness." My 5th step helped me see notjust what I am ready to let go of, but what I can trust and celebrate in myself. There are gifts to discover inside all of mycharacter traits if I am willing to face them courageously andcompassionately.

Please write!
We encourage member reflections! Please submit yours tosubmissions@emotionsanonymous.org. Reflections should be
no more than 200 words. Please note which step/promise/
tradition etc. you are referencing.
Office Information*EAI P.O. Box 4245 St. Paul MN 55104-0245
Office Hours: M-TH 10a.m.—3 p.m. CT Phone: 651-647-9712
www.emotionsanonymous.org* Staff is currently in the office only on Thursdays.

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