THE EA CONNECTION: FEBRUARY 2019Your monthly newsletter from ISC
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EA TOOLS FOR RECOVERY
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Promise 2: We do not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it.
Slogan 2: You are not alone
JFT 2: Just for Today I will try to be happy, realizing my happiness does not depend on what others do or
say or what happens around me. Happiness is a result of being at peace with myself.
Tradition 2: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express
Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Concept 2: We are experts only on our own stories, how we try to live the program, how the program
works for us, and what EA has done for us. No one speaks for Emotions Anonymous as a whole.

FROM YOUR EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESA February Reflection
February can be a time to reflect on how we can better treat not just others, but ourselves,in a loving and hopeful manner. Here’s a story about something that worked well for me. Oneweek in December when I was feeling down, I decided to change things up by expecting a miracle -- which
to me means a bolt from the blue, an amazing occurrence. Every morning for seven days, as part of the gratefulness practice I follow to deepen my EA program, I told my Higher Power I expected a miracle to happen before
midnight. Did any miracles happen? That depends. If you think of a miracle as an event like winning the lottery,
no. But if you think of every day starting with a strong feeling of hope and optimism, of Promise #8 coming true(“Our whole attitude and outlook upon life changes”), of expecting the best of others and giving the best I had –then yes. I definitely wasn't disappointed in my little experiment. And in mid-January, when I got a call with news
that seemed miraculous to me, I was able to say to my Higher Power, "There you are. I knew it. I was expecting
you!"...Colleen C, EA Trustee
Reflection for today—February 28
It seems so easy to pull up stakes, move to a different house, job, or town and believe miracles will happen, andthat our lives will change for the better simply because of the move. We tend to forget that wherever we go, wetake us. We take our emotions, our feelings, and everything we are made of. The only thing which will make ourlives better is to change us – inside. We are the only ones who can do this, with God’s help. We must do awaywith the negative attitudes and change to positive thinking. No external thing can make us happy...Today book

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In memory of Leroy P, TX—Leroy served on the EA Board of Trustees for many years,George S, Fort Worth, TX.

RECOVERY USING THE TOOLS OF EAStep 2: Came to believethat a Power greaterthan ourselves could restore us to sanity.
I came to believe that I could be restored to sanity, in people, my lifeand recovering people I saw the evidence. But I'm mindful that like any
relationship the one with my HP
needs attention and all the otheringredients that lead to healthy relationships. Often times without evenrealizing it I move away from my HP.
Then I blame Him for leaving me
until finally I realize that it is I thathas moved away from not vice versa. I also need to keep in mind thatmy mental health, sobriety and ultimately my life are contingent on themaintenance of my spiritual condition and my relationship with God as
I understand God.
Step 2 is an ongoing process for me.
My insanity and my mental illness
for me are two separate but interlinked things. My insanity was doing
the same thing over and over but
expecting a different result. I know,
but this time it will be different, wasmy thought pattern for many years
and so I kept doing what I was doing
and kept getting the same results.
Faith doesn't come natural to me.
My faith ebbs and flows. I'd like tosay that my faith is constant andunwavering but that isn’t true. Thebasis of my faith comes from my badand painful experiences. I say that
because through hell and high water, my HP has been there for me.
That is the evidence. Not what myhead tells me. I can't trust my head.
It wants me alone, in bed, duvet
over my head, isolated, not answer-ing the phone, the door, the mail. It
wants me blaming you, and thinking
that you are my enemy. The only
enemy I have right now, today is myhead. That has been the case formost of my recovery. The antivenom to how my head thinks is forme is to stick close to recovering
people, work the steps, do the next
right thing and cultivate gratitude.
Gratitude allows joy to enter into mylife...AdamPromise 2 We do not regret the past or wish toshut the door on it.
I have been reflecting over this past
year and the years gone by. My program tells me NOT to regret the pastor shut the door on it. I can’t shutthe door on what was; If I did I
would loose perspective of where I
came from and that tells me how far
I have come. At times I have survivors guilt - I use to highlight mystruggles and shortcomings believing that if I did that others would
like me and could then relate to me.
Now, I don’t have to sensationalize
my shortcomings or the trauma of
my past to be a “good witness” of
how the program works. That isprobably my biggest “takeaway”
from my recovery in 2018!!! I have
moved beyond the trauma andaffects it has on my life Today. Thatis a very good place to find myself. I
have so much appreciation for theperson that suggested the “loop” tome a few years back. Writing is anatural way of expressing myselfand it helps me tremendously to beable to “check in” with myself andall of you. I have accomplishedmany things this year and I havestruggled with other things. This is a
“Spiritual Program” - it never would
have worked for me any other way. I
do not live in my head any more andI seek peace before I seek knowledge. I used to think being “smart”
was everything but I realize now being at Peace with God is everything...Jessica

JFT 2: Just for Today I will
try to be happy, realizing
my happiness does not depend on what others door say or what happens
around me. Happiness is a
result of being at peacewith myself.
Today I was at peace with myself. I
took a walk with my daughter, I
went to a craft show and part of adog show. I did some housework. I
meditated for a bit and I wrote in myjournal. I enjoyed making carrot
juice with my daughter today as she
got a new juicer.
Today I was at peace as I started theday in peace. I enjoyed the sunshine
we had today. I enjoyed conversing
with a nice man at a craft showbooth. Not major things that I did
today, but I was happy. Thank you
Higher Power for days when I can be
happy for even little things. ..Connie

Slogan 2: You are not alone
This is a beautiful slogan, every reminding us that God, a friend, a family,
member to name a few are always
there for us. We just need to reach out
and someone will be there if
we are just open to seeing
it….Kacy

DISCOVERING THE TOOLS OF EALove Made Simple
Letting someone love me seems such a simple thing, but, in my emotional turmoil, I had to make it complex. I hadto start asking why. Why would someone want me? What were they after? What is this going to cost me? I foundit impossible to receive a natural, tolerating, caring, freeflowing acceptance from another person. My first experience in this area was EA. I was totally accepted with no strings attached. With the help of these great people, I
learned to accept their love. I learned that love is not control or manipulation. Love is letting people be themselves and loving them that way...Today Book, June 4With Love - Comes Responsibility
Words are very important to me and are to be used wisely. There is responsibility involved when using
the word love. Love is the antidote to all but it cannot always be given freely and honestly by humans.
Unconditional love is a tough thing to continually offer. But I try my best and am getting better andbetter at this.
This love I extend to others is also necessary to extend to myself. I try to be an honest person and at times when dealing with others I have found it quite necessary to be direct with them. This may seem unkind but they have overstepped boundaries and need to be informed. I feel it better they understand than continue to be disillusioned. I try todo this as kindly as I can, it is not always taken as such. Over this I have no control.
I do not and cannot take the word love lightly nor use this term to please someone or to be dishonest with them. I
would be doing them and I a great disservice to lead them into thinking something that is not true. Being kind is one
thing, saying things I do not mean to get a result I want is not in any ones best interest...Twyla

Love: Conditional or Unconditional
My husband and I were talking the other day. He was trying to tell me that he loves me because he just does and I
don’t have to do anything to earn it. I didn’t get it, that concept is foreign to me, it’s not what I learned in my childhood. Today I got it, for no other reason than I was thinking about it and it sunk in.
I was taught that love was conditional. I did something good, I swept the floor or tidied up the table to help mom andshe loved me. I did something bad, I went to the show with friends or was late coming back from school or my hair didn’t curl the way she wanted and she was mad and she didn’t love me. So, I learned that love is conditional.
I do things for people all the time and get upset when they don’t recognize me for it. I get upset when my husband anddaughter do not hug me or say they love me because I: did the dishes, sewed a costume, picked her up from the movies withher friends, bought my husband something for the motorcycle, took the garbage out, etc.
So it clicked in today. I don’t have to do all these things, and now that I am home sick and not doing some of them, heSTILL loves me because he loves ME, not the things I do. I haven’t been making beds, I haven’t been cooking, I haven’t
been doing groceries, I’ve been too busy panicking to take care of the administration of life, but that is all it is administration, we can get by without it. He picks up the slack willingly because he LOVES me.
Which also explains to me why I have a hard time identifying with a HP. Because what have I DONE to EARN
my HP’s love? Well, maybe nothing, but he just loves me because he does. And he takes care of me becausethat is how he shows his love.
So then I thought about my daughter, because I was still having a hard time understanding how someone loves you
just because they do. If you asked “Do you love your daughter because she plays the flute?” I’d say no. Do you love
your daughter because she twirls? I’d say no. Do you love your daughter because she is pretty or has good grades? I’dsay no. I just love her. That’s all. I love her because I do. That’s all, and I can actually identify with that!...Sophie

2018 - 2019 EA Board of Trustees
Please feel free to contact members of the Board with questions or concerns
Gus S, AZ 602-319-3890 schloessergus@gmail.com President
Scott J, MN 507-276-0323 sdjakel@gmail.com Vice President/Treasurer
John W, MN 612-760-0313 johnwerner52@gmail.com Secretary
Colleen C, MN 651-245-5461 coyne2003@hotmail.com
Derita P, OH 216-624-3559 deritapippen@gmail.com

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS
The 12 Traditions are the guidelines by which our group and our fellowship function.
They have proven over the years to be an effective way of holding the fellowship and individual groups together.

Tradition 2: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express
Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
While Tradition 2 speaks of a loving God, and Step 2 speaks of a Power greater than ourselves it is very clear to me weeach need to work toward a personal understanding and acceptance of what this means. I have no doubt that it is ourHigher Power who is ultimately at work in our EA Program, in our Group Conscience, and each individual in the group,including the group leader. This Tradition speaks of the group leader who is in service to the group. A leader, yes, but
not one who governs. I believe it is from the wisdom of our HP that the group is able to function...Gus S , trustee
Nobody governs Emotions Anonymous. We have paid staff at our International Service Center. They are compensatedto maintain the office, they make sure EA is available to all who need it. The rest of us are all trusted servants. Thereare currently 5 trustees; we act as guardians of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. There are several standing committees
that any member can volunteer to serve on. At the group level, one could volunteer to serve as secretary, treasurer, orliterature person of his or her homegroup. We are all EA members guided by our Higher Power…Deitra P, trustee
In Tradition Two, one word stands out that is crucial to understanding the nature of the tradition, that word isleader. Leadership in EA is provided through the group conscience. The authority for decisions made always rests ingroup conscience decision-making. In having a conscience meeting, a group, committee, or the trustees can best
sense how a power, greater than themselves as individuals, can guide the group in making choices. As the tradition
says, our leaders are but trusted servant, they do not govern, only the groups through the group conscience process
can do this...Scott J, trustee
As our God humbles Himself to serve us, we must humble ourselves to serve others. Allowing members to lead gives
them the opportunity to be of service to others. It is in serving others that we can escape our own troubles. Leading inEmotions Anonymous is conditional, such that, leaders are not in control. Tradition 2 reminds us that there is only one
who has all power, that one is God. By letting go of the desire to control, we free ourselves to be a useful servant to
God and to the fellowship...Kelsey W, member
From EA’s 12 x 12: Tradition 12Newcomers are often surprised to learn that Emotions Anonymous does not have an extensively organized structureof government like other clubs and organizations. In EA no one person has power to tell others what to do or toenforce rules. Indeed, there are no rules, only guidelines which are stated in the traditions and the concepts of the EAprogram. If no one is in charge, how can the unity mentioned in Tradition One be maintained? How are decisions
made? How does anything get done?
For more information on Tradition 12, EA’s 12x12 can be ordered from our website

We thank the many folks that share their thoughts in this publication. Opinions expressed are those of thewriters only. Helpful Concept 2 reminds us that, “no one speaks for Emotions Anonymous as a whole.”