June, 2022
Volume 3, Issue 2

50 Tips for 50 Years:
Celebrating 50 Yearsof EAI*Strength & Hope
A message in support of emotional well-being.

Sobriety and Recovery — Colleen C.
Lately I’ve been hearing about and talking to others about the terrible burden of addiction and how the global pandemic has exacerbated drug
abuse. For example, more than 93,000 drug overdose deaths were estimated to have occurred in the United States in 2020, the highest numberof overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period and a nearly 30%
increase from 2019, according to recent provisional data from the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention. Mental and emotional health challenges often accompany (or even contribute to initiating) substance abuse.
We in EA also battle our own form of addiction – one that may include
dishonesty, depression, anxiety, relationship or work problems, hurting
ourselves or others, and an inability to cope with reality among otherthings. Fortunately, our Twelve Step Program offers hope. EA tells us weare not alone with our struggles and that recovery, as well as joy andthriving, are ours for the taking when we work the Steps. In short, thatbecoming “sober” emotionally is possible.
Now we have a new pamphlet that grapples with what sobriety in EA
means. Written by members of a German group, translated into English
and edited by members of the EA Literature Committee, Sobriety in EA(#104) gives us insight into how addiction factors into our lives even if
we don’t have an unhealthy reliance on a substance or an activity. It also
identifies mile markers on our sobriety journey: Emotional sobriety may
be characterized by several markers on the way to surviving and thrivingin Emotions Anonymous:• I begin to see the terrible destructiveness of some coping strategies(or adaptations) that have served me in the past but are now stumbling blocks to recovery.
• I realize that self-honesty must be more than a phrase: It must become and remain a daily way of life for me.
• I begin to lose the constant fear of the future that causes me to either
exaggerate or minimize my negative character traits.
For me, emotional autopilot remains a serious temptation and a daily“slip” to avoid, even after many years in the program. I’m so grateful that
the German group chose to tackle this difficult subject and begin to let me
see how my own struggles parallel those of individuals suffering fromsubstance abuse. It is insights like these that make the EA program a lifelong commitment for me. Growth is always possible,

Dark times happen to all ofus, yet we are never alone –we have a supportive fellowship to help us.

* Item #102

Your Trustees
Paul N.— TX
929-399-6515
aibtikarfoundation@gmail.com
President
Steve B.— CA
909-438-4938
stevebell_28@yahoo.com
Vice President
Colleen C.— MN
651-245-5461
coyne2003@hotmail.com
SecretaryJohn W.— MN
612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com
Kelsey W.— IL
618-334-6658
knlweez@gmail.com
Behzad Arabpour Dahouei —Iran0098 913 341 4015
Behzad_7761@yahoo.com

June’s Tools forRecovery

EA Workbooks will be on salethis month!
EAI offers 5 different types ofworkbooks and each one ison sale at a 20% discountduring the month of June. Go
to the EAI website online
store to place an order.

Step 6
Were entirely ready to have
God remove all these defects ofcharacter.
Promise 6
We have less concern about self
and gain interest in others.
Just for Today 6

Subject: Principle 6—Willingness

I will try to go out of my way
to be kind to someone I meet. I
will be considerate, talk low,
and look as good as I can. I
will not engage in unnecessary
criticism or finding fault, nor
try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

- Steve O.
Now that we have accomplished an inventory of the good andnot so good aspects of our character and behavior, are we willing to change them? All of them? The important part in this 12
Step principle is the willingness to let go of old behaviors.

Slogan 6

Doctoral Student Seeks Study Participants

Look for the good.
Helpful Concept 6
We never discuss religion,
politics, national or international issues, or other belief
systems or policies. EA has noopinion on outside issues.
Tradition 6
An EA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the EA
name to any related facility oroutside enterprise, lest problems of money, property andprestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Principle 6Willingness

Katharine “Kate” Heaton, a doctoral candidate at the Universityof the Cumberlands in the Counselor Education and Supervision
Ph.D. program, is seeking participation in a qualitative researchstudy: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Members of Emotions Anonymous.
Participation is open to those engaged with Emotions Anonymous if:••

You are 18 years of age or older
Engaged with EA through at least one of the following:• Attending EA meetings• Working, or having completed, the 12-Steps of EA• Involved in EA sponsorship, co-sponsorship, or outreachIf you are interested in and eligible to participate in this study or
have any questions, please contact Kate
at kheaton16043@ucumberlands.edu.
You can find the Trustee Reflections on the website,www.emotionsanonymous.org.
This month we focus on JFT #6.
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Contribution Gratitude

Ideas for Energizing your GroupEAI could not operate without donations
and we deeply appreciate your support!
Recent gifts have been received fromthese groups:
Alhambra, CA"Una luz Que Brilla"
Rialto, CA (5 groups)
Colorado Springs, CO
Roswell, GA
Burlington, IA
Wellesley, MA
Midwest City, OK
Bend, OR (3 groups)
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Wed Winston-Salem, NC
Sun 2:30 PM, ET (Zoom)“One Day at a Time” (Zoom)

Last month I asked groups to submit some ways they keep
their meetings fresh and interesting. Thank you to those
who sent in responses! Here are a few—perhaps your group
could find some new ideas to use.

In Memory

We have done Steps and pamphlets. Usually, now sinceonline we have the core participants and a few online joiners, we focus on a word, like tonight it is "Worthy" touchingon Self-Esteem, and the question "What do I deserve?" The
topic either pops up during the discussion as something toexplore at another meeting or as the evening's discussion
winds down.

The Slogans are a good simple set that may generate future
topics.
We follow the suggested format with weekly topics:
First meeting of the month corresponds with the number of
the Step.
Second meeting is an EA pamphlet topic.
Third meeting is a personal story from the EA book.
Fourth meeting is back to an EA pamphlet topic.

Latonya Crowell, from Anonymous

Administrative News

Looking for the Good— Joe

We recently received notice of an estate
gift that will be coming to EAI in the fall.
We are deeply grateful for the EA
member who thought to include EAI intheir will. Remembering any nonprofit
organization is as simple as adding a
codicil to an existing estate plan/will. The
option to include a set dollar amount or apercentage of the available funds is up toyou. Many times, making such a gift
allows a donor to give a much larger giftthan is ever possible during their lifetime.

Seeking a Volunteer!

EAI’s finances are always precarious,
which makes it difficult to launch new
initiatives, provide new technology tomembers, or staff the office fully.

We need someone willing to reach out to writers on theLoops and ask permission to use their reflections in EA materials. Requires an understanding of the Google shared drive.
Contact director@emotionsanonymous.org if interested!

While the pandemic and subsequent
move from in-person to virtual meetings
has had benefits, the lack of regular giving through groups has declined. If youare able to help this program financially,please consider a gift today.

In my experience this works because when I "act as if" life is wonderful, I focus my attention on the positive
aspects of my life and the world around me, whereas, if I have a negative attitude, I focus my attention
on the negative aspects.
It's not what you look at that matters. It's what yousee.

Office Information
EAI P.O. Box 4245 St. Paul, MN 55104-0245 USA
Office Hours: TU-TH 12p.m. (noon) — 5 p.m. CT
Phone: 651-647-9712
www.emotionsanonymous.org
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