EA Connection –June 2016Your monthly newsletter from isc

From the president of the board of trustees:
The May issue of the EA Connection had some wonderful articles, reflections as well as important information for EA
members from Regions 3 & 5, e.g. the election of a Trustee to serve on the Board. In the lead article From Our Executive Director, Elaine shared the fact that she has been with EA for one-year. Congratulations, Elaine! We’re happy thatyou are with us and are proud of the work you have done for the Organization. Our new website has resulted in renewed interest in Emotions Anonymous, exactly what we were looking for! Hopefully this will signal the growth of EA
membership internationally. Unfortunately, Elaine does not have a magic wand that could result in improving our financials. As an organization we continue to struggle in this regard. Serious efforts are being taken to improve ourbottom line, but we continue to need the financial support of our groups thru donations, purchasing/selling our literature, materials and etc. And of course, our EA 2016 Convention in Phoenix, AZ is just five months away! ImportantConvention information as well as the Registration form can be found attached. Lastly, Congratulations to EA Swedenon the accomplishment of their first EA Convention! Thank you Sweden! Oh, almost forgot, hope to see you in Phoenix
for Convention 2016!...Gus, President, EA Board of Trustees

June tools:
Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Tradition 6: An EA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the EA name to any related facility or outside enterprise lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Concept 6: We never discuss religion, politics, national or international issues, or other belief systems or policies. EA
has no opinion on outside issues.
Promise 6: We have less concern about self and gain interest in others.
Slogan 6: Look for the good.
Just for Today 6: I will try to go out of my way to be kind to someone I meet. I will be considerate, talk low, and lookas good as I can. I will not engage in unnecessary criticism or find fault, nor try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

Of Importance to Groups:
Trustee nominations to the EA Board are being sought for Regions 1, 3 & 5. If you wish to receive aballot, please email groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org and ask for a ballot to be emailed to you,otherwise please check with your group contact. Nominations are due in June. Please consider providing service to EA
as a whole by nominating yourself or another to the Board. Not sure which region you are in? See page 4.

Reflection For Today—June 1
Sometimes I forget that I am never alone and have a terrible feeling of deprivation because of absence offriends and loved ones. On those days I have to remind myself of God’s presence within me. I have forgotten for that moment that God is always with me – at home, at work, in the car, or even in unfamiliar surroundings. Wherever I
am, God is with me. When I remember that fact, a feeling of peace and serenity enfolds me, and I relax. I feel strong, courageous,and loved. I can do all that is required of me this day. I can get along without the friends and loved ones until their return because my Higher Power is with me.
To help support this publication, donations can be made to: EA Connection

EA Tools

I found the things that cause meemotional pain in Step 4, then I
shared those things in Step 5… Thencame Step 6, I thought I was going tohave to do that once, and then poof!
my Higher Power would remove myflaws, and make me a saint…NOT! I
have struggled over the years withthe same character defects. I still
have to get on my knees and ask God
to remove from me those things thatkeep me away from the sunlight ofthe Spirit. Some days that is easier todo than others. I have not been able
to remove those character flaws
from myself, I have to be entirely
ready, everyday, one day at atime...EdI've been an EA member for almost
2 1/2 years now. I have a little Program, I pick a Slogan or a Just For
Today and try to live it, one day at atime. I read the Reflections and ponder. I pray daily, I write gratitude’s
most days, and I attend Skype
meetings most weeks.
I have learned a lot about my emotional problems and why they occurred in the past and what makes
them flare up now. My character
defects of comparison, competition,ambition, greed, envy, and dissatisfaction have made my life utter misery for many, many years. I neverwanted what I had, only what I didn't. I spent many, many hours, days,weeks, years even, obsessed withwhat I didn't have.
My character defects are being relieved I believe, by God, through mylittle EA Program. If just for today, I

don't compare myself to others, wellthat is a day that my defect of comparison and envy are put to rest.
When I let go and let God, my ambition and competitiveness quiet.
When I focus on gratitude and stayin the moment, my dissatisfaction
evaporates.

nizable organized religion and still
am faithful and practicing that(works for me) I do not like references to any particular religion in a
meeting or other sharing meant for awide audience. Our traditions cover
this for us, and it makes me feel safer in the whole group.

And since now, how I live my days is
how I live my life, my life has become far more serene. I even sometimes have true hope, and sometimes I find myself relatively happy,
without working at it. This is a very
long way from where I have been.

So, I do not want to hear about
your specific religion, or have you try
to evangelize me in a personal conversation. I rejoice that you have astrong belief and are devoted tothat. I appreciate that and manyother beliefs/descriptions of a HP.
And we all need a HP in order to recover...Theresa

Just recently, I noticed that I reallyhave changed, deep down. I don't
mind using the phrase character defect because then I have to give it toGod. I also know what still triggers
me. I am not completely free of defects! I still react very strongly to perceived disrespect along with otherthings. There is more work to bedone in me. But now I know I have afull partner in God and I have hopeand trust that these issues and others will heal eventually as well.
I want to take the next Steps now. I
feel I am finally ready and haveenough evidence to convince mystubborn self. And I'm not scared ofthe Program anymore...AngelaConcept 6: We never discuss religion, politics, national or international
issues, or other belief systems or policies. EA has noopinion on outside issues.
I just read a contribution in the EA
Connection about sharing religion inprogram/meetings and am inspiredby that. Though I grew up in a recog-

Looking for the good in others has
been quite a learning for me....notjudging, criticizing or wishing that
others be different from the way
they are....and a path I am still on.
My son is my greatest teacher in thatsense, in whom I relentlessly see thebad if I don't check myself. But
thanks to the program I can see that
this as unhelpful and correct myself
when I slip.
Of course, it also applies to the way I
relate to myself too. I am probably
my own worse critic.
I have a needs wheel which shows allof the things we need as humans.
Nowhere on that wheel does it say
anything about criticism or condemnation:-) However, this does notmean that I have to be everybody's
best friend either. Some people I
have a natural affinity with and that's
what makes a friendship work. I
don't think that's what this reflection
is about. No, I think that this is more
about tolerance of others and also
about respect...Ian

Ea tools applied: emotions
Emotional Wellness
How do we know if we are emotionally well or not? These are only my thoughts. To me, the key word is “desire” tobecome well emotionally. Do I want to get better? Emotional wellness usually means to feel good about myself as aperson, that I’m just as important as any other human being (most of us come into this program with very low self esteem), and to have some form of peace of mind with myself, my life, and my Higher Power. If depression or anxiety is apart of my life then it is reducing or eliminating that from my life, but I don’t do it, my Higher Power does when I workthrough all 12 steps.
For me, having the desire to get better emotionally means giving up old behavior patterns that are destructive to mywell-being like: sleeping all day, wallowing in my misery by not reaching out to share it with someone (sponsor or program person if possible), Having an “I can’t do this” attitude, feeling sorry for myself, harboring a resentment, andthinking only about the negative. If I truly want to get better I will go to any lengths by using the tools (meetings, sponsor, literature, phone calls, etc.) of this program.
This is a daily living program so if I want to get better I use it daily. If I’m not doing this, then I need to check my“desire.” Believe me, if I’m tired of being sick and tired (hitting bottom) and desperate, then this program gives me theoption to do something about it. The choice is mine, but the results are God’s...Renee

Emotional VoidI have found that the void deep down in myself cannot be filled by another human being, or by accomplishments I
make, or by attributes I have. As I work this program I find spiritual growth. When my power comes from my Higher
Power, both outside and inside myself, I find peace and serenity and that void is filled...Tess

Intense Emotions
Yesterday I had an emotion which felt like intense fear, where my head felt like it was going to explode, my thoughts
raced really fast, I couldn’t concentrate to hear my wife speak, I felt like I was going to lash out, and I felt like I was either going to go mad or run out of the building. It just felt so intense. I’m not sure whether this is anxiety or mania – insome ways the label doesn’t matter. I chose to accept this rather than fight it, and came home to rest. I’m not sharing
this because I want to share my troubles, but because I just wondered if any of you had the same intense emotions attimes, and what ESH you could give me about dealing with them. Is it best to keep going through these feelings orbetter to take a rest. I just feel quite lonely sometimes when it seems no one close to me can understand...Ian

Emotional Pain
I am in great emotional pain today. I am afraid of the cycle, Wednesday and Thursday - filled with anxiety, Friday andSaturday came with feelings of calm and clarity--happiness, joy even! And today a great sadness, and anxiety, but
mostly just a great heavy sadness that comes from anything it seems. Leaving Sofie alone in the apartment, seeing an
old man walking alone, the soap my mom gave me for my birthday (I showered with it and felt great sadness that
someday she will die and these little trinkets she gives to me will be only a memory). I don't feel well, I am cold and mybelly aches. I took a hot shower and made some tea. I feel very, very lonely.
Just trying to be present with my feelings, let them be. They are really painful. I don't want to make the suffering last
longer by reacting to them. I talked with a good friend, I'm writing to the loop, next I will do some work on my dissertation. When I surface from each thing, the feelings are still there. I acknowledge them, say to myself, they are hard tofeel, but they will pass. It's all I can think to do...SarahStuffing Emotions
It is true that once I embraced those ugly feelings inside me, I began to work through them. Stuffing any feeling isn't
healthy. After recognizing and accepting all of my feelings I am able to see them for what they are. They are how I
feel now. They will change. Some feelings last longer than others. when I truly see them and not try to hide them, I amable to accept and move through them more quickly than I had in the past. I also see the past in a different light now.
Grateful to live another day with unsolved problems...Irene

2015—2016 ea board of trustees
Region 1: Northwest - Treasurer
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY
Zoe L—Email: zoe.ea@comcast.net

763-432-7858

Region 5: Northeast - Secretary
CAN: NB, NF, NS, NT, PE,YT
USA: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Valerie C—Email: valcea@gmx.com

585-371-4347

Region 2: Southwest - President
USA: AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT
Gus S—Email: schloessergus@gmail.com

602-319-3890

Region 6: French-speaking Canada
819-319-9912
France B—E-mail: france.boulerice@gmail.com

Region 3: Central
USA: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NE
Lynne S—Email: lynnesmith50@hotmail.com

712-420-2058

Region 4: Southeast
USA:Tyrell D—Email: atdear08@gmail.com

706-782-2328
Puerto Rico

General Service Trustee - Vice President
Vince C—Email: vincovea@yahoo.com

603-891-1431

General Service Trustee - Trustee-at-large
Harold F—Email: hthnhhugs@aol.com

603-624-8455

General Service Trustee Scott J—Email: sdjakel@gmail.com

507-276-0323

Non-member TrusteePhyllis R—Email: eaphyllisr@hotmail.com

623-915-5795

Slogan 6—Look for the Good:
Thoughts from your trustees
It’s easy for me - and perhaps you as well – to take friends for granted despite the criticism we allow ourselves to fallinto. The same can be true to our daily tasks. If we look for the negative, we’ll be negative. But, focusing on thegood things that happen daily, be that in our relationships or in the events of daily living we’ll surely bring happiness
into our lives. So, Look for the Good and leave the negative behind ...Gus It has been my experience that attitude isa matter of perception. Generally, things are the way you think things are. I have been having a bit of a physical problem lately, my right leg is causing me pain. Sure, if it gets any worse, I will see the Dr. But the issue is, am I going towhine and complain about my leg, or be grateful that I feel the pain. The pain is what reminds me that I'm alive. I am
so grateful. Its pretty simple, I can look for the good, or sit on my laurels and not do anything, but complain...Lynne
When I look for the good, I look for that which "rings true" and comes across as authentic. When I look for the goodin people, I look past their exterior and their words/actions to see the good that my HP has created within them. My
initial looking is often for "what is wrong", so this call to be looking for the good is a great challenge—especially whenI look at myself. I'm glad for the discipline this slogan calls me to practice...Scott Looking for the good (in a healthy,realistic way) is difficult for me. One thing that helps me is to think of situations as learning experiences and opportunities to grow. Also Promise #4, which says, “No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we see how our experiences benefit others” is comforting. It helps to get my mind off of myself and onto someone else or something productive…ValPeople tend to prefer to associate with optimists rather than with pessimists, and the former tend to have bettermental health. When I got over my depression and saw I could have a brighter future, my recovery was assured. ..Vince“Few situations in life, it seems, are as good as we hope or as bad as we fear. Every situation can be viewed ineither a positive or negative light, and this will affect how we talk to ourselves and others. Positive self-talk will lift
us up and allow us to see over and above a bad situation…” It Works if You Work It , p 75

Events Far and Near:
don’t forget the EA Convention
September 23-25, Phoenix, AZ
Registration—Page 5

Emotions Anonymous™

Email Addresses:

PO Box 4245
St Paul, MN 55104
Phone 651-647-9712
Fax 651-647-1593
Hours: Monday—Friday: 10 to 4
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org

director@emotionsanonymous.org
editor@emotionsanonymous.org
info@emotionsanonymous.org
groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org
orders@emotionsanonymous.org
shipping@emotionsanonymous.org

To post an event, send your information to editor@emotionsanonymous.org .
Karen Mead , Editor