The EA Connection: May 2018Your monthly newsletter from ISC
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EA Tools for Recovery
Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Promise 5: The feelings of uselessness and self-pity lessen.
Just for Today 5: I will do somebody a good turn 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 some small act of love for my neighbor.
Slogan 5: First things first.
Helpful Concept 5: EA is not a sounding board for continually reviewing our miseries, but a way to learn to detach ourselvesfrom them. Part of our serenity comes from being able to live at peace with unsolved problems.
Tradition 5: Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its messages to the person who still suffers from emotional problems.

From your Board of Trustees
EA has openings on committees and the Board for the next
fiscal year (beginning July 1). Below are reflections fromyour current trustees. If you are interested in learning
more about the openings, please email Elaine at:
director@emotionsanonymous.org . Thank you.

Why do I serve on the board? I find that I can take myrecovery regarding relational, mental, and emotional issues/problems to a whole new level through my servingon the EA board of trustees. I am called to a high level ofresponsibility as I carry out my role as a trusted servant
in this capacity - it's not just my personal recovery that I
need to attend to. Questions I ask are these: Am I being
rigid and controlling? Do I let my ego (over identification) get in the way of how I relate to projects and people in this position? Am I responsible to meet deadlines? Can I think about what is best for the EA community - and get good input from others - even as decisions
are made that may not be popular? For me, getting theopportunity to serve on this board demands that I surrender so much to my H.P. and to trust this Higher Powerto guide me in all aspects of my life. It's a joy and - honestly - a source of some frustration and fatigue to serveon this board. I wouldn't have it any other way! This is
how I can grow and see positive change in my life. Serving in this role can (hopefully) help our whole organization to move forward to be more whole and healthier inthe days to come. I hope others who are committed totheir own personal recovery and are willing to do what it
takes to move this organization forward to brighter days
will also step forward to serve in this way, on a com-mittee or on the board. We, and all the people on thisplanet struggling with their thoughts and emotions andin their relationships need your help!!...Scott JIt’s simple. I believe in myself. I believe in the program.
I’ve seen results of my working the 12 Steps of the program. My emotional life has stabilized. The Promises
have become a reality for me. Without this belief andthe insights I’ve gained because of my working the program, it would be very difficult for me to serve as a boardmember. But since I’ve seen the program “at work” inmy life, as well as others in others, I believe I have theinsights needed to serve as a trusted servant. I understand the pain that individuals and groups, especially thenew members, live with day in and day out. While I
don’t always have “the answer”, I can draw on my own
experience and speak from that perspective. Lastly, having worked Step 3 over and over again in my time in EA, I
rely heavily on my Higher Power for the insights, and patience I need while attempting to make decisions thatwill benefit individuals, groups and EA as a whole. I’m
proud to be a Trusted Servant serving Emotions Anonymous...Gus S
Serving on the board is away to give back for all I havereceived. It is also a way to honor the people that were
here for me 27 year's ago when I needed help. If wedon't take care of what we have, it is going to be gone.
There is way more to this than just going to a meeting
once a week. I don't think most members know how
much work is done by the great group of people in background . Serving on the board is a way to give back for all
I have received., just one small thing I can do...John W

Specials Gifts and Memorials
In memory of Sister Mary Jane, who led me to EA —- Christopher K, Ontario, CAN
In Memory of John K— Susan, AZ

Recovery using the Tools of EAof our wrongs.
Havinganemotional illness
is a bummer!
Doing a Step Fivehelped me a lot. I
did it with my sponsor Pamela. She
wasn't horrified at all. Amazing! I
learned in EA f2f meetings that wewere as sick as our secrets. I haveshared all of my secrets. No one
abandoned me. I don't believe that
the EA program is easy. I have neverfound anything worthwhile thatcame easily. My words for thenewcomer, please please be KIND
to yourself! Do NOT beat yourself
up, that activity helps noone!...CarolEXPERIENCE
It was so difficult for me to face
another human admitting my wrong
doings. I thought it might kill me todo so. I carefully chose a person I
knew would keep my personal
business and could trust in theirhonor. It wasn't as hard as I thought
it would be trusting someone. My
sponsor and spiritual adviser bothwould hear my fifth step.
STRENGTH
As I held onto my written fourthstep...I began to feel as though I
wanted to die. I knew is was best to
get the fifth done before any regrets
or procrastination held me backfrom the telling the truth. I didn't
reread it because I knew if I did...myperfectionism would kick in. I
thought doing the fifth step would

bring me serenity. I was so sick andtired of being emotionally sick. I was
ready to be rid of the heavy load I'dcarried around for years. I didn't
want to suffer anymore, I wanted tolive in reality.
HOPE
Admitting my character defects
didn't kill me. I thought the world
would come to an end. I thought somany things would go wrong but I
kept plowing through. I wanted tohave the freedom to make better
choices. To be happy without feeling
guilty. I wanted to learn how to livewith myself. And, for this I needed
to learn to rely on my HP, myself
and another human being.
I found that the fifth step is an ego
buster. I had so much false prideand no humility. I couldn't laugh at
my mistakes nor did I realize mymembership to EA was a life timemembership. I continue to makemistakes, I make wrong choices, I
have adversities. But thanks toworking these Steps the Promises
have come true in my life. .Pat M

Slogan 5: First things first.
This helps me to not to be in thefuture but stay in the present. So
I've taken it to mean "take care of
the things that are right in front of
you before you start thinking about
things further down the road". So inother words do the first things first.
Let the rest come later...Sophie
When living "First Things First" inmy life, I actually make a plan for
the week. I have that where I cansee it daily. Those are my "firstthings first" that I need to do each
day to help me stay wellemotionally. Things include weekly

12 step meetings in my town andonline EA meetings, my volunteer
job work, daily exercise, dailychores, meetings with friends orfamily, a class I attend or otherappointments. Then after I makesure I do my important things, I canthen do other things I want to do,but I make sure I keep in my mind to
do the most important things firstand not procrastinate on them asprocrastination is a defect I need totry and "not" practice.
"First Thing First" in my life is having
the desire to be well emotionally. SoI ask myself if something that I am
going to do is going to help me withmy emotional life or not. If it is not
something that will help me with myresponsibilities or is not something
good for me to be doing, then I just
don't do it. I make sure I pay my bills
on time and my rent, make sure I
buy healthy foods, make sure I
budget my money since I am on a
fixed monthly income and I ask myHigher Power daily to please direct
my thoughts, my feelings, myactions and my words. I am not
perfect on all this, but this is what I
strive for when living "First Things
First" in my life ...Connie

Today I have put my emotional
concerns aside, and decided totackle my to-do list. After putting
laundry away and paying some bills,
I'm feeling productive and more in
the present
moment. This is anice relief after
several days of
being in my head
worrying/stressing.
I'm grateful for the slogan 'firstthings first.'...SarahDiscovering the tools of EA
Self-Esteem
Today I am 64 years and 1 day old. As yesterday was my birthday, I heard from each of my adult kids. And each ofthem were frustrated with their inability to get in touch with their siblings. I just said, "I'm sure you'll work somethingout." Not my job to own or try to solve their problems. But it took me down memory lane, to the good old days.
"MOM...She called me a poo-poo head!" Well, ARE you a poo-poo-head" "No, I'm not." "Then it doesn't reallymatter what she said, does it?" "MOM...He said my picture was ugly and I can't color good!" "Do YOU like your picture and think the coloring is good?" "Yeah, I do." "Then it doesn't really matter what he said, does it?"
I was, without really thinking about it, teaching my children something I myself had not thoroughly learned. If, after
examining something unpleasant said about me (inventory) I find that it's not true, then it truly doesn't matter. It's
about the other person, not me. It's time to let it go.
If I discover it is true, then I can make amends, clean my side of the fence, and make the effort not to repeat the behavior. And let it go. Much of the time now, I find that I am really not a poo-poo head. And I let a lot of things go. Still
Learning...Abbey

Self-Disclosure"Only through self-disclosure do we discover the beauty of self." However, self-disclosure is something I need to workon in terms of choosing appropriate venues, contexts and people. I am grateful for the generous folks who allow meto share, but I also see how in this world some people are not comfortable with others' weaknesses, foibles and/orneurosis. Much less to listen to them. I speak from experience where I have made professional and even friendships abit strained due to too much disclosure of personal vulnerabilities. I am not bitter, but wiser and again I now tend toerr on holding my cards closer to my chest with most people. It alleviates guilt, increased vulnerabilities, and ammunition for those who may like to hurt or diminish others. I do think my psychiatrist was right in suggesting the world canbe cruel. I think in protecting oneself and cultivating safe and respectful relationships, one may have a chance to beemotionally well. I do not have any answers about why abuse happens, but being on the receiving end along a spectrum of affronts and forms, I think I can respectfully say I need to protect myself. Moreover, I do celebrate the forumand people that allow for open and honest sharing about fears, vulnerabilities, painful experiences and emotionaltroubles, thank you EAnon...Cynthia

Self-LoveI really like Today’s reading (April 5) about how my daily inventory helps me see how my shortcomings alienate mefrom me and me from others. Alienation has been a big part of my life. I have isolated from others and I saw that as achoice for protecting myself from getting hurt again. What I missed is that the same decision also separated me frommyself.

I lived so long separated from my heart, my feelings, my soul and spirit. I did not know what I liked or wanted. I did notknow anything except what was in my head and most of that was trash talk to myself.
When I found this program I slowly began to discover myself. I like to say that I came home to myself because for thefirst time in my life I was comfortable in being me. I know that part of the journey was discovering loving accepting
fellowship in the rooms. Then I began to learn how to love myself.
Loving myself is a daily struggle. I have years of practiced habits where I don't love myself: I eat too much and did thewrong things. I don't take walks, I trash talked about me, I blamed and sit in self-pity. I let my emotions lead me instead of containing them, accepting them, and releasing them.
Now I am learning to journal, to sit quietly with my feelings, to share those feelings with others. I am learning honesty.
I am learning how to affirm myself. I am learning to congratulate myself on the exercise I do and whatever other positive action I take. I am learning to sit quiet and be. I am learning to practice gratitude where ever I go and what everhappens. I am learning to receive and to give to true friends. I am learning and growing instead of being stuck andalone and this has changed my whole life and outlook...Wren2017 - 2018 EA Board of Trustees
Please feel free to contact members of the Board with questions or conGus S, AZ 602-319-3890 schloessergus@gmail.com President (from Region 2)
Scott J, MN 507-276-0323 sdjakel@gmail.com Vice President/Treasurer (from Region 1/GST)John W, MN 612-760-0313 johnwerner52@gmail.com Secretary (from Region 1)
Valerie C, NY 585-371-4347 valcea@gmx.com (from Region 5/GST)The 12 Principles, Step 5: Integrity
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being theexact nature of our wrongs.
In the early 1950’s Twelve Step groups began informally sharing what has
become known as the Principles of the 12 Steps. Each step has a corresponding
principle that one can keep in mind when working the steps. Below members
share how integrity factors into Step 5 for them.
INTEGRITY is a “life-word” for me. I’m in integrity when my thoughts, words,
and actions are lined up/congruent. If I make promises to deliver on something
and I fail to deliver, I’m restored to integrity by apologizing, making amends,
and making new promises. Then I seek to stay in integrity in that aspect of mylife. The 5th principle of EA, integrity, is a gift to me, in keeping me on trackwith my recovery toward healing and wholeness in my life and in myrelationships. Through integrity, I emphasize my responsibility to manage mylife, with the help from my Higher Power….Scott JINTEGRITY – the gift of assuming responsibility for who we were yesterday (theperson who no longer exists) – not the individual we are today (a new creation
if you wish). Getting to where we are today, took courage (4 th step principle) as
we looked at our shortcomings and took responsibility for them, and ultimately,
sharing them with self, a trusted individual and our Higher Power. This
integrity allows us the freedom to become who we are both on the outside andinside of ourselves. What gift this integrity is!...Gus S

REGIONS OF EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS
Region 1: Northwest
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY
Region 2: Southwest
USA: AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT
Region 3: Central
USA: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NE
Region 4: Southeast
USA:Puerto RicoRegion 5: Northeast
CAN: NB, NF, NS, NT, PE,YT
USA: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Region 6: French-speaking Canada

Emotions Anonymous™
Hours Mon—Thurs: 10 to 3:30
Phone 651-647-9712
Fax 651-647-1593
PO Box 4245
St Paul, MN 55104
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org

It Works if You Work It, pages 39-40.

director@emotionsanonymous.org

We are now ready to admit “to God, to ourselves and to another human being
the exact nature of our wrongs” in Step Five. In some ways, this step may beeven more frightening than Step Four. It’s bad enough to write theembarrassing details of our lives, but to share them with another person? That
seems like going too far. And it is.

editor@emotionsanonymous.org

All of the steps go too far, past our own safe boundaries wherewe.ve been hiding out for most of our lives. The reason forsharing this step in three ways. With ourselves, our Higher
Power, and another human being is to show complete
integrity (commitment to a higher moral purpose) by breakingdown each of these boundaries.

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