EA CONNECTION - MAY 2017Your monthly newsletter from ISC
To help support this publication donate at EA Connection

From the Executive Director, ISC
EA has so many meetings that are well-run and helping so manypeople! I am truly grateful for every person who does what they
can to support the organization and their group. We have added
hundreds of people to our Connection newsletter list in the past
year and I suspect many are new to EA. We’ve also had newgroups open, so I thought it might be helpful to share a few
points on how to have a helpful, consistent meeting. Evengroups that have been running for a while might benefit from areview of their meeting to make sure the EA program of recovery is being followed for the benefit of all.


The most important thing to keep in mind is that EA
groups have no permanent group leaders. Managementof the meeting should rotate, so everyone has a chance
to set the pace of the meeting, read, pass the basket
etc. Being a leader of a meeting for a period of time
(many groups choose leaders for 12 weeks if they are
working one step each meeting) can help people feel
connected and responsible beyond the meeting itself.
The second important point ties into the first: decisions
should be made by group conscience, not by one or twoindividuals. This means everyone gets a say in whateveris on the table. Maybe someone wants to change theorder of the meeting, or meet in a different room, orswitch leaders more or less often. The point is to makesure everyone’s voice is heard. (Helpful Concept #11)
Lastly, EA groups use EA-approved materials only. This isto make sure that the outside issues of religion, politics,
national or international issues or other belief systems
stay outside of EA meetings. People are certainly free toshare other materials before or after a meeting, but thepoint of the meeting is to follow the EA program. Equally important is to remember that you don’t have to accept all the EA materials – ‘take what you like and leave
the rest’ is an important part of the program too.
(Helpful Concept #6 & 7)

What does your group do that is especially beneficial to yourmembers? Email me at director@emotionsanonymous.org andI’ll share the responses!

EA Recovery Tools
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 selfpity lessen.
Just for Today 5: I will do somebody a good turnand 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 myneighbor.
Slogan 5: First things first.
Helpful Concept 5: EA is not a sounding board forcontinually reviewing our miseries, but a way to learn
to detach ourselves from them. Part of our serenity
comes from being able to live at peace with unsolvedproblems.
Tradition 5: Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its messages to the person who still
suffers from emotional problems.

Of Importance to Groups
1. We’re hearing that some groups are being
asked for insurance at the location of their
meeting. Please know that the ISC does NOT
provide any sort of insurance coverage.
2. Are you organizing a local event? Please let theISC know if you are holding something special so
we can share your information on the Calendar!
Send your notices to Event Calendar.
3. Has your group contact or meeting information
changed? Email Bobbie Jo with updates. Correct
information on the website listing is important sonewcomers can find a meeting or someone tocontact with any questions.

Memorials and Special Gifts
In memory of Sister Mary Jane Schmidt, Christopher K, New YorkRECOVERY USING THE TOOLS OF EAStep 5: Admitted to God, toourselves and to anotherhuman being the exact natureof our wrongs.
Experience
The first Fifth Step I did was hard as I
didn't want to face another humanbeing with my wrongs, or thepeople, places and things brought tome by recalling the shame I had. I
had hit my emotional bottom. I knew
the truth about myself, but I kept a
lot within. I felt God was the only
One that knew the truth. I used towalk around waiting for death. I was
too much of a coward to commit
suicide. I did try, unsuccessfully,
thank you God .
Strength
If I wanted to be released of selfbondage, I needed to begin changing
something within. I did this bymaking a choice to learn how to livewith emotional illness throughacceptance and surrender. I couldn't
do it for myself , so I did it forsomeone else until I could do it formyself.
Taking the risk of sharing my mostinner secrets was the beginning. I
began taking an inventory startingwith the most bothersome defects:
fear and resentments. I tried to findan easier softer way but having totake a moral inventory meant being
honest. Now, the word moral
opened my mind to the truth. To
thine own self be true, kept coming
to mind as I shared with my sponsor.
Facing the honest truth brought me
to a new beginning.
Hope
It wasn't until I dumped all the dark
secrets and risked as much as
possible that I felt the freedom ofspirit. To this day, I still write out a

Fourth and the next day do a Fifth
Step with another human being. I
still have those negative defects ofcharacter, but I learned how to makethem into assets using the steps.
Being in God’s good grace, and insociety brings so much happiness. I
am content with my life. I no longer
feel alone or disconnected withpeople, places or things.
My God is good, kind and forgiving. I
am not a bad person! This I
discovered through the EA programand it’s fellowship...Pat M
I'm so grateful that I did a Step 5
with my sponsor. One thing that I
learned is that I had judged mytransgressions way too harshly.
What a relief that my sponsor was
not shocked at all. I do believe thatdoing the steps is very important if
one wants to become emotionallyhealthier ...CarolI used to think that I was all alone
and really had no one to rely on butmyself. I used to think I had to do
everything all on my own and that I
had to be totally self-sufficient. NowI know that self-sufficiency is a lie. Ineed people! So I no longer isolate
and try to be a part of not only 12
step groups, but part of life daily. I
try to not add misery to any ones life
and if I do, I try to make amends
right away.
I am not perfect at any of this, but I
do the best I can - progress, notperfection, as they say.

If I am lonely, I try to remember thatmy Higher Power is always with me.
Then I truly am never alone, when I
remember that! I also try to reachout to others whether online or atface to face meetings or just in life ingeneral. Sometimes I ask my Higher
Power to give me the courage toreach out to someone when I am
nervous about it, too.
I am grateful for those of us inrecovery who keep coming back andkeep sharing what works for them.
When we share our solutions andwhat we are doing that is helping us,
well, that can help others, too. I like
Concept 5 through it I have learned
how to live serenely, even with
unsolved problems, by coming to EA
meetings. There I have learned lotsof solutions and am very grateful forthat. It is not like we don't haveproblems, but when we share a
problem we are doing to help
ourselves but it may also be helpful
for others.
When I hear someone dealing with aloss, I can see they are coping byreaching out. This gives me courage
to reach out when I am struggling
with a loss. When I hear someone
struggling and having a tough time,
but know they are going tomeetings, reading literature andpraying, I also know that they are inthe solution. That gives me hopethat I can do that when I am having atough time.
When I don't isolate,and keep being a partof Emotions Anonymous, I will neverreally be alone again. I am sograteful for that as then I will keep
being able to hear all the good things
I hear in these 12 step rooms. I hopethat by the grace of a loving Higher
Power I can keep sharing good things
I have learned...Connie

DISCOVERING THE TOOLS OF EABlessedI am blessed to know that I am POME (powerless over my emotions) and POOP (powerless over other people). I am
grateful to EA for it has taught me to reach out to people and God. While I do not always remember this, before EA, I
did not even know that this was the way for me to live a peaceful life, one that is getting more hopeful and filled withlittle joys. I am grateful today that I am up and hopeful, not overwhelmed despite a weekend filled with events which
would have once overwhelmed me. I am even looking forward to some of them. I have no expectations of any ofthem which may be why. EA taught me this too...KA Sane Life
Since coming into EA, the first 3 steps have done wonders for me to be able to live a sane life. A few months ago, I
started recognizing how essential steps 4-7 were too, to be able to really live life to the fullest. Along with this realization came lots of unwanted thoughts. Thoughts that I believed had just disappeared through the working the program,but alas they were still around!
I turned to program and therapy to help me sort through these negative thoughts. I could not function with obsessive
stinkn thinkn... The more I tried to take control over them and find strategies to will them away or to face them, themore powerless I felt and the more unmanageable my life seemed.
I looked into the program to help me deal with the thoughts and did not find too much literature linked to thoughts. I
hit gold when I found a book based on the experiences of members who worked the program in different fellowships.
They write how they did not get over their obsession (in my case: obsessive thinking or feeling) by themselves. They let
G-d do it, because "G-d could and would if He were sought. I still need to do the footwork; attend meetings, read literature, connect to the fellowship, and working the steps. I am making a choice to "let the grace of G-d enter to expel theobsession." The only way it works for me, the only way I can face this obsession and overcome it is through Steps 1-3. I
admit my powerlessness over my thoughts (as well as the feelings that come along too) and I hand them over to myHigher Power. I can't do it alone. Somehow when I let G-d in and admit my powerlessness over the thoughts that set
in, I feel more empowered. When I surrender them to Him, instead of taking control over them,He helps me find peace of mind...Bashie

Simply Done
Not using tools and slogans will put me quickly in a bad place. Do diligence following this simple program has relieved me of my fears, anger, and resentments. All it took was a little honesty, open mindedness, and willingness of thehow of our program. Then working the suggested Steps took care of my ME problem. Steps four and five along witheight and nine exposed all those secrets in my life. It was true what they said, "I was only as sick as my secrets." Making
those lists was not easy and it was not easy confiding in a human being all my secrets or making all those amends. I
Thank God for freedom today from myself as well as fear, anger, and resentments. It works when you work it...Randy

Valuing EA
I have come to value this EA program more than I ever could have imagined and I always thought it was a goodthing! It grows on me as I grow and as I grow I find deeper meaning in it...Twyla

Dearly Loved
How dearly I love our EA Program, as it has allowed me to be ME. Step Four sure helped me to IDENTIFY what I wasdealing with. My major defects were messing up my life a lot. Over the years of working the Steps, I've learned to out
maneuver most of my worst defects. When I fail, I've learned to poke a wee bit of fun at myself. Taking myself too
seriously I've found is not a sensible idea...CarolStarting OverI try to remember that I can start my day over at ANY time...Joe2016—2017 EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESGus S, AZ

Scott J, MN

France B, QC, Canada

Harold F, NH

602-319-3890
schloessergus@gmail.com

507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
Vice President/Treasurer(from Region 1/GST)

819-319-9912
france.boulerice@gmail.com(from Region 6)

603-425-2141
hthnhhugs@yahoo.com(from Region 5/GST)Valerie C, NY

Tyrrel D, GA

John W, MN

585-371-4347
valcea@gmx.com
Secretary (from Region 5/GST)

706-782-2328
atdear08@gmail.com(from Region 4)

612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com(from Region 1)

President (from Region 2)“ The Concepts provide us with the basic structure of EA”
Thoughts from your Trustees regarding: Helpful Concept 5
EA is not a sounding board for continually reviewing our miseries, but a way to learn to detach ourselves fromthem. Part of our serenity comes from being able to live at peace with unsolved problems.

I love Concept 5! We don’t focus on rehashing our problems, aches & pains, andall the other negatives. We focus on our experience, hopes and strengths based on
the wisdom and healing of the EA program! Our meetings and literature are positive and encouraging. This was a brand new way of thinking and living for me, itis now okay to live with unsolved problems. ...TyrrelA problem can become my whole life if I let it. I spend my waking moments
trying to solve something beyond my ability to solve or even comprehend. I stayup at night worrying. Meanwhile, there are people in my life who need me, andthings I can do to solve other problems. To me, Concept 5 is a suggestion that I
open my mind to the parts of life outside my obsession. I can start by paying attention to what I share in meetings...ValMembers at a meeting can listen to your stor y and miser ies, but we do notwant to hear them at every meeting without you revealing how you are improving
and using the program. I have found that I can receive serenity with the help of myHigher Power and the EA program...Harold
The beauty of this Concept lies in the wor ds “being able to live at peace with
unsolved problems.” At the end of the day when I am relaxed and feeling goodwith myself and the work of the day, relationally and professionally, then I knowthat I have put into practice the wisdom of Concept 5...GusLiving at peace with unsolved pr oblems is necessar y in life. The challenges are
not going to go away just because we have a loving Higher Power. In fact, it is myH.P.'s presence in the "muck" of life that gives me serenity and hope. If I just constantly review my miseries, I miss the chance to surrender to what is going on nowin life. The present (now) is a present (gift)...ScottEvent CalendarEAnon

Be sure to check the Event Calendar on theEA website for activities in your area andnotify the ISC if you are holding a special
event you would like to see on the calendar.
Send your notices to: Elaine, EA Director

Many of the shares used in
the EA Connection are fromour online discussion group,EAnon. Click here to learn
more about EAnon

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 Monday—Thursday: 10 to 3:30
Phone 651-647-9712
Fax 651-647-1593
PO Box 4245
St Paul, MN 55104
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org
director@emotionsanonymous.org
editor@emotionsanonymous.org
groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org
info@emotionsanonymous.org
orders@emotionsanonymous.org
shipping@emotionsanonymous.org