EA CONNECTION - AUGUST 2017Your monthly newsletter from ISC
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From the EA Board of Trustees President

EA Recovery Tools

I’ve recently had conversations with individuals wishing to introduce EA to their corners of the universe. I’m always encouraged
with the interest of individuals who wish to help spread thegood news of our program and am careful to explore with themall of the elements that go into a new start-up. I attempt to discover whether they are familiar with the EA Program; our 12Steps, Concepts, Traditions and Promises. If they are not, I ask ifthey are familiar with the 12 Steps? Do they attend a Meeting?
If the answers are No, I then explain the challenge ahead to assure a good meeting environment beginning with finding a location; the question of rent; a day and time for the meeting andthe task of letting the public know of the new meeting. And
then the difficult reality that it might be several months withoutanyone walking through the door, usually related to fear and thestigma of mental health illness. And then: “you really don’twant me to start up another group, do you” My response: to thecontrary, I desire for you to be successful while being aware ofthe challenge which lies before you and to not be discouraged if
the beginnings are a challenge and, sometimes, a disappointment. Many groups come and go for differing reasons, but by
following the procedures spelled out by the ISC I’m convinced
we’ll have more successful groups for our membership. Assuring healthy EA groups is our hope as we move into the future.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!...Gus S

Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had
harmed, and became willing to make amends tothem all.

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

Promise 8: Our whole attitude and outlook upon life changes.

Slogan 8: Know yourself-be honest.
Just for Today 8: I will stop saying, “If I hadtime.” I never will find time for anything. If I
want time, I must take it.
Concept 8: The steps suggest a belief in a Power greater than ourselves. This can be human
love, a force for good, the group, nature, theuniverse, God, or any other entity a member
chooses as a personal Higher Power.
Tradition 8: Emotions Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service
center may employ special workers.

Of Importance to Groups
Please ensure your group's contact andmeeting information is up-to-date.
If your group information isn't accurate on thewebsite or in our office, we can't provide
meeting information to individuals searching forhelp when they call or search the website.
Send your updates to Bobbie Jo, group coordinator or go to Group Data to submit changes yourself. Thank you!

Memorials and Special Gifts
In acknowledge of the many fine trustees that have served
over the years. Your gift of service has been invaluable.
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RECOVERY USING THE TOOLS OF EAStep 8: Made a list of all
persons we had harmed,and became willing to
make amends to them all.

times slowly. I can be optimistic today. But I can also be realistic. Life
constantly changes. I am better prepared today to deal with life on life's
terms…EdI am only starting to see now, howmuch I blamed others for my own
problems. Others need to change,
not me If only this or that, If only
this person was like... I am also realizing the hurt that I have done toothers. Some of which didn't evenfigure on my step 8. But it is never tolatetolearnand
makeamends...Stefanie

Before the program I had great difficulty with honesty because I was notable to connect between what wasand how I wanted it to be. When I
started the 12 Step program theytalked a lot about honesty. As I really
started working the 12 Steps I saw
how important it was to be honest
both with my self as well as others.

The previous seven steps havebeen a process of changing our selfcentered attitudes and actions bylooking within ourselves. It is now
time to repair damage done in thepast by making the necessary
amends. Step Eight helps us restore
personal relationships and lifts us
out of our isolation. With it we canaccept responsibility for our past inorder to let go of the old pain. Releasing the past brings healing andallows us to live in harmony withourselves and others...EA Book(editors note: pages 65-68 of the EA
Book has excellent information onworking this step.)

Slogan 8: Know yourselfbe honest.
My attitude is still not best at times
but I'm getting better at it. It is constantly changing, and even though I
don't see it, it improves a little bit ata time. I don't think gloom anddoom as much as I used to. I still do,but they are just moments. They
pass - Sometimes quickly, some-I had a chance to see how honesty
plays a big part in relationships. I
had a person sharing with me someof their thoughts and feelings whichwere pretty intense but their behavior did not line up with what was
being shared. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and believed thatthey were being honest. This went
on for a long time. Finally I had tostart checking on their words and I
found that they had been lying tome for sometime.
I allowed it to go on without validating the words that were shared.
Now I have to deal with the feelings
which come from being in a dishonest relationship. I've had to admit
my part in this mess and know thatmy weaknesses are not arrested justbecause I practice the EA program. I
am thankful that I know these feelings will pass. I see all experiences
whether bad or good as learning
opportunities. The EA program hastaught me how to be gentle withmyself as well as others. PaulConcept 8: The steps suggest abelief in a Power greater than2ourselves. This can be human
love, a force for good, thegroup, nature, the universe,
God, or any other entity amember chooses as a personalHigher Power.
I am not powerless over my interpretations of all the things that happen to me in my life. I am coming tobelieve that all the things in my lifethat I need faith in my Higher Powerfor - are addictions. I am starting tobelieve that perhaps my peace, happiness and joy come from accepting
my Higher Power’s will for me.
The more I open myself to listening
and understanding His will, the morepeace and happiness will come fromwithin. The 12 Steps are in my life tohelp me let go of my will and replace
it with His will. In other words, mystruggle is a question of authority:
who’s in charge of my life - myself or
my Higher Power?
If all this is true, then anything thatgets in the way of that is an addiction: money, power, fame, sex, family, friends, work, hobbies, religion,even myself. All these things are a
replacement for my Higher Power’s
will for peace, happiness, and joy forme. It doesn’t mean they are wrong
or they should be renounced; itmeans they are not the path to thepeace that can come only from God.
So the more I follow His will for me,the more peace I sense. The more I
try to replace His will with worldly
concerns and things, the more I
struggle...Chris

DISCOVERING THE TOOLS OF EAAcceptance is hard to comprehend. I thought if I accepted something, that meant I liked it
and I wanted it to stay. But this is not what acceptance is. Acceptance means being honest
about what is happening in my life, what I am thinking, and what I am feeling. When I canstop denying and rebelling against myself, I can relax and let go of the control. When I
stop trying to control, as the First Step suggests, I am open to the learning and healing
which are waiting for me...Today Book, November 24
What a good reading. I am realizing that my answer to life right now is acceptance. Acceptance of myself. I becameaware the other day when I wrote about my shame, the belief that I am not good enough. That people treat me poorly because I am not good enough or likeable or even worse yet, not loveable. This deep shame creates a lot of difficult
feelings for me that I have ran from for many many years because it's painful. I am learning that I don't need to sit andfigure out why I have shame or where it came from. I don't need to understand why I feel angry or why others dowhat they do. I just need to accept my feelings and accept myself.
Right now, I don't truly know what that means. I wanted to start taking actions into figuring it out, but I remember thatwhen I try to control myself, and force understanding into myself, that is my way of trying to control when and how
fast I change. That isn't up to me, instead it's about the journey. I want everything fixed right now in my time. That isbecause I don't like the painful feelings associated with whatever is happening in the moment and so my way to "dealwith it" is to fix it and move on. I understand now that in order to heal from all of this, I have to go through it. I amscared, truly scared.
I realize that I don't really accept a HP because I don't believe I am worthy of it. I was meditating the other day andinside I heard a voice that said it’s time to start a life of freedom and acceptance and that a HP is here for me and it's
time to start cleaning house because I deserve a good life and I am loveable. That its okay to let go of all of this shame,and it's okay to let go of this depression and that there is a new way to live. I am going to trust that healing is possible
and continue to live in acceptance and be patient in learning what that means...Emily
Maybe like many people, I have had trouble with the true meaning of "acceptance" around the 12 step rooms.
When I heard people say that they didn't like something, but they accepted it, I didn't understand. This reading says it
pretty well, it doesn't mean that I like something, or allow it, it just means, I am accepting the facts of the situation.
From there I can decide what I want to do about it, if anything. I have done a lot of "denying and rebelling against myself," even when I didn't think I was doing so. I've told myself I was accepting reality, when I wasn't. All part of mylearning...GailAcceptance of things as they are has been the key to my serenity this weekend and this past week. Being sick, I
have done none of the projects I thought I would do. I am grateful music has proven to be satisfying and even healing,but is mainly by accepting things as they are each time plans changed or l was tempted to have regret, that I have kept
my serenity and peace of mind...Joe
I have found reading the EAnon posts about acceptance helpful. I have been gaining in acceptance by sharing myauto-biography with my counselor. I am starting to see that my problem is a sickness and not a statement of me as aperson. My counselor used the words "clinical depression." I have known that is my diagnosis but I am not used tohearing it said out loud. I think she said this because she can see that I am shifting my way of seeing my depression. I
really liked the post on change and how we resist it. I have resisted change at times because of fear.
I know that if I ask God to remove my character defect of perfectionism, self-insults and negative
thinking, I will have to re-learn how to think and act, but I know that I can do that and accept it...Tracy32016—2017 EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESGus S, AZ

Scott J, MN

Harold F, NH

602-319-3890
schloessergus@gmail.com

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

603-425-2141
hthnhhugs@yahoo.com(from Region 5/GST)John W, MN

773-720-1827
disaster_man@msn.com

President (from Region 2)
Valerie C, NY
585-371-4347
valcea@gmx.com
Secretary (from Region 5/GST)Jack M, IL

612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com(from Region 1)(from region 3)“ The Concepts provide us with the basic structure of EA”
Thoughts from your Trustees: Helpful Concept 8:
The steps suggest a belief in a Power greater than ourselves. This can be human love, aforce for good, the group, nature, the universe, God, or any other entity a member chooses
as a personal Higher Power.

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

The key words in this concept are “…a belief in a Power greater than ourselves.” And the beauty of our program is that it is universal, excluding no one.
It welcomes all without exception. Why do I say this? Simple. I recall a period
in my life when I was angry with God (my HP), and looked elsewhere….and realized that my HP could go beyond “God” as this concept so wonderfully states.
As I was able to work through my anger and frustration, I soon realized the other words of this concept: “…any entity a member chooses…” and Step 11 “…aswe understood Him…” Concept 8 is truly a gift to us in our EA Program!...Gus
I'm so grateful for this concept that invites me to set a parameter around whomy Higher Power is and is not. Knowing that our High Power is a "force to be
reckoned with" means that I have a Spiritual Stronghold in my life that can becounted on to strengthen me in my life-long recovery!
I have a choice! I choose to rely on my Higher Power's presence to help me
grow in resiliency and wholeness each day...ScottConcept 8 opens the door of EA recovery to everyone, regardless of religion
or lack thereof. It also gives long-time members the freedom to question theirbeliefs and change if that is what they need to do. By practicing live and let live,
I become more able to learn and grow in recovery...ValEAnon
Many of the shares used in the EA Connection are fromour online discussion group, EAnon. Click here to learn
more about EAnon. And here to view recent issues ofthe EA Connection. A special thank you to the memberof EAnon who share their ESH!
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Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as theresult of these steps, we tried to carry
this message and to practice theseprinciples in all our affairs.

The ISC receives dozens of requests each month, asking howto start a new group. A big barrier to getting groups started isthe cost of the "starter kit" of EA materials. We'd love to givethese away, but our budget just doesn't allow for that.
So... we want to start a New Group Scholarship Fund: donations would cover half the cost (the other half coming fromthe individual or group starting the meeting) of getting thebasic EA materials to people who want to convene a newgroup.
Would your group be willing to contribute to this fund? If so,please send in your donation with a notation for the Scholarship Fund - or check that box on the online donation form.
Thank you for helping share the message!

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