June, 2020
Volume I, Issue 2

Quick Tip of theMonthStrength & Hope
A message in support of emotional well-being.

Trustee reflection—Derita P.
A friend of mine died a week ago (not from the coronavirus).
We gathered outside to celebrate her life and at the end of the celebration we released about 100 helium filled balloons. Most werered, since that was her favorite color. This was my first social interaction since the start of the spread of the virus back in March. I was
happy to be around people and many of whom I know and love.
Before the pandemic, I always took these types of gatherings forgranted, believing that we could always get together anytime. Thiscoronavirus has really made me reflect on what is important in life.
With my friend's death and all of the deaths we're hearing about
everyday, I've come to the conclusion that, without a doubt, people— all people — but especially my loved ones, are the most important things to me. I had believed that before, but now it is reallyhitting home. Thank God for Emotions Anonymous! It made me
the person I am today. It taught me about gratitude and how not totake things for granted. It taught me that I am not alone.
With the changes I’ve faced due to this virus, I was beginning tofeel alone and isolated, but I remembered that I am not alone, ever.
I have this wonderful fellowship, people who love me and most importantly, the Higher Power I found here. You all loved me until I
learned to love myself. You promised me that when I was new andyou kept your word.
I love Emotions Anonymous. I owe my life to EA.

Stuck in working the EA program? Keep a list of the Just
for Today’s on your bedsideand read one every morning.
Then reflect on that once or
twice throughout the day,focusing on putting just thatone practice to work in yourlife. By nightfall, you cantake satisfaction in making
progress in the program in
one small way!

Your Trustees
Scott J.— MN
507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
President
John W.— MN
612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com

Vice President
Colleen C.— MN
651-245-5461
coyne2003@hotmail.com
Secretary
Paul N.— NJ
201-264-1807
paul@nobleequity.com
Treasurer
Derita P.— OH216-624-3559
deritapippen@gmail.com
Steve B.— CA
909-438-4938
stevebell_28@yahoo.com

Reflection on Step 6 — Steve O.
The Month ofJune’s Tools forRecovery
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
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, nortry to improve or regulate anybody except myself.
Slogan 6
Know yourself — be honest.
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.

The principle of willingness brings up questions about mywill compared to the will of God (as I refer to my HigherPower). I have tried sacrificing my will to create room for
God to make me recover. Now I worry I was just taking theeasy way out.
Sacrificing my will came too close to avoiding responsibility, and made it too easy to blame God for whatever happened. Now I see God inviting me to join in the work of myown recovery where I can exercise my own will in line withwhat I understand of God’s will.

Out of the Fog — Jeri R.
The EA program I discovered when I was down and feelinghopeless changed my life. I remember coming to my firstmeeting being very scared of my feelings. I had been conditioned to believe that my feelings were bad — not to be expressed; that they made people uncomfortable. As a childand adult, I hid my true feelings around my life experiences.
The result? I did not know what I was feeling about peopleor situations and I did not trust my instincts.
Often I had been told that I was imagining everything I wasfeeling. I would often be disapproved of by the people I wastrying to share my feelings with. So I would stuff my feelings instead of learning that they were a gift to me andlearning to be comfortable with them and then let them go ifthey did not serve me. Looking back, not being able to feel
my reality and express my true self, hindered the formationof a solid identity.
When I came into the EA program, I met people who werekind and not afraid of my feelings; in fact, they had thesame feelings and experiences. We identified with each other, and I learned to live in the solution to my problems rather than analyzing things over and over again and creating
more pain for myself. I was taught to use my mind in ahealthy way, not against myself, and to stay in peacefulspaces and with positive energy people. The group members
taught me tools and slogans to help me achieve balance anda sense of peace. I feel understood and not alone anymore
thanks to the EA program and fellow members.
You can find the Trustee Reflections on the website,www.emotionsanonymous.org.
This month we focus on Promise #6
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Contribution Gratitude

Member Profile: Vincent G.

EAI could not operate without donations and we deeply appreciate yoursupport! Recent gifts have been received from these groups:

How did you find out
about EA?

South Euclid, OHBurlington, IAMontclair, NJ
Salem, OH
Midwest City, OK
Bloomington, MN
Costa Mesa, CAAtlanta, GA
Burk’s Falls, ONToronto, ON
Reading, UK
Mississauga, ON
Nerang, QLD
Reykjavík, IS
Slovenija, SI
Intergroup—
Switzerland

In Memory of:
Bob M., from theOwosso, MI group
Administrative NewsWe are happy to report that the shelter-in-place order in Minnesota was lifted as of May 18, 2020. However, ourGovernor encouraged those who could
to continue to work remotely for now.
For EAI, this means some employees
are back in the office during their regular hours and some are only in theoffice on Thursdays. Hopefully members have not noticed much delay during the past, in spite of having to reduce work hours for a few weeks andthe changes in work locations.
We are also happy to share two new
pamphlets—Confidentiality and Higher Power—with the membership.
Much thanks goes to your Trustees forworking on both of these.
Thank you to all EA members who
contributed on Giving Tuesday Now(May 5th) and during the month-longeffort. We raised $1,770! Your support keeps the EAI organization running!

I discovered EA in 2018
while searching online forresources to help me deal
with some painful, ongoingemotional issues. EA sounded like what I was looking
for, so I went to a meeting tolearn more. That first meeting was a game changer. I
kept going back.
What has life been likesince becoming an EA
member?
Today I am in a better placeemotionally thanks to theprogram. I often feel calmand happy instead of riled
and grumpy all the time. My
relationships with others are
improving instead of worsening. I am learning to livewith uncertainty instead oftrying to control the uncontrollable and then freaking
out when I (inevitably) failto do so. I am working on
accepting my past without
judgment or shame, insteadof denying it. I have a higher
power in place of a void.
Do you have any tips orthoughts to share with other members?
In addition to the 12 Steps,
EA has 12 Traditions that
we read at every meeting. At
my first meeting, the third
tradition grabbed my attention: “The only requirement
for EA membership is a desire to become well emotionally."
To me, this spoke of belonging (all are welcome),
shared experience (we geteach other), and flexibility(take what you need andleave the rest.) EA turned
out to be a great fit for me.

Please write!
We encourage member reflections! Please submit yours tosubmissions@emotionsanonymous.org. Reflections should be
no more than 200 words. Please note which step/promise/tradition etc. you are referencing.

Office Information
EAI P.O. Box 4245 St. Paul MN 55104-0245
Office Hours: M-TH 10a.m.—3 p.m. CT
Phone: 651-647-9712
www.emotionsanonymous.org
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