EA Connection—October 2016Your monthly newsletter from isc

From the president of the board of trustees:
Having just returned from the 2016 EA Convention here in Phoenix, and if you weren’t with us, I dare say you missed
out! Though low in numbers (40+ registered EA members from Canada and the United States) there was a tremendous
spirit amongst the participants. With the Theme of Sponsorship, the Convention Speakers and Workshops all focusedon one or another aspect of it. I’m sorry that you weren’t able to join us, but you will be able to listen to most of theKey Speakers, on our website, in the very near future. Your Trustees, along with our Executive Director, Elaine WeberNelson, spent a day and a half in executive session working to strengthen our Organization. We looked at possible scenarios which would increase membership; increase existing groups, as well as the establishment of new groups. Aswell, we looked at and began to make some proposed changes to the By Laws of the Organization to reflect the realityof our time. In addition we spent considerable time looking at the Financials of our Organization. Keep checking thesepages for additional EA information. Thank you for your support of our Organization and your Trustees!
Gus S , President, Board of Trustees

October tools:Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly
admitted it.
Tradition 10: Emotions Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence, the EA name ought never be drawn
into public controversy.
Promise 10: We intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
Helpful Concept 10: We have not found it helpful to place labels on any degree of illness or health. We may havedifferent symptoms, but the underlying emotions are the same or similar. We discover we are not unique in our difficulties and illnesses.
Just for Today 10: I shall be unafraid. Particularly, I shall be unafraid to be happy, to enjoy what is good, what isbeautiful, and what is lovely in life.

Of Importance to Groups:
Are you looking for an EA-related activity outside of a regular EA meeting? You can find retreats, public
information meetings, celebrations and any other type of activity related to EA on the EA website( www.emotionsanonymous.org). You can access the Event Calendar in three places on the homepage: At the very topof the page, click on Upcoming Activities; under the "What We Offer" tab, click on Event Calendar; or, scroll down thehomepage to "Activities" (under the left side photo of the hands) and click the link to the Event Calendar. Want to getto the Event Calendar right now? Click here: https://emotionsanonymous-org.presencehost.net/what-we-offer/eventcalendar.html
Does your group have an event they would like listed? Email Elaine at director@emotionsanonymous.org with theevent information and we'll get it listed on the website!

Memorials Donations & Special Gifts:
This is your place to acknowledge that special person in your life.
https://emotionsanonymous-org.presencehost.net/get-involved/donate.html
To help support this publication, donations can be made to: EA Connection

EA Tools
Step 10: Continued to takepersonal inventory andwhen we were wrong
promptly admitted it.
I found myself getting upset atsomeone tonight, so I just put theirname in my God box. I think I willcontinue to do this with anyone whoupsets me. I took my own inventory
just now and found that I wasstarting to get into a little slump. I
found that I was allowing someone
else to control me with what they dothat is hurtful. I commit to not allow
hurtful persons to control me and I
will continue to turn them over tothe Higher Power.
I do not want or choose to go into aslump just because someone was notnice to me. I can still be kind andloving to myself and still have acheerful life if I choose to. And I dochoose to have a good life. So taking
my own inventory just now, helpedme see what was going on and I
commit to just sticking with myHigher Power and trusting I will still
be okay and not have to go into any
slump just because of someone
else's cruel actions. Grateful I canuse the steps to help myself as I
continue to take my inventory daily
with the help of my HP...Connie
In the steps prior to the 10th, wehave been dealing with the past cleaning house, so to speak. We
have searched the corners ofmemory for grievances to beadjusted by means of our new viewof our role in life. Now, with Step 10,
this procedure becomes a daily
ritual; housecleaning that takes place
in a nightly review of the day's
happenings. "Continued to takepersonal inventory, and when wewere wrong promptly admitted it." If
this step becomes a part of our daily
life, there will be no backlog of guilt
to worry about; we keep order as wego along. today's reminder The 10th
step is essential to the promise we
make ourselves to live One Day at aTime. Although I cannot expect toachieve perfection, I can observe myprogress and enjoy the deepsatisfaction self-reflection can bringme. It may have little obvious effecton my outward circumstances at firstbut keeping myself receptive tosolutions will guide me to them.
Look to yourself - it is there all youranswers are found...Victoria

Just for Today 10: I shallbe unafraid. Particularly, I
shall be unafraid to behappy, to enjoy what isgood, what is beautiful,
and what is lovely in life.

affirmations, such as FEAR is False
Events Appearing Real; I can’t, Hecan, I’ll let Him; God don’t make junkand others.
If I can keep my fears at bay for evena little while, I’ll begin to build theconfidence I need to acknowledge,
and then let go of my fear. I willcelebrate the small victories, whichtell me that there is hope. So much isgood and beautiful in the world
around me. I will try to open myself
to this goodness and refuse to let myfears run my life...It Works if You
Work It, pages 146-147
I have lived most of my life in fear.
Fear of others, fear of situations, andfear of failure. I sometimes thinkback at my childhood and teen years
and reflect back on what I did not door try because of fear. I missed out
on carnival rides, swimming, skiing,dates, dances, kissing, holding hands,
oh so many things. I just never put
myself out there.

Telling me to be unafraid can belike telling me to win the lottery—it
seems
impossible.
Fear
has
motivated so many of my actions
and decisions, and has been thecause of so much anxiety. But the EA
program challenges all of my oldbeliefs, assumptions, and behaviors,so perhaps it is even strong enoughto help me fight off fear.

Today I watch my daughter struggle
with fear. She experiences and isfearful of things a bit different than I
ever was and in different ways but
still it stops her from trying, fromexperiencing. Sometimes I think herhomeschooling and lack of worries
about self with peers helped withthat. Now- that she is back in school I
notice the confidence has fallen
again.
My daughter’s therapist
suggested she ask
herself one
question when she gets fearful/worries/or has those thoughts thatplay over and over in her mind:

Then, when that first shadow of fear
approaches, I can fight back byrecalling the good feelings I enjoyedon that special day. I will stay
positive by reaching for my

What is the worst thing that could
happen? Avoiding and running justkeeps you away from this emotion.
Face it—or it will always be there
waiting for you...Belinda

This reminds me and frees me totake time to smell the flowers, lookat the sky, admire the sunrise orsunset...JoeEa tools applied: Today Book
One Easy Word: Approval
One easy word of approval has the ability to change even the most bizarre state of affairs...Today, August 6.
When I was growing up, I did not get the approval I longed for from my parents. I got approval at school from myteachers but it was not enough. I never stopped yearning for it, or killing myself to get it. I seemed to have an insatiable need for it. The lack of approval at home, as well as the great amount of disapproval, was more than I could endure, but as with most children, I had a lot of resilience. It took a long time for my spirit to crumble and break.
I started getting unconditional acceptance and approval when I came into 12-step recovery. I found "easy words of approval" which were foreign to me. What I saw was that they approved of me and accepted me because of who theywere, not who I was. I eventually realized the same was true with my parents—they were who they were because ofwhat had happened to them and where they had been. They had no idea how to give approval because it had notbeen given to them, freely offered. Now I can accept approval as well as give it. What a gift...GailGrow Up
For a good part of my life it always seemed people were telling me to grow up...Today November 6This reading for today a good reminder of "progress, not perfection.." Before coming into a 12-Step program, I believed that when there was an issue I needed to learn from, I was supposed to work through it in one day and then not
be upset by it again. I finally had to admit that this wasn't how things actually were for me. I may have to work on it
for what seems like a long time. Often something I thought I could respond to in a healthy way, hits me again withthose same emotions, maybe even stronger.

One way I can see an event is that it is a "growth opportunity." Sometimes this idea restores my sense of humor, because of the delightful way that a long-time member used that expression when she shared in meetings. More often
my response at first is to resent what's happening. The attitude of that long-time member gives me hope.
The reading for today also gives me hope. I like the concept of negative traits being replaced with positive ones. Forme, that's what Steps 6 and 7 can bring to me. My Higher Power can change my attitude when I'm willing to use ourprogram tools. When I can get back to "one day at a time," I can let go of the history of a problem. I'm working on another 4th Step, and I'm inspired by how others use the 10th Step...AnonymousAcceptance self and others
Acceptance, the magic word in my life—Today July 29
I love the word acceptance, I love the action of acceptance. The more I work Steps five, six, seven and eight, the more I
learn how to accept myself and how to accept others just the way they are. Acceptance for me is the by product ofworking the program. As I come to know myself better, to face those things that maybe aren’t so pretty, the better able
I am to accept others.

A big character defect of mine was disbelief in God. Another one that grew out of the lack of belief in God was “selfrighteousness.” Today I have more faith in a Power Greater than myself and less faith in myself…thank God. Acceptance was not something I ran after. I ran after God and finding Him in the center of the Steps—in the center of mybrokenness—in the center of my “sins.” I am so thankful that the program is a life long process. I used to resent that Iwould never be done, but now I look at the steps and the tools as part of my road map for maneuvering my emotionalself to places I could never go without the insight and faith that working the steps offers me. I love the promises of EAand I am blessed, thankful, and grateful to say I have experienced them all...Jessica

Too much thinking
My life is occupied often with too much thinking and not enough feeling...Today, December 3
What a great reminder that I need to continue to work the steps in my life, "One day at a time.” I am a person whothinks and analyzes a lot and this causes me pain. I think things over and over until I am totally drained and exhausted.
But when I apply the 4th step and write down the exact nature of my wrongs, it is a way of getting it out of my headand out of my body, helping me to recognize my feelings and emotions...Clare2016—2017 ea board of trustees
Region 1: Northwest
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY
John W—Email: johnwerner52@gmail.com

612-760-0313

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

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
651-647-9712
USA: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NE
Currently vacant, contact ISC: info@emotionsanonymous.org
Region 4: Southeast
USA:Tyrell D—Email: atdear08@gmail.com

706-782-2328
Puerto Rico

General Service Trustee - Trustee at large

585-371-4347

603-425-2141

Harold F—Email: hthnhhugs@aol.com
General Service Trustee - VP, Treasurer
Scott J—Email: sdjakel@gmail.com

507-276-0323

From your Trustees: Slogan 10—I need people
The slogan, I need people, helps me confront my persistent self-sufficiency tendencies. I'm often forgetful of the factthat I'm created to be a social being. Plus, team work makes the dream work, right?. When I allow others to contribute to my life, things go well. Isolating is deadly. Connecting with others is life-giving. It's about as plain as that. Specifically, to the person reading this, I need you!...Scott I Need People has been one of the hardest slogans for me toaccept. I had to be too independent too young, and this remains a habit. I can accept that I need people to practice
Step 12, but I also need them just to love and accept me. The program helps me form a relationship with a Higher
Power that can be a model for relationships with other people...Val The truth of the matter is that I can’t recoveralone! I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I need the support, the encouragement, the understanding, the love of others, and quite
honestly, that’s why we have groups. As I listen to your stories, what’s worked for you and what hasn’t—apply yourexperiences to my own and in the process become a healthier person. I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you. ..GusIt Works if You Work IT—I need people
And people need me. I have unique gifts and talents that make me a valuable contributor to other people’s lives,
even if only in small ways. .I have to be involved in the affairs of the world in order to be at my best. If I have social
anxieties and phobias, I will try to get help for them. I will try to leave the house at least once each day, maybe justto say hello to a neighbor on the street, or at least make a phone call to a friend or relative. I will try my best to get toat least one EA meeting a week...continued page 78, It Work if You Work It

More from ISC
The 2016 Annual Report is on the website now, at http://emotionsanonymous.org/who-we-are/financials.html.
The ISC needs your help! We will be starting a research effort soon to identify other organizations/individuals whoshould know about EA. Contact Elaine at director@emotionsanonymous.org for more information.

EA Events & Activities
For a listing of current events go to
http://emotionsanonymous.org/getinvolved/2016-events-activities/
To post an event contact Elaine at:director@emotionsanonymous.org

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