I was reading up on an Al-Anon concept. Here, it begins with Step 12, then goes into Tradition 11, to expound on the concept of "attraction rather than promotion". For those who do not know, Al-Anon has 12 *steps*, 12 *traditions*, and 12 *concepts*....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Step Twelve
Having had a spiritual awakening as the
result of these steps, we tried to carry this
message to others, and to practice these
principles in all our affairs.
This Step summarizes the entire Al-Anon program.
Simply stated, it encourages us to share the
Al-Anon message as we continue to practice the
principles of the program on an ongoing basis.
Though we may feel eager to let others know
how the program has worked in our lives, there
is yet another step we need to take before forging
ahead—we need to determine how to carry the
message within Al-Anon’s Traditions.
Attracting
Tradition Eleven
Our public relations policy is based on
attraction rather than promotion; we need
always maintain personal anonymity at
the level of press, radio, films, and TV. We
need guard with special care the anonymity
of all AA members.
Tradition Eleven provides a meaningful road
map; by following it we become ready to carry
Al-Anon’s message outside of our group.
We begin by reaching out to the public through
the media and the professional community to let
them know that Al-Anon/Alateen exists as a valuable
resource for families and friends of alcoholics.
Tradition Eleven states that our public relations
policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.
So what’s the difference?
What is “Attraction”?
In Al-Anon, attraction means we share how the
program works for us and how it can work for others.
We attract when we convey that Al-Anon and
Alateen groups are friendly and inviting to all.
Attraction is drawing others to us by reflecting
positive qualities. Means of attraction include:
*providing information
• Generating goodwill
• Cooperating with professionals and the media
• Explaining how Al-Anon/Alateen works in
our lives
What is “Promotion”?
If we “promote,” we no longer merely exhibit our
value and worth; instead, we are in a “selling” mode
that may result in resistance rather than encourage
the attraction of new members. Promotion means:
• Using “pressure tactics”—not taking “no” for
an answer.
• Making promises.
• Comparing ourselves to self-help or professional
programs for families.
• Exaggerating or misrepresenting Al-Anon’s
purpose; that we can help everyone.
• Presenting ourselves as a spokesperson for
Al-Anon Family Groups, by allowing our full
name, face, and membership to be identified at
the level of press, radio, TV, Internet, and film.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I kinda admire the concept spoken of here. Its explained in greater detail here than usually spoken about in the "rooms". Its normally spoken of that we dont push people, we hope that they will see something in us that they want to have,..... whether that be sobriety in body, healthy in mind, stable in emotion, or healed in the spirit.
When I was in my toxic christianity, I could be controlling in that I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, or at least thought I did. Therefore, it was easy to excuse away that I was looking out for people when I pushed Jesus on them, albeit in ways not always easily detected or implied by myself. I wont say I really wasnt ocncerned for people; I was....but my motives could not have been pure, or else I wouldnt have found it so difficult to live and let live, and simutaneously find that a beautiful, peaceful, and serene thing.
I find that now that I reside on the post-legalist side of my life, I still can have a tendency to promote my ideas or convictions, rather than attract by how I simply live, speak, and think. I have good intentions in that I want to promote unity, and not conformity; diversity, and not uniformity. But is that my job? I am possibly just supposed to live in unity, and allow for diversity.....and let others work out for themselves their own salvation. It allows space for people to breathe, and it makes room for them to birth their own path of discovery, and to hear from God their own prescription. I think I am to be there when requested or called on, but not develop a doctrine for all people. To point toward goodness, loveliness, and Jesus.....but not use a finger when doing so.
I am wondering what all your thoughts are. I do not desire to promote Jesus, but to attract for Him, without perhaps using so much energy. It is a nice thought.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Hi Mary; my name is Monika :)
I am not sure if my email is on my blog home page, but if it is not, it is melanchonika@yahoo.com. Let us bow our heads in prayer, and earnestly pray that no spam artists visit this web page and fill our inboxes with tons of ugly SPAM! Haha!
Mary, legalism so poisoned me, to the point I was not the same person....or shall I say, the person I was MEANT to be. It infiltrated and permeated every part of me. Yet, I thought I was sooooooo right. Thats what scares me about the ill of legalism. Not to mention when you leave the 'camps', you are shunned or abandoned often. It is a very lonely place to be. My family was falling apart, too, as both my husband and I were coming out of legalism together, though he still suffers more than I from its devastation.
I struggle for moderation too! I like to call it 'balance'. Did you know that Type 4's especially struggle to maintain balance, and not swing to extremes on the pendulum? I mean, it is common to all men, but I know for myself I have daily battles, and an ever guilting mind. It can be so exhausting at times.
I am glad that we have joined each others blogs. :) I thought you perhaps didnt like a lot of my ideas and deleted your posts form awhile back. It doesnt matter why, I was just feeling a bit bad about it; all is ok now though! :) I know, too, that I acted or spoke blluntly at times on Generation Cedar.....part of my ongoing struggle to maintain balance, love people, and speak what I think has been revealed to me....truth. I dont know it all, but I know that legalism infects many; it is a monster. I have seen too many hurt people to give up ever speaking abnout it....but I have to learn, as you said, speaking in moderation.
Thanks for writing!
Hi, Monika. No, I deleted my comments and my follower because it looked like you weren't going to blog anything. I'd go to your site and you hadn't written anything, and I figured you decided not to blog and quit following. Lots of people only do one post and quit. I was pleased to come back and see that you had started writing some stuff.
Plus, I am a "paranoic" and periodically go around the internet where I have left comments and delete all of them, just in case I said anything not nice. I deleted most of my comments off of Cedar because I thought they sounded rude or stupid. Such a "4" thing to do!!! I am also tempted regularly to delete my blog entirely because it maybe sounded stupid or "un-pastor's-wife-like.) Glad I have not done that.
Anyhow, we can delete these 2 comments off of your site here so that no spam artists get our e-mails. I will do that in a couple of days.
Oh, you never sounded stupid! People dont judge us, or view us, near as harshly as we view ourselves!
I like your blog, and think it is a wonderful, peaceful place. You have much good to share and Id be sad if you ever deleted it. Are there rules somewhere about what Pastors Wives can and cannot do or talk about? Just checkin'. ;) I didnt think so! LOL!
Yes, there are rules! Some of them are pretty funny. I did a blog on it. Go to my sidebar and click on the label, "pastors and pastors' wives." I re-printed a couple of things from books. Very funny.
Post a Comment