Working With Others…

Page 18 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that “The ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished”

When a sponsor sits down with the newcomer and shares their lived experience of alcoholism and addiction, and how they reached a point of desperation leading to the willingness to change, and how that change was manifested through the process of the 12 steps it creates an understanding that transcends the boundaries of mistrust that many newcomers have and creates an alliance of shared hope and open-mindedness.

The importance of early and effective sponsorship can not be stressed enough, the valuable teachings of an alcoholic who has worked the 12 steps is vital to the newcomer in learning how to understand the process of working the steps themselves.

A sponsor is there to guide the newcomer in early recovery, to pass on the teachings of the 12 step program that was passed on to them by their sponsor.

Sponsorship is about leading the newcomer, the sponsee, through the process of understanding powerlessness and finding a power greater than themselves that they can learn to rely on to solve their problems for them.

When Bill W. sat down with Doctor Bob, 83 years ago, and passed on what was freely given to him, he created an “ever widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men” that has enabled the recovery of millions of people around the world!