Tools of recovery

ACTION is the magic word. We have found these actions helpful to create for ourselves an environment of order, beauty, and serenity.

Meetings: We attend meetings to learn how the program works and to share our experience, strength, and hope with each other.
Telephone: We use the phone to keep in touch with other members of the fellowship between meetings. We make calls before and after any critical action (bookending). Talking on the phone helps both members.
Daily action: We do something each day to further our recovery, doing what we can, no matter how small. Our goal is progress, not perfection.
Buddies: Buddies are CLA members and helpmates in recovery. We may call them with our daily plan or ask for help with a project.
Sponsors: Sponsors are CLA members who are committed to recovery through the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. A Step sponsor leads us through the 12 Steps of recovery. We choose a sponsor who has what we want. The sponsor and buddy may be the same person.
Literature: We use CLA literature and that of other 12 Step programs. Literature is an ever-available tool that helps us gain insight as well as strength to deal with our problem.
Service: Service is giving back to the fellowship, from holding office to doing cleanup. It helps us to feel a part of the group and to solve problems coöperatively.
Focusing: Our goal is to do one thing at a time.
Streamlining: We honor what we own by setting limits on our possessions. We keep only what we use, and have space for. We realize that the more we acquire, the less we enjoy what we already have.
Earmarking: We provide a place for our possessions and return them there. We create a home for anything before bringing it in. When we add a new item, we release an old one. For accessibility, beauty, and peace of mind, we keep some empty space.

We believe that we can recover from cluttering and use our experience to benefit others. We believe we are entitled to surroundings of serenity and order and joyous lives. We simplify our lives, believing that when we need a fact or item, it will be available to us. We nurture our spirits by surrounding ourselves with beauty and harmony.

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