I hear often that our recovery is like a three-legged stool – emotional, physical and spiritual. All equal in their importance. But, my personal experience is actually different. To me, it is more like a pyramid.

The base layer must be the maintenance of my spiritual condition.  There is only one thing I need to do to maintain my spiritual condition.  I must seek. I have found that I really don’t need to have faith, trust, or belief in my loving Higher Power – although it is a delight when I feel these things. All I really need to do is seek. That is enough. That is huge! If I’m not feeling faith, trust, or belief, that is going on inside of me. It does not limit God’s love or healing. My seeking shows an openness to receive. And, isn’t that exactly what faith is? My seeking is a demonstration of faith – even if I don’t feel it. Please seek.

The middle layer of the pyramid is the emotional. This layer is all the inventories, journaling, and step work. For me, it is also outside help.  I am able to face the emotional challenges because of the strong foundation built in my seeking.

The top layer is the physical.  It is supported by the two layers beneath. It is the food plan that I email and bookend with my sponsor. It is exercise. It is pants that fit perfectly one day and maybe not so perfectly another day. It is movement. It is my body as I age and things shift around. It needs to sit on top of the other two layers. Although there are plenty of times that I want to make this the foundation of my pyramid, I find it topples over if I do.

Please build a strong and solid pyramid. Please pay attention to it and treat it with kindness, compassion, and love.

– A Grateful OA Member living abstinent and free from the bondage of self in Scotts Valley, California