Spiritual Principles for Everyday Life

The Companion Workbook

What this workbook is for

The purpose of this workbook is not to teach you how to work the Twelve Steps. It is to give you an opportunity to explore what happens when the spiritual principles behind the Steps become part of everyday life.

There is no right way to move through this workbook. You may want to read an entire section before beginning to write. You may find yourself stopping after a single question. You may want to discuss something with another person.

That’s okay.

The purpose is not to complete every page. The purpose is to discover something.

Entering the Principle — Hope

In the book, we explored Hope as a spiritual principle and considered what happens when we begin to believe that our circumstances, our lives, and perhaps even we ourselves can be different.

Now we move from understanding the principle to exploring what Hope might look like in everyday life.

Hope is more than wishing for a particular outcome. It can be the willingness to believe that something different is possible—even when we cannot yet see how it will happen.

This exercise isn’t about convincing yourself to be optimistic.

It is an invitation to look at an everyday situation through the lens of Hope.

Look – What do I see?

Think of a situation in your life where Hope might have something to say.

• What is actually happening?
• Where do I feel discouraged or uncertain?
• What possibilities, if any, do I see?

You don’t need to change your perspective yet. Just look.

Understand – What am I Learning?

• What do I believe is possible?
• What am I assuming cannot change?
• What does Hope ask me to consider that I may not have considered before?

Sometimes Hope begins simply with becoming willing to consider that something different may be possible.

Consider the Possibilities – What could I do?

• What could I do differently?
• Is there someone I could talk with?
• Is there another possibility I haven’t considered?

Evaluate – What might happen?

• What would this require from me?
• What might happen if I chose this course?
• What risks or uncertainties would I have to accept?

Hope does not require certainty. Sometimes it simply gives us enough possibility to take the next step.

WHAT AM I WILLING TO TRY?

Not because you know it will work.

Not because you can guarantee the outcome.

But because you are willing to believe that something different may be possible.

A Final Thought

What becomes possible when I am willing to believe that change can happen?

Note: This is a selected excerpt rather than the complete exercise.

COMING SOON

Spiritual Principles for Everyday Life is being prepared for publication.

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