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What’s in your TOOLKIT today?

Do you have a hammer?  Do you need a hammer? Do you hammer other people?  Are you kind or are you gentle?  Perhaps, you need a rubber mallet.

Regardless, I was told, I must keep my tools nice and sharp.  How about a tool chest?

How I Overcame My Obsession with Lust

“…By letting God do it. Because I couldn’t. But God could and would—and did. But I had to go to meetings to learn things like that… Going to meetings and working the Steps; that’s how I did it. That’s how I learned to let “the grace of God enter to expel the obsession.” Here’s what worked for me:

  1. Stop practicing the compulsion. I stopped acting out sexually in any and all forms, including sex with myself and non-marital relationships. There could be no relief from the obsession of lust while still practicing the acts of lust.
  2. Stop feeding the obsession. This meant eliminating from what was under my control all printed and visual materials and other symbols of my tyranny. I had to stop feeding my lusttool-chest by looking around, in my use of television, movies, and music; and by using and listening to the language of lust. I also had to stop living only and always inside my own head. That’s one of the great fringe benefits of going to a lot of meetings. Most of us sexaholics really live on the inside of our heads; we’re seldom in the real world.
  3. Participate in the fellowship of the program. I don’t know of anyone who can stay sober and free of the obsession of lust without such fellowship. I couldn’t. Fellowship is where the action is, where the magic is, where Connection is, where feeling part of is.  At first, all I could do was attend meetings. Then I followed the suggestion of getting involved in the mechanics of meetings: setting up, cleaning up, holding jobs such as literature chairman, treasurer, or secretary. Getting involved made me feel I could be part of, instead of apart from—my old nemesis. Later, I would be able to go out for coffee, start meeting with others one-on-one, and begin the painful but necessary process of growing up by coming out.” (SA WB pg. 158)