Humility expressed by anonymity
“Humility is a by-product that allows us to grow and develop in an atmosphere of
freedom and removes the fear of becoming known by our employers, families, or
friends as addicts.”
Basic Text p.72-23
Many of us may not have understood the idea that “anonymity is the spiritual
foundation of all our traditions.” We wondered how this could be. What does
anonymity have to do with our spiritual life?
The answer is, plenty! By guarding and cherishing our anonymity, we earn spiritual
rewards beyond comprehension. There is great virtue in doing something nice for
someone and not telling anyone about it. By the same token, resisting the impulse to
proudly announce our membership in NA to the world-in effect, asking everyone to
acknowledge how wonderful we are-makes us value our recovery all the more.
Recovery is a gift that we’ve received from a Power greater than ourselves. Boasting
about our recovery, as if it were our own doing, leads to prideful feelings and
grandiosity. But keeping our anonymity leads to humility and feelings of gratitude.
Recovery is its own reward; public acclaim can’t make it any more valuable than it
already is.
Just for today: Recovery is its own reward; I don’t need to have mine approved of
publicly. I will maintain and cherish my anonymity.