Chattanooga Area
of Narcotics Anonymous
Drug Problem?
Find a Meeting
October 12, 2026 |
Being right |
| Page 298 |
| “When we admit that our lives have become unmanageable, we don’t have to argue our point of view… We no longer have to be right all the time.” |
| Basic Text, p. 58 |
| Nothing isolates us more quickly from the warmth and camaraderie of our fellow NA members than having to be “right.” Insecure, we pretend to be some kind of authority figure. Suffering from low self-esteem, we try to build ourselves up by putting others down. At best, such tactics push others away from us; at worst, they draw attack. The more we try to impress others with how “right” we are, the more wrong we become. We don’t have to be “right” to be secure; we don’t have to pretend to have all the answers for others to love or respect us. In fact, just the opposite is true. None of us have all the answers. We depend upon one another to help bridge the gaps in our understanding of things, and we depend upon a Power greater than our own to make up for our personal powerlessness. We live easily with others when we offer what we know, admit what we don’t, and seek to learn from our peers. We live securely in ourselves when we cease relying on our own power and start relying on the God we’ve come to understand in recovery. We don’t have to be “right” all the time, just recovering. |
| Just for Today: God, I admit my powerlessness and the unmanageability of my life. Help me live with others as an equal, dependent upon you for direction and strength. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
October 12, 2026 |
Practicality in Action |
| Page 295 |
| “It’s not what we think about our recovery that matters; it’s what we do.” |
| Living Clean, Chapter 1: Living Clean, Opening Essay |
| When we first come into recovery, we may think everyone in the room is lying. A member recalled thinking, “They can’t possibly be that happy . . . and really, no one can stay clean for 30 years, let alone 30 days in a row.” We may even tell ourselves there is no way we can stop using and have a fulfilling life. Despite our internal monologue, we continue showing up to meetings and putting some cleantime together. We take suggestions, pick up a commitment, get a sponsor, and begin working Steps–all the while thinking, This won’t work for me. We do our best to ignore that devious little voice inside us. After all, what we have been doing up to this point hasn’t really been working either. As we take these practical actions, the heaviness lifts from our hearts. We experience moments of joy and freedom–clean. We realize that we have been doing all of the things we’d told ourselves were not possible. Now we have six months clean and our lives are so much fuller than we thought they could be. When we share in meetings, we realize that we’ve become those people who we thought were lying to us. One of the most practical things we do is to show up and tell the truth about our lives. When we no longer need to fabricate stories and justifications, it frees up a lot of mental energy. We share our victories, our process, and our mess as they are happening. While the disease still talks to us, nowadays our recovery also chimes in to remind us that we’re right where we’re supposed to be. Doing the footwork frees us to live in the present. We have a solid foundation and a network of connections in our recovery community. Our world has become fuller and more fulfilling. We have found a family in Narcotics Anonymous. We want more of these gifts, so we continue to put one foot in front of the other, doing the things that brought us to this point. |
| I will take a practical approach to my recovery today. I’ll thank “the committee” in my head for sharing and take positive actions that enhance my recovery and my life. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
About NA
Anonymity
The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict thinking about going to a meeting for the first time. Anonymity also supports an atmosphere of equality in meetings. It helps insure that no individual’s personality or circumstance will be considered more important than the message of recovery shared in NA.
Who are members of NA?
Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug.
How does NA work?
Addicts helping each other recover are the foundation of NA. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members. The core of the NA program is the Twelve Steps. These “steps” are a set of guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face the challenges of daily living.
Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious organization and does not mandate any particular belief system. It does teach basic spiritual principles such as honesty, open-mindedness, faith, willingness, and humility that may be applied in everyday life. The specific practical application of spiritual principles is determined by each individual. Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is a process, ongoing and personal. Members make an individual decision to join and recover at their own pace.
NA Meetings
Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted. Most NA meetings are held regularly at the same time and place each week, usually in a public facility. There are two basic types of meetings those that are open to the general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely in format. Some formats are: participation, speaker, question and answer, topic discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery.
NA’s primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction. NA meetings are informally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting. NA meetings and other services are funded entirely by member contributions and the sale of recovery literature.
Reprinted from A Resource In Your Community.
Anonymous World Services, Inc.
PO Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409
October 12, 2026 |
Being right |
| Page 298 |
| “When we admit that our lives have become unmanageable, we don’t have to argue our point of view… We no longer have to be right all the time.” |
| Basic Text, p. 58 |
| Nothing isolates us more quickly from the warmth and camaraderie of our fellow NA members than having to be “right.” Insecure, we pretend to be some kind of authority figure. Suffering from low self-esteem, we try to build ourselves up by putting others down. At best, such tactics push others away from us; at worst, they draw attack. The more we try to impress others with how “right” we are, the more wrong we become. We don’t have to be “right” to be secure; we don’t have to pretend to have all the answers for others to love or respect us. In fact, just the opposite is true. None of us have all the answers. We depend upon one another to help bridge the gaps in our understanding of things, and we depend upon a Power greater than our own to make up for our personal powerlessness. We live easily with others when we offer what we know, admit what we don’t, and seek to learn from our peers. We live securely in ourselves when we cease relying on our own power and start relying on the God we’ve come to understand in recovery. We don’t have to be “right” all the time, just recovering. |
| Just for Today: God, I admit my powerlessness and the unmanageability of my life. Help me live with others as an equal, dependent upon you for direction and strength. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |