This week we will explore promise number two of the 12 promises. The second promise is as follows:

I am going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

Wow, this sure seems like a huge promise. Well right off the bat, I will tell you that I am experiencing this promise. It has come true in my life and it manifests itself every day. I also must admit that sometimes I think it manifests itself too much. Sometimes I feel like the star (I think it’s Jim Carey), of the movie Liar Liar. He wasn’t able to tell a lie. Well, with my new freedom, I have no need to hide who I really am from myself or others. In the past I never wanted to stand out from the crowd. As a matter of fact I wanted to be as invisible as possible. Now, I am no longer afraid of other people’s opinion. In the second step I really did come to believe that I was going to be assisted by a power greater than myself. The jury is still out as far as me being restored to sanity. However, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this feeling of freedom is in knowing that I no longer have to be afraid to be me.

This newfound freedom also allows me to eliminate the judgments of others. Because I am able to look at my “real” self, in other words, the spiritual self that was created by God, I need not be afraid. In essence, no one can hurt me!

I must also, however, be aware that others may not have experienced this awareness and may not be ready for my open, unafraid behavior. I have learned, I hope, that the gifts that I have received from God come with the certain amount of responsibility. My/our goal, as receivers of this beautiful 12-step program, must use it to help others to find this beautiful way of life that we have found.

It is in living this responsible and loving way of life that I received this newfound happiness. I’m not sure if I should even use the word happiness because what I feel now is not seem like the same kind of happiness as before. My happiness of the past seem to be shallow and almost unreal. The happiness I feel now is wholesome, loving and connected to my Spirit and God.