So I think it went okay with my new sponsee. I’m beating myself up about the things I should have said or wish I said better. I also talked too much. I’ll go over all of that with my sponsor and then let it go.
In the moment it is hard for me to remember that I don’t have to be perfect. In theory I know how to sponsor, but in reality I’ll have to practice and deal with mistakes. I still make so many mistakes in my own program, it was silly to believe I could share it with anyone without flaw.
On an OA friend's suggestion I reread the sponsoring pamphlet from OA and read the AA 12 & 12 for the first time last night. These will definitely help. I've had that pocket-sized 12 & 12 for over a year, but I never read it until last night. I'm excited to read the rest.
Maybe I need a touchstone or cheat sheet to hold on to when talking with sponsees. This is what I would write on it today:
- Ask HP for help
- It’s not about me
- Don’t pontificate
- Use my weakness to illustrate
- Go to the literature
What would you write on your sponsoring touchstone?
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