Inspired by the principle in Tradition 7
For much of my life, I lived in a cycle of self-pity and victimhood. It was a loop I couldn’t seem to
escape—bad things would happen, and people around me, well-meaning as they were, would
respond with sympathy and support that only deepened my sense of powerlessness. I wasn’t
financially or emotionally independent, and when I struggled, others would offer help—money,
advice, comfort. Rather than uplifting me, it reinforced a role I didn’t know how to escape: the
victim.
It wasn’t until I gained awareness of this pattern that things began to change. At first, the
awareness was frustrating. I could see the cycle, but I couldn’t break it. I was still trapped, still
reacting the same way, still feeling helpless. But then something shifted. Through my spiritual
growth and the help of my Higher Power (HP), I was given a simple but powerful direction: take
responsibility.
At first, I didn’t understand how. How could I take responsibility when life kept throwing
hardships my way? But I trusted the insight, even if I didn’t know how to apply it. I started
small. I took responsibility for my actions—even when I overreached and tried to take
responsibility for things that weren’t mine. But I didn’t let that discourage me. By then, I had
developed enough self-love to avoid spiraling into shame. I just kept trying.
Over time, I began to see more clearly. I learned to take responsibility for only what was truly
mine and to stop absorbing the burdens of others. I started to investigate how I ended up in
certain situations instead of simply reacting to them. Slowly, the pattern began to unravel. My
commitment to this principle—and the trust that my HP had my back—became stronger than
my need to be rescued.
Today, I’m not perfect, but I’m free more often than not. I recognize when the victim mindset
starts to creep in, and that awareness now triggers something different in me: action. I take
responsibility. I trust the outcome to my HP. And it works.
The biggest shift? I no longer feel sorry for myself—and because of that, others no longer feel
the need to rescue me. That change in me has shifted the way people respond to me. It’s a
powerful example of Tradition 7 in action—not just in terms of financial self-support, but
emotional and spiritual self-sufficiency.
I could never have turned that cycle around without the program, the fellowship, and most
importantly, my Higher Power. Taking responsibility isn’t just a principle—it’s a path to
freedom.
-Val B
©2026 Experience Strength & Hope Newsletter,
All rights reserved. Proudly sponsored by OA Foot Steps VIG #09670.
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