But….I Joined CoDA To Stop Myself From Doing Too Much!

(Excerpted From A Longer Article)

I believe this issue is one of the reasons we’ve had so much trouble attracting new intergroup members. First, we do not encourage new comers to CoDA to join intergroup, there is much service to be done at the meeting level! But once one has 6 months – 1 year (depending on the person) service on a larger scale can be a wonderful opportunity to grow in CoDA. I’ve personally found doing service to be a great way to learn to set boundaries & say no when I need or want to. Especially early on, I needed to learn what my limits are, & service in CoDA is a great way to practice in a safe environment. It’s also an excellent way to learn about the 12 traditions, make new friends in recovery, practice the 3rd tradition by actively coming to consensus & group conscience in a healthy & respectful manner, learn how to encourage & participate in building a healthy consensus, help to insure CoDA’s continued health & presence, & to just plain enjoy some fun & fellowship – we’ve been known to go out for coffee & conversation many times after service meetings!

Geff R.

Service Info

CoDA has many opportunities for service at various levels. CoDA recommends starting service at the local level, in your home group. Once you have an idea of your available time and talents, you may wish to branch to a lower (CoDA’s inverted pyramid indicates that groups are the highest level and each step down to Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc. is lower) level service at your intergroup, Voting Entity (State or Country) and finally at Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc. level.

CoDA encourages the fellowship to get involved at the International level!! Some of the opportunities have minimum service at a lower level, some do not… Service is CoDA’s twelfth step. It is important to take that step, but it is also important to do steps one through eleven before doing step twelve.

Step Twelve

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other codependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Enjoy taking that last step!