A sponsor is another person in recovery who offers guidance and support in a one-on-one relationship. Sponsors offer support in between meetings. They listen, offer suggestions, and will guide you through the 12 Steps. With a sponsor you will begin to see that you are not alone, and will never have to be alone again.
The best way for us to find a primary sponsor is to go to many meetings. By listening to enough people talk, we will find someone with whom we identify and feel comfortable. Usually our sponsor turns out to be someone whom we respect and want to be like, and who has the kind of recovery program we admire.
| SUGGESTION: | When someone at a meeting has things to say that you like, spend some time after the meeting talking with that person. Ask what meetings he/she regularly attends. Suggest that you have coffee before or after a meeting and ask for his/her phone number. Make plans to meet so that you can learn more about each other. |
| SUGGESTION: | Ask your program friends who sponsors them. Remember that finding a primary sponsor is a process that can take some time. |
A few guidelines will help in picking a sponsor you can work with effectively. As usual, there will be exceptions, but these are proven principles that have worked over the years.
SOME FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CHOOSING A SPONSOR
- Has what we want
- Lives in the solution
- Walks the talk
- Has a sponsor
- Emphasizes the Steps
- Has worked more Steps than we have
- Is available for telephone calls and meetings
- Emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the program
- Gender is the same as ours
