15 Spiritual Principles of Recovery

IMPORTANT: The following materials are not officially approved by Narcotics Anonymous.

We talk so much about “Practicing the Principles” without possessing a working understanding of what they are, especially for our newest members. The following list is an aide to better understand what the Principles are. Later, in our recovery, we learn to apply them in our lives. May the Grace of a Loving God aid us in this effort.

• Acceptance • The action of consenting to receive
• Awareness • Knowledge or Perception of a situation or Fact
• Balance • Enabling someone to remain upright
• Commitment • The state or Quality of being dedicated
• Compassion • Sympathetic, pity and concern of others
• Discernment • The ability to judge well
• Discipline • To obey rules or code of behavior
• Empathy • The ability to understand, share the feeling of others
• Encouragement • The action of giving one support
• Faith • Complete trust, or confidence in someone
• Forgiveness • The action or process of forgiving
• Gratitude • The quality of being thankful
• Grace • Simple elegance or refinement of movement
• Honesty • The quality of being honest
• Hope • A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen

For more about Spiritual Principles, watch the Living Principles Podcast hosted by Maurice G on YouTube.