|
One of the purposes of ACA meetings is to encourage emotional sharing about intimate, delicate, painful and sometimes long buried feelings. This is critical to coming out of isolation and is very difficult work. The payoff is being able to reconnect to and feel our feelings, both in the past and in the present moment. We may have reacted to past criticism and harsh judgement by disconnecting from ALL feelings in order to protect ourselves. To try sharing again and reconnecting feels like a big risk and a climate of tolerance and acceptance must be present to help encourage this important growth step. Crosstalk discourages sharing. It is disrespectful and discounting to the person sharing from the most vulnerable, intimate part of their being. ACA meetings should be a safe place to share without ANY unnecessary noise or movement including criticism, advice giving or having an unrelated side conversation. Please take a moment to review the following definition. What is "Crosstalk"? Crosstalk can be: Giving unsolicited feedback, advice-giving, answering, making you and we statements (as opposed to "I" statements), interrogating, debating, criticizing, controlling or dominating. It may also include: minimizing another person's feeling or experiences, physical contact or touch, body movements, such as nodding one's head, greeting or calling another person present by name, or verbal sounds and noises. "In our meetings we speak about our own experience and we listen without comment to what others share. We work toward taking responsibility in our own lives, rather than giving advice to others. Crosstalk guidelines help keep our meeting a safe place." Thank you for reviewing this important part of personal sharing and healing. LINKS: Orange County ACA Home Page The new ACA Blog site Read posts and post your own messages Common Characteristics Does this sound like you? The Problem This is a description, not an indictment The Solution The healing begins when we risk moving out of isolation 12 Steps The pathway to change The 12 Traditions ACA policies and guidelines Other ACA Meetings Links to Online Recovery Resources, Information, Message Boards, Chat Rooms. The Serenity Prayer "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change The courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." Crosstalk |