Carry the message to others–through sponsorship.

Felt the strength and support from having a sponsor? And ready to give back? Or maybe you’ve heard about having a sponsor and want to learn more. No matter the situation, read on to see how sponsorship can fuel your recovery. Sponsors work one-on-one with another compulsive eater sharing what works for them, walking alongside their sponsees. They use and share OA Tools and slogans, study, work and apply the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and offer support when it’s needed. This connection—to Higher Power, to spiritual Principles and practices, and to other recovering OA members—is a crucial part to recovery.

There is no prescription on sponsorship (as a sponsor or sponsee), but here are some tips from another member to guide you:

As a sponsee, I do these things:

• Am honest with myself, my sponsor, and my Higher Power
• Call my sponsor on time daily
• Cultivate awareness of my Higher Power
• Ask for assistance from other OA members to temporarily sponsor me when my sponsor is unavailable
• Listen to and reflect on my sponsor’s feedback
• Practice being a responsible OA member in fellowship with others, by using all the Tools, having a home meeting, doing service, being kind and honest with others, and welcoming newcomers
• Sponsor another member or members as I’m sponsored
• Willingly do Step and Tradition studies to learn
• Celebrate recovery milestones
• Honor anonymity as to the sponsor’s identity – if that is requested by the sponsor.

As a sponsor, I do these things:

• Welcome my sponsee’s daily calls and emails Listen to my sponsee’s food plan and program work daily
• Gently reflect on OA Tools and spiritual Principles with my sponsee
• Share honestly, and willingly about my experience, learning, stumbles, growth, and gratitude in recovery
• Highlight areas of growth I notice in my sponsee’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual recovery
• Encourage my sponsee to be open and willing with me and seek assistance from other OA members and trustworthy professionals as needed
• Listen for yellow and red flags in my sponsee’s recovery and talk about these openly, honestly, and willingly
• Let go and let God when I can’t be helpful to a sponsee
• Celebrate recovery
• Help the sponsee work through the Twelve Steps
• Honor the sponsee’s anonymity if that is what the sponsee requests

 

Copied from OA website

A list of available sponsors is maintained by this intergroup. If you are looking for a sponsor, or are available to be a sponsor, please send an email.