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X-WR-CALNAME:Discovery and Empowerment Meetup in Central Denver\, CO J
	uly Meetup in Denver at Postal code 80205\, United States - Eventful
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DTSTART:20090712T150000
DTSTAMP:20090712T201411Z
SUMMARY:Discovery and Empowerment Meetup in Central Denver\, CO July M
	eetup
DESCRIPTION:  The 16-step empowerment model is a wholistic approach to
	 overcoming addiction that views people in their wholeness-- mind\, bo
	dy and spirit. A fundamental basis of this model is flexibility and an
	 openness which leads to continually ask: What works? Who does it work
	 for? and How can we help it work better? It encourages people to be c
	ontinually open to new information and not to become trapped in dogmat
	ic teachings. At its core\, this model is based on love not fear\; int
	ernal control not external authoritarianism\; affirmation not deflatio
	n\; and trust in the ability of people to find their own healing path 
	when given education\, support\, hope and choices. In the traditional 
	12-step approach to addiction (known as Alcoholics Anonymous)\, basic 
	assumptions about addiction and addicted people are based on observati
	ons\, made over 50 years ago\, of 100 caucasion men who were alcoholic
	. The program was designed to break down an inflated ego so people cou
	ld admit to having a problem with alcohol. These theories were then ad
	opted\, without examination\, for a multitude of other addictions and 
	problems\, and presented routinely to people of different races and so
	cial strata as the one and only way to overcome addiction. The 16-step
	 model helps people to develop ego strength which is seen as having a 
	healthy ability to be introspective and to ask oneself the questions: 
	Who am I? What do I value\, believe and want? In the 16-step model\, a
	ddiction is as a complex web of social factors\, physical\, pre-dispos
	ition and personal history. This empowerment model encourages individu
	als to develop their own internal belief system based on their percept
	ions and experiences. It is fluid and open to change as the person evo
	lves. It believes that a major task of healing from addiction is to va
	lidate the underlying\, positive survival goals for safety\, connectio
	n\, pleasure\, love and power. Then to find non-addictive and positive
	 ways to meet those needs. It is also crucial to create a healthy phys
	ical balance to prevent cravings. The 16-step model addresses issues o
	f cultural diversity and internalized oppression stemming from sexism\
	, racism\, classism\, and homophobia. In this model\, the concept of "
	codependency" is understood as a form of internalized oppression\, rat
	her than an addiction to security\, in a cultural context as well as a
	n individual problem. In surveys sent to both male and female members 
	of 16-step groups asking for responses\, respondents most often listed
	: improving self-esteem\; helping them believe in their own wisdom\; g
	iving them permission to be creative\; expressing and validating their
	 personal beliefs and feelings\; and helping to be more courageous as 
	being the positive effects of a 16-step group. The 16-step model encou
	rages people to use this or any other model as a springboard to find t
	heir own voice. And while it is crucial to acknowledge the power of ad
	diction\, this model helps people affirm the power they do have to tak
	e charge of their lives and overcome addiction. Developing one's passi
	on\, finding purpose\, bonding with others and becoming involved in so
	cial change are seen as antidotes to addiction. This approach does not
	 posture itself as the one way or the right way\, nor does it make ass
	umptions about the length of time it takes or the path that must be fo
	llowed.At our meetings\, we will begin with introductions. If you wish
	 you may briefly share an empowering experience from your week\, or br
	iefly share what you need from the group. Following we will have a med
	itation or silence. We will lead into the meditation with an inspirati
	onal reading. After meditation\, we will read the 16 steps. Next\, we 
	will have a time for personal sharing. People may use their time as th
	ey choose. We will close by rereading the inspirational story. How to 
	find me: I will be there at the table by the basketball courts. I will
	 have my two dogs with me a little brown dachshund and a big gray weim
	araner. I am a short woman with brown hair and in my early 30s.\n
LOCATION:Postal code 80205\, United States @ Denver, Colorado 80205 Un
	ited States
SEQUENCE:1247429651
UID:E0-001-022587838-2
URL:http://eventful.com/E0-001-022587838-2
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