Statement on the Primary Purpose of Debtors Anonymous

Far and above any other issue that faces the DA Fellowship today is our need for strong clarity around our primary purpose. We come together for one reason; because we are compulsive debtors and the only way we can not debt, one day at a time, is by helping another debtor practice the Twelve Steps. Any other focus waters down our message. Frankly, we are afraid for DA. It seems like members around the world want to focus on anything other than not debting. When we are willing to do anything not to debt, our underearning and compulsive spending habits are removed. Visions, prosperity, and abundance are all wonderful side benefits of not debting, but they aer not our primary focus. Clutter is an outside issue with its own Twelve Step program and does not have a place in DA. Procrastination, called "time-debting" by some members, is a character defect and is not part of how we define compulsive debting. Our focus must return to our primary purpose, helping other debtors by doing service. We believe it is crucial that this Conference refocus every aspect of DA back on our primary purpose. When we leave here we must be united on one simple message, "Don't debt." We believe if we can do that, the fellowship of Debtors Anonymous will prosper and grow.

— The DA General Service Board, August 17, 2006

Signs of Self-Debting:

1. Feeling trapped in a job you hate because you need the money.

2. Putting your life on hold, waiting for an inheritance or gift.

3. Having no groceries in the house, living with excessive clutter, or feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks.

4. Going without health insurance or car insurance. Not having savings, investments, or retirement plans, as if the need for such planning would never apply to you.

5. Social isolation, or lack of friendships. Not dating. Not having fun.

6. Not taking care of basics such as socks, underwear, toilet paper, or haircare. More concern about appearances versus real needs. Going without in order to pay creditors (especially if you are attempting to pay them off with a lump sum.)

7. Taking on too many projects or responsibilities.

8. Underearning: bidding too low on a job, or accepting a job offer that entails a salary you can't live on.

9. Neglecting self-care such as eye exams, chiropractors, physicals, dental visits, or regular exercise.

10. Eating poorly, or consuming lots of fast food. Eating on the run, or in your car, or standing up.

11. Lack of assertiveness: Not asking for what you want or need. Always compromising.

12. Giving too much when you don't have. Compulsively picking up the tab. Taking care of other people while neglecting yourself.

This is not approved by the Debtors Anonymous General Service Board, Inc., but is rather a list that some in our Fellowship have found useful as a springboard for personal inventory.

12 Signs of Time Debting and Time Serenity

1. Time Debting:
Being one or more minutes late for life, meetings, appointments, etc.
Time Serenity:
Being early and relaxed for life, meetings, appointments, etc.

2. Time Debting:
Being late with paying bills.
Time Serenity:
Paying bills early or on time.

3. Time Debting:
Procrastination: leaving projects to the last minute.
Time Serenity:
Completing projects early.

4. Time Debting:
Perfectionism: not doing projects until we can do them perfectly, which leads to unfinished projects or not even starting them.
Time Serenity:
Starting and completing projects early knowing that perfectionism keeps us from living our lives to the fullest.

5. Time Debting:
Driving recklessly to a function, hoping all lights are green.
Time Serenity:
Driving the speed limit allowing enough time for delays.

6. Time Debting:
Eating on the run.
Time Serenity:
Allowing enough time to sit and relax while eating a meal.

7. Time Debting:
Not getting enough sleep or over-sleeping to avoid getting things accomplished.
Time Serenity:
Getting enough sleep to feel well rested.

8. Time Debting:
Living life in chaos so we don't have time to feel our feelings.
Time Serenity:
Leaving enough time to feel our feelings.

9. Time Debting:
Not having enough time to be organized.
Time Serenity:
Taking enough time to be organized.

10. Time Debting:
Always looking for excuses for being late.
Time Serenity:
Being early or on time so excuses are a thing of our past.

11. Time Debting:
We have the mistaken idea that we can accomplish an "infinite" number of activities in a finite amount of time.
Time Serenity:
We remember that every activity takes a definite amount of time.

12. Time Debting:
Time Shock: We have the sudden awareness that it's later than we thought.
Time Serenity:
We are constantly conscious of what time it is.

Copyright 2001 by David E. & Susan M.
Contact: (323) 851-6112