A recovery thought 2 of 2
archie
The great 3 S's of our disease, self-pity, self-righteousness, and self-bullshit.
We don’t get sober
taking others inventory or A.A.’s.
Heard--You are feeling emotionally
disturbed? You ought to get some professional help.
BB--There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest. A.A. p. 58
(Note: One of the largest fellowships today is Emotions Anonymous. They have found a solution for many who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders through their adaptation of our Twelve Step Program.)
Heard--Don’t be so hard on yourself.
BB--The rule is we must be hard on ourselves, but always considerate of others. A.A. p. 74
Heard--Alcoholism is a problem of denial.
(Note: Denial--Refusal to admit the truth. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary circa 1936.) Sure sounds like lying, doesn’t it? Alcoholics are real good at that.
BB--Whatever the definition of the word may be, we call it plain insanity. A.A. p. 37 However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. A.A. p. 38 Again it was the old, insidious insanity--that first drink. A.A. p. 154
And what is the hope of Step Two? That we can find a Power greater than ourselves that could restore us to sanity.
Heard--It is my opinion that...or I don’t know anything about the Big Book but here is the way I do it.
BB--We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful Program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem. A.A. p. 9
(Note: The Big Book is based solely on the experience and knowledge of the first hundred recovered alcoholics. The Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous has been unable to find any way to improve on its effectiveness since it was first published. It contains no opinions because one thing the early members learned was that opinions have the power to kill alcoholics.)
Heard–-My sponsor told me that, if in making an amend I would be harmed, I could consider myself as one of the others in Step Nine.
BB-–Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences might be. A.A. p. 79
Heard-–Be good to yourself.
BB-–The rule is we must be hard on ourselves, but always considerate of others. A.A. p. 74
Heard-–Never pray for patience. You’ll regret it if you do.
BB-–So clean house with the family, asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love. A.A. p. 83
Heard-–Alcoholics Anonymous is a self-help program.
BB–-We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. A.A. p. 84
It would appear from this that it is a God-help Program.
Heard–-We don’t work the Steps, we just take them.
BB-–Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us-—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. But they will always materialize if we work for them. A.A. p. 84 If he did not work, he would surely drink again. A.A. p. 15 On each of these occasions we worked with him, reviewing carefully what had happened. A.A. p. 35 Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. A.A. p. 63 It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. A.A. p. 86 Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. A.A. p. 89 Now we try to put spiritual principles to work in every department of our lives. A.A. p. 116
And there are more for serious students to find.
Heard--Oh, just turn it over.
BB-–Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. A.A. p. 14
Heard-–Your Higher Power can be whatever you want it to be; a door knob, a Dr. Pepper can, a light bulb, just any old thing.
BB-–Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. A.A. p. 59
A door knob? Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a Power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. A.A. p. 45 A Dr. Pepper can? The great fact is this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way that is indeed miraculous us. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us that we could never do by ourselves. A.A. p. 25 A light bulb?
Heard-–This is a suggested Program. You can work it any way you want to. Just take what you like and leave the rest.
BB–-To show others precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. The Big Book, that is. A.A. p. xiii
Note-–Dr. Bob is quoted as saying, There is no such thing as individual interpretation of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Heard-–Your problem is you just don’t have enough faith.
BB--He may be an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. To be vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action. A.A. p. 93
Heard-–Making meetings is a means of spiritual growth.
BB-–For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he didn’t work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. A.A. ps. 14,15
Heard-–There are no musts in Alcoholics Anonymous.
BB--As a part of his rehabilitation he commenced to present his conceptions to other alcoholics, impressing upon them that they must do likewise with still others. A.A. p. xiii My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. A.A. p. 14 Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must or it kills us. A.A. p. 62 Every day is a day when we must carry a vision of God’s will into all of our activities. How can I best serve Thee--Thy will (not mine) be done. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. A.A. p. 85
(Note: According to one authority, the word must appears no less than sixty seven times in the Basic Text. Get out your Big Book and count them and see if they are right. If, to those, you add had to and have to, it gets to be a bunch. While you are at it, look for the results or the promises.
Heard-–Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve are maintenance Steps.
BB-–We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. A.A. p. 84 It is easy to let up on our spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. A.A. p. 85
So it would appear that Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve are both growth Steps and maintenance Steps. Through working them moment by moment, day by day, we grow spiritually and thereby maintain our physical sobriety. And what about the understanding and effectiveness?
BB--Well, that is exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself that will solve your problem. A.A. p. 45 We grow spiritually and come to understand that we do, in fact, have a Power greater than ourselves that will solve our problems and effectiveness in learning how to apply these Steps to what we consider to be a problem.
Heard-–There are no instructions for sponsorship in the Big Book.
What is sponsorship? Isn’t it working with others? What is the title of the Chapter following, INTO ACTION?
BB-–Chapter seven WORKING WITH OTHERS. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. A.A. p. 60 Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. A.A. p. 89 Chapter seven gives clear-cut directions on how to successfully sponsor alcoholics who are willing to go to any length for victory over alcohol.
Heard–-This is a journey without a destination.
BB-–We have entered the world of the Spirit. A.A. p. 84
The chronic alcoholic had better enter the world of the Spirit or they will return to the world of spirits. (Note-—spirits-–Alcohol. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary-–circa 1936.)
Heard-–Wait until they are ready. They’ll show up.
BB-–Search out another alcoholic and try again. A.A. p. 96 Your job now is to be at a place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. A.A. p. 102 In the chapter Working With Others you gathered an idea of how we approach and aid others to health. A.A. p. 153 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we try to carry this message to alcoholics...A.A. p. 60
How can we carry something if we are sitting on our butts?
Heard-–You work your program and I’ll work my program.
BB-–We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join brotherly and harmonious action. That is the great news this Book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. A.A. p. 17
Heard-–I am powerless over people, places and things.
It would appear that these folks are candidates for PPTA. A.A. is for those who declare:
BB-–We admitted we were powerless over alcohol. A.A. p. 59
Heard-–I do Step Ten at night. Or I do Step Ten when I’m wrong and need to apologize to someone.
BB-–Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear (Step Four). When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them (Steps Six and Seven). Discuss them with someone immediately (Step Five) and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help (Step Twelve). A.A. p. 84
Heard-–Fake it until you make it.
BB-–Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. Here are the Steps we took which are suggested as a Program of Recovery. A.A. p. 59
Heard--I don’t know how it works.
BB--There is a chapter titled HOW IT WORKS and it begins with a statement as to how it works: BB-–Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. A.A. p. 58
Discussion meetings are a lot of talk. But recovery is a very short walk. The life giving Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, that is.
BB--If confession (Step Ten) and prayer and meditation (Step Eleven) were sufficient, we wouldn’t have so many priests in Alcoholics Anonymous. Be a fisher of men. You catch them. He’ll clean them!
Author unknown
An aged woman, nervous and shaky, was attending her 1st meeting. At the end of it, she went to a young female member and whispered, "I wonder if you can help me. In the 12 Step, it says, ‘practice these principles in all our affairs.’ How am I going to do that? I haven’t had an affair since I was young and foolish."
Always Say A Prayer