When, with God’s help, we calmly accepted our lot, then we found we could live at peace with ourselves and show others who still suffered the same fears that they could get over them, too. We found that freedom from fear was more important than freedom from want.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 122
Material values ruled my life for many years during my active alcoholism. I believed that all of my possessions would make me happy, yet I still felt bankrupt after I obtained them. When I first came into A.A., I found out about a new way of living. As a result of learning to trust others, I began to believe in a power greater than myself. Having faith freed me from the bondage of self. As material gains were replaced by the gifts of the spirit, my life became manageable. I then chose to share my experiences with other alcoholics.
“The showing of others how they suffered and how they were healed will be key to your carrying this message.” — Big Book, p. 93
How can I share my story with honesty and hope to help someone else?
This is the entire foundation of my recovery. Sharing with others and having them share with me. It’s made me realize we are never in it alone, we truly are in it together! I hear my story in others and I know others hear themselves in mine too. This is what resonated with me most to know that I CAN do this. We do recover best together, one day at a time.
This sort of reminds me of the phrase , “We are only as sick as our secrets”. I know in the beginning of recovery, I held alot of my story in. I was embarassed, ashamed, fearful, and worried of what others would think of me. Overtime, I realized the importance of sharing, being vulnerable with those also in recovery, and opening up. Turns out there were others who experienced very similar things as me. Not only that, my sharing helped me heal. Initally I couldnt even tell my story without crying as it was still very fresh. But now I can talk about it and be open about my story without it effecting me too much. Theres so much power in helping ither thru our stories
Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with old-fashioned willpower; it was instead a matter of developing the willingness to accept these new facts of living. We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we were free.
BEST OF THE GRAPEVINE, Vol. I, p. 198
I can be free of my old enslaving self. After a while I recognize, and believe in, the good within myself. I see that I have been loved back to recovery by my Higher Power, who envelops me. My Higher Power becomes that source of love and strength that is performing a continuing miracle in me. I am sober . . . and I am grateful.
“We tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future.” — Big Book, p. 69
What is one “sane and sound” ideal I want to live by today?
I used to think my life was pretty sane…ha! It was actually filled with insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Today I’d say the most sane and sound thing I do is look in my own lane instead of everyone else’s. I also ask my sponsor (and others) for help. We truly are in it together and if I want to keep my recovery and my improved life, I need to keep doing the work. I am grateful for the opportunities to do so today.
Love and tolerance is our code. That’s about as sane and sound as it gets. For me, rn I am focusing on honesty and forgiveness. When I work on feeling forgiveness of others, I also take the opportunity to make sure I am not being hypocritical in my own conduct. Further, I started the year with a simple resolution: take two positive actions for every complaint. It has been interesting as I have had to examine what actions are substantive in our society rn. I have gotten more from making sure someone on the edges has been seen, and held in kind regard, than I have from a virtual sheaf of letters to my congresswomen. I lived an overcomplicated life. It is simpler now. I still write, though.
I absolutely love that you all share what comes up for you on this thread, it truly makes my heart happy to read it and it always resonates with me!@Butterflymoonwoman@LAB@Amelie
We admitted we couldn’t lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible job. The moment we were able to accept these facts fully, our release from the alcohol compulsion had begun.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 109
Freedom came to me only with my acceptance that I could turn my will and my life over to the care of my Higher Power, whom I call God. Serenity seeped into the chaos of my life when I accepted that what I was going through was life, and that God would help me through my difficulties – and much more, as well. Since then He has helped me through all of my difficulties! When I accept situations as they are, not as I wish them to be, then I can begin to grow and have serenity and peace of mind.
“We had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did.” — Big Book, p. 52
Where in my life do I still rely too much on my own ideas instead of God’s?
At work. I definitely get so busy sometimes doing the next thing I think is right, but I don’t always slow down to ask what God thinks I should do there. I try to do this quite frequently in my “normal” life, but I think I compartmentalize work and just do my own thing. Today I’m going to do my best to slow down and talk to my HP while I’m working to let God run the show instead of me.
Theres one particular situation where Ive held onto control, and honestly my way of doing things isnt working. Its been many years struggling, trying various methods to try and solve this problem, yet i guess the one thing i havent tried, is turning it over to God. Last night, i felt powerless over it and so I tried turning it over to God. I received a sense of peace when I did that. A sense of relief Hoping that i can continue to turn this issue over to God every day, bcuz my ideas just dont work. And I know that if God can help me quit drugs, He can help me with this too
For me, staying sober isn’t a matter of religion but a way of choosing life as it is, with its ups and downs. I know I can’t control everything that happens to me—suffering, fatigue, loss—but I can decide to keep moving forward, one day at a time.
Sobriety allows me to face reality with clarity, without trying to escape. It is in this honesty with myself that I find strength and even a certain peace. I don’t need the afterlife for that: simply standing here and now is enough for me.
September 20~Thought Of The Day (Hazledon-Daily Reflections is down today on the AA site)
Thought for the Day
Step Four is, “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Step Five is, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our, wrongs.” Step Six is, “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” Step Seven is, “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.” Step Ten is, “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” In taking a personal inventory, we have to be absolutely honest with ourselves and with other people. Have I taken an honest inventory of myself?
“We do not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.” — Big Book, p. 83
How can I use my past not as a burden but as a source of strength and connection?
This is one of the many ways this program has given me back my freedom. I no longer am a prisoner to my past. Who I was is not at all who I am today, and that’s a pretty cool thing. Yet I’m not so far removed that I can’t relate to others or share my experience, strength and hope too. My past made me who I am today so I do not regret it. Instead I just choose to take different actions today for different results as I know where the old ones lead me. I’m grateful for this today.
Thank you for your reply . I must admit that sometimes, when I read these lists of steps or slogans, I feel like we’re hiding behind words that are reassuring but, for me, don’t really describe what it’s like to live sober every day.
What helps me personally is to go beyond the clichés and find my own way of giving meaning to my abstinence. For me, it’s not a matter of God, but rather a choice of lucidity: accepting life as it is, with its limitations, without trying to escape.
I respect that everyone finds their own way, but I like it when conversations reveal the person behind the words, not just the slogans. That’s what really nourishes the community, I believe.
I find we all need to hike our own hike, ya know? What works best for one of us may not work for all and that’s ok. I’ve got 7.5 years under my belt now and I can finally appreciate some of the slogans. They can help me stay in the right mindset for me to stay sober, but I also have much more context behind them by others sharing their experiences, strengths and hopes over the years. But, I reaaaaalllly struggled with them in the beginning of my sobriety as I had no interest in working a program. Eventually at 2 years sober I realized I needed more change in my life and surrendered to it-it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Now I can appreciate the readings and slogans as I begin my day, they help me to stay in the solutions. But what works for me won’t work for everyone and I think that’s a beautiful thing! We all have our own paths to walk, but no matter how we get there, the view at the top is worth the journey.
Thank you for sharing and for your honesty . I understand that slogans have come to mean something to you, and I respect that path. For my part, I prefer to remain mindful not to hide behind clichés. What helps me is to seek personal clarity, even if it is sometimes uncomfortable. I believe that the diversity of our approaches is what makes this community so rich.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84
The last Promise in the Big Book came true for me on the very first day of sobriety. God kept me sober that day, and on every other day I allowed Him to operate in my life. He gives me the strength, courage and guidance to meet my responsibilities in life so that I am then able to reach out and help others stay sober and grow. He manifests within me, making me a channel of His word, thought and deed. He works with my inner self, while I produce in the outer world, for He will not do for me what I can do for myself. I must be willing to do His work, so that He can function through me successfully.
“At once, we commence to outgrow fear.” — Big Book, p. 75
What fears have I already outgrown in recovery? Which ones can I begin to release today?
I have outgrown so many fears. My life was lived full of fear, but I didn’t see that at the time. I lived life in a way to be accepted by others instead of being true to me. I had no boundaries, I was not authentic at all-I would literally say one thing and mean the complete opposite. I lost myself.
In my recovery, I’ve found an entirely new way to exist. I’ve learned how to speak up more. To be who I really am with others in my life. And I’ve also given myself permission to continue to evolve into more of who I am. It’s been much easier to do here at home with others I’m close to and share this life with. I’m still learning how to use my own voice more and share more of me online again. I share what message my HP asks me to share with others daily, but I still struggle with putting myself out there like my HP is also asking me to do. I’m not really sure what I’m even afraid of on the bigger scale, but I am. I’m grateful for this opportunity to do more step work to help release these fears and lean more on my faith instead.
Hoping that i can continue to turn this issue over to God every day, bcuz my ideas just dont work. And I know that if God can help me quit drugs, He can help me with this too
. I must admit that sometimes, when I read these lists of steps or slogans, I feel like we’re hiding behind words that are reassuring but, for me, don’t really describe what it’s like to live sober every day.