![]() We once thought it was possible to blame others for our drinking, and we had sneaky ways of manipulating family members so they would feel guilty and comply with our demands. Keep the Focus on Personal ResponsibilityĪlcoholics often try to shift responsibility to others. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility. ![]() ![]() We’d have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves–the help of God and of another human being. It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn’t be nearly enough. I pray that I may thank God for this day and be glad in it. I pray that I may take this day as a gift from God. The night of the past is gone, this day is ours. We can now take each day as a joyous sunrise-gift from God to use for Him and for other fellow people. But with our daily surrender to a Higher Power, comes a peace and joy that makes all things new. Most of us have had to live through the dark part of our lives, the time of failure, the nighttime of our lives, when we were full of struggle and care, worry and remorse, when we felt deeply the tragedy of life. But this is only the beginning of real A.A. It is using the companionship of other alcoholics only in order to stay sober ourselves. Group therapy is directed toward the help that the individual receives from it. Looking at it purely as a means of acquiring and holding sobriety, it is right as far as it goes. This is a very narrow conception of the depth of the A.A. I realize, both as an individual and as a member of the Fellowship, that I cannot boast of my accomplishments, and that “God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”ĭoctors think of the A.A. My safeguard, the Twelfth Tradition, serves to keep me humble. Such an overstated feeling of my own importance is dangerous to my sobriety and could cause great harm to A.A. I may even take credit for God’s handiwork in my life. While having seemingly good intentions, I can go off on tangents in pursuit of my “causes.” My ego takes over and I lose sight of my primary purpose. 192Įxperience has taught me that my alcoholic personality tends to be grandiose. ![]() This is to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all. The only time to live the unique richness of now, is now.… we are actually to practice a genuine humility. There are resources, circumstances, and possibilities now available to you that you won’t always be able to access.īefore today’s opportunities fade into the past, make meaningful value out of them. There are good people in your life with whom you’ll eventually lose contact. ![]() Now is your chance to fill those recollections with more gratitude than regret. Very soon you’ll be looking back on today and contemplating what could have been. Though some will inevitably lead to disappointment, others will bring new treasures into your life. Go ahead and explore some of those possibilities. Though it’s not perfect, it is nonetheless filled with valuable possibilities. Life is yours to live in this moment, in this situation, with the world just as it is. Now, while you can, act on your opportunities. There are things you can do today that you won’t always be able to do. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |