![]() ![]() What we’re really trying to say, it seems, is that our true self-interest lies in the direction of helping others and sharing our experience and strength with them. If selfishness is considered a human shortcoming, why should we describe our wonderful program as selfish? It’s unfortunate that members sometimes refer to the Twelve step idea as a SELFISH program. This freedom-giving experience came first, and then faith followed afterward–a gift indeed!” “It was only when I came fully to believe I was powerless over alcohol, only when I appealed to God who just might exist, that I experienced a spiritual awakening. But what can one do when all these channels fail? This was my own grievous dilemma. Thomas Aquinas actually proved God’s existence by sheer logic. For instance, many clergymen believe that St. ![]() “Faith may often be given through inspired teaching or a convincing personal example of its fruits. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that Power in human lives are facts as old as man himself. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. I pray that I may be gradually transformed from the old life to the new life.ĭeep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of God. I pray that I may tend the spark of the Divine within me so that it will grow. The way of your transformation from the material to the spiritual is the way of Divine Companionship. By thinking of God, praying to Him, and having communion with Him, you gradually grow more like Him. By trying to do the will of God, you grow more and more in the new way of life. ![]() That celestial fire has to be tended and fed so that it will grow eventually into a real desire to live the right way. It had been all but smothered by the life you were living. You were born with a spark of the Divine within you. Also, opening up my wallet to find it empty. Also, trying to shave or put on make-up with a shaky hand. Also, composing the alibi and sticking to it. Some things I do not miss since becoming dry: that overall awful feeling physically, including the shakes, a splitting headache, pains in my arms and legs, bleary eyes, fluttering stomach, droopy shoulders, weak knees, a three-day beard, and a flushed complexion. My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length to stay sober! action, I can stay sober and help others to achieve sobriety. Action is the magic word! With a positive, helpful attitude and regular A.A. By working the Steps, attending meetings, and carrying the message, I can be restored to sanity. My attitude is changed by the second “A” in our name, which stands for action. For me, the first “A” in our name stands for attitude. My whole attitude toward life and other people is changing. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered my pleasure and my comfort came first. I will practice the ACA program to help process the unexpressed traumatic fear and buried memories so that I may be free of control.Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. On this day I will examine the control in my family and the effect it's had in my adult life. In this humbled state, we are given the gift of recovery as we recollect the memories of our upbringing, admit our terror and grieve our losses. Gradually, when the sense of chaos crept into our consciousness as adults, and we hit an emotional, spiritual and physical bottom, we found ACA. So we bought in and "acted out" this subconscious conflict to both avoid being ostracized and to keep our own feelings of being out of control from surfacing. Deep inside, our True Self saw that the real motive was the suppression of the possibility of admitting that things were out of control. The actual object of all the cleanliness or sloppiness, the pseudo expression of love, was inauthentic. The essence of these dysfunctional expressions was not authentic, and we knew it. Whether our houses resembled museums or they were well-cluttered, expressions of love may have been flowery and superficial and had strings attached. Holidays and celebrations bring guests who compliment the parents for sparkling floors and perfect children." BRB p. 37Ī more subtle and powerful undercurrent in our alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional families was everpresent control, although the type of control may not have always seemed clear. "In other homes, the children are like objects of perfection to be displayed alongside dinners centered on tables with fine fixtures, perfect posture, and orderly spoons and forks. ![]() Signup for the Traveler/Daily Meditation.International Literature Order Request Form.Free Literature – English and Translated.Update Intergroup or Region Information. ![]()
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