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ACCEPTING SUCCESS OR FAILURE

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 26

Furthermore, how shall we come to terms with seeming failure or success? Can we now accept and adjust to either without despair or pride? Can we accept poverty, sickness, loneliness,  and  bereavement  with  courage  and  serenity? Can we steadfastly content ourselves with the humbler, yet sometimes more durable, satisfactions when the brighter, more glittering achievements are denied us? TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 112

AT PEACE WITH LIFE

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 25

Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities "How can I best serve Thee— Thy will (not mine) be done."
ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 85

I  read  this  passage  each  morning,  to  start  off  my  day, because it is a continual reminder to "practice these principles in all my affairs." When I keep God's will at the forefront  of my mind, I am able to do what I should be doing, and that puts me at peace with life, with myself and with God.

A "SANE AND HAPPY USEFULNESS"

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 24

We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities  for  us.  We  have  found  nothing  incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 130

RECOVERY, UNITY, SERVICE

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 23

Our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic service that AA's Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 160

PRINCIPLES, NOT PERSONALITIES

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 22

The way our "worthy" alcoholics have sometimes tried to judge the "less worthy" is, as we look back on it, rather comical.   Imagine,   if   you   can,   one  alcoholic   judging another! THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 37

LISTEN, SHARE AND PRAY

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 21

When working with a man and his family, you should take care not to participate in their  quarrels.  You may spoil your chance of being helpful if you do. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 100

When trying to help a fellow alcoholic, I've given in to an impulse to give advice, and perhaps that's inevitable. But allowing  others  the  right  to  be  wrong  reaps  its  own benefits. The best I can do— and it sounds easier than it is to   put   into   practice—   is   to   listen,   share   personal experience, and pray for others.

THE REWARDS OF GIVING

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 20

This is indeed the kind of giving that actually demands nothing. He does not expect his brother sufferer to pay him, or even to love him.  And then he discovers  that  by the divine paradox of this kind of giving he has found his own reward, whether his brother has yet received anything or not.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 109

UNDERSTANDING THE MALADY

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 19

When dealing with an alcoholic, there may be a natural annoyance that a man could be so weak, stupid and irresponsible.   Even  when  you  understand  the  malady better, you may feel this feeling rising.  ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 139

Having suffered from alcoholism, I should understand the illness, but sometimes I feel annoyance, even contempt, toward a person who cannot make it in A.A. When I feel that way, I am satisfying my false sense of superiority and I must remember, but for the grace of God, there go I.
 

HONESTY WITH NEWCOMERS

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 18

T'ell him exactly what happened to you. Stress the spiritual feature freely. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 93

DOING ANYTHING TO HELP

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 17

. . . work with other alcoholics. . . . It work when other activities fail. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 8

PARTNERS IN RECOVERY

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 16

. . nothing will so much insure immunity from finking as intensive work with other alcoholics. . . Both you and the new man must walk day by ay in the path of spiritual progress. . . . Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your resent circumstances!
ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, pp. 89, 100

DOING ANYTHING TO HELP

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 15

Offer him [the alcoholic] friendship and fellowship. Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 95

REACHING OUT

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 14

Never  talk  down  to  an  alcoholic  from  any  moral  or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual looks for his inspection. Show him how they worked with you. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 95

THINKING OF OTHERS

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 13

Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 20

A COMMON SOLUTION

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 12

The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered  a  common  solution.  We have  a  way  out  on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious ac-ion. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 17

"A GENUINE HUMILITY"

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 11

. . . we are actually to practice a genuine humility. 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. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 192

CARRYING THE MESSAGE

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 10

Now,  what  about  the  rest  of  the  Twelfth  Step?  The wonderful energy it releases and the eager action by which it carries our message to the next suffering alcoholic and which finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our affairs is the payoff, the magnificent reality, of Alcoholics Anonymous.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 109

LOVE WITH NO PRICE TAG

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 9

When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price tag on it. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 106

SERVICE

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 8

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people re-over, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. . . . Frequent contact with newcomers and nth each other is the bright spot of our lives.
ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS, p. 89

TRUE AMBITION

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 7

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, pp. 124-25

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 6

When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn't very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 116

A NEW STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 5

He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 107

INTO ACTION

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 4

A. A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven't been given the truth may die. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 13

IN ALL OUR AFFAIRS

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 3

. . . we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 106

SERENITY

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 2

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, . . . TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 106

"SUGGESTED" STEPS

Daily reflections - DECEMBER 1

Our Twelfth Step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps, we have each found something called a spiritual awakening. . . . A. A.'s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the Twelve Steps in our program." TWELVE AND TWELVE, pp. 106-07

PROTECTION FOR ALL

November 30 – Daily Reflections

At the personal level, anonymity provides protection or all members  from  identification  as  alcoholics,  a  safeguard often of special importance to newcomers, i t  the level of press, radio, TV, and films, anonymity tresses the equality in the Fellowship of all members by putting the brake on those who might otherwise exploit their A.A. affiliation to achieve recognition, power, or personal gain.  "UNDERSTANDING ANONYMITY," p. 5

"ACTIVE GUARDIANS"

November 29 – Daily Reflections

To us, however, it represents far more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. This Tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal ambition has no place in A A. In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 183

ATTRACTION, NOT PROMOTION

November 28 – Daily Reflections

Through many painful experiences, we think we have arrived at what that policy ought to be. It is the opposite in many ways of usual promotional practice. We found that we had to rely upon the principle of attraction rather than of promotion.  TWELVE AND TWELVE, pp. 180-81

THE PERILS OF THE LIMELIGHT

November 27 – Daily Reflections

In  the  beginning,  the  press  could  not  understand  our refusal  of  all  personal  publicity.  They  were  genuinely baffled by our insistence upon anonymity. Then they got the point. Here was something rare in the world —a society which said it wished to publicize its principles and its work, but not its individual  members.  The press was delighted with this attitude. Ever since, these friends have reported A.A. with an enthusiasm which the most ardent members would find hard to match.  TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 182

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