Daily Reflections

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RECOVERY BY PROXY?

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 10

They [the Promises] will always materialize if we work for them. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

Sometimes I think: "Making these amends is going too far! No one should have to humble himself like that!" However, it is this very humbling of myself that brings me that much closer to the sunlight of the spirit. A.A. is the only hope I have if I am to continue healing and gain a life of happiness, friendship and harmony.

OPENING NEW DOORS

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 9

They [the Promises] are being fulfilled among us—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

"WE ASKED HIS PROTECTION"

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 8

We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

"OUR SIDE OF THE STREET"

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 7

We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. His faults are not discussed. We stick to our own. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 77-78

REMOVING THREATS TO SOBRIETY

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 6

. . . except when to do so would injure them or others. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

EMOTIONAL BALANCE

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 5

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, . . . TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 83

RECONSTRUCTION

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 4

Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead . . . ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

BUILDING A NEW LIFE

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 3

We feel a man is unthinking when he says sobriety is enough. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 82

FINDING "A REASON TO BELIEVE"

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 2

The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 171

WILLINGNESS TO GROW

Daily Reflections - SEPTEMBER 1

If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 8

A UNIQUE PROGRAM

Daily Reflections – August 31

Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words "Freely ye have received, freely give." We have discovered that at the point of professionalism, money and spirituality do not mix. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 166

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT . . .

Daily Reflections – August 30

"At one time . . . every A. A. group had many membership rules. Everybody was scared witless that something or somebody would capsize the boat. . . . The total list was a mile long. If all those rules had been in effect everywhere, nobody could have possibly joined A.A. at all, . . . "  

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 139-40

I CHOOSE ANONYMITY

Daily Reflections – August 29

We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 187

LIGHTENING THE BURDEN

Daily Reflections – August 28

Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. . . . the dark past is . . . the key to life and happiness for others. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 124

CENTERING OUR THOUGHTS

Daily Reflections – August 27

When World War II broke out, our A. A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.'s entered the services and were scattered all over the world. Would they be able to take the discipline, stand up under fire, and endure . . . ? AS BILL SEES IT, p. 200

GIVING IT AWAY

Daily Reflections – August 26

Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves to others. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 159

THE GIFT OF BONDING

Daily Reflections – August 25

Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 63

Many times in my alcoholic state, I drank to establish a bond between myself and others, but I succeeded only in establishing the bondage of alcoholic loneliness. Through the A.A. way of life, I have received the gift of bonding— with those who were there before me, with those who are there now, and with those yet to come. For this gracious gift from God, I am forever grateful.

A RIDDLE THAT WORKS

Daily Reflections – August 24

It may be possible to find explanations of spiritual experiences such as ours, but I have often tried to explain my own and have succeeded only in giving the story of it. I know the feeling it gave me and the results it has brought, but I realize I may never fully understand its deeper why and how. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 313

BRINGING THE MESSAGE HOME

Daily Reflections – August 23

Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group? TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 111-12

My family members suffer from the effects of my disease. Loving and accepting them as they are— just as I love and accept A.A. members— fosters a return of love, tolerance and harmony to my life. Using common courtesy and respecting others' personal boundaries are necessary practices for all areas of my life.

SEEKING EMOTIONAL STABILITY

Daily Reflections – August 22

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 STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 116

WE JUST TRY

Daily Reflections – August 21

My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. THE BEST OF BILL, pp. 46-47

TOWARD EMOTIONAL FREEDOM

Daily Reflections – August 20

Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 80

A FRAME OF REFERENCE

Daily Reflections – August 19

Referring to our list [inventory] again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 67

GETTING WELL

Daily Reflections – August 18

Very deep, sometimes quite forgotten, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 79-80

RIGHTING THE HARM

Daily Reflections – August 17

In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has not been great, the emotional harm we have done ourselves has. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 79

"I HAD DROPPED OUT"

Daily Reflections – August 16

We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have "harmed" other people. What kinds of "harm" do people do one another, anyway? To define the word "harm" in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 80

DIDN'T WE HURT ANYBODY?

Daily Reflections – August 15

Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 79

REPAIRING THE DAMAGE

Daily Reflections – August 14

We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accu- mulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

A CLEAN SWEEP

Daily Reflections – August 13

. . . and third, having thus cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

A LOOK BACKWARD

Daily Reflections – August 12

First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done; . . . TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

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