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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

REMOVING "THE GROUND GLASS"

Daily Reflections – August 11

The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective. This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 140

REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS

Daily Reflections – August 10

To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

". . . OF ALL PERSONS WE HAD HARMED"

Daily Reflections – August 9

. . . and became willing to make amends to them all. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

"MADE A LIST . . ." Made a list of all

Daily Reflections – August 8

persons we had harmed, . . . TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

A "DESIGN FOR LIVING"

Daily Reflections - August 7

We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 28

DRIVEN

Daily Reflections – August 6

Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self- seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62

LISTENING DEEPLY

Daily Reflections - August 5

How  persistently  we  claim  the  right  to  decide  all  by ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 37

SEEDS OF FAITH

Daily Reflections - August 4

Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 34

. . . TO BE OF SERVICE

Daily Reflections - August 3

Our  real  purpose  is to  fit  ourselves  to  be  of  maximum service to God and the people about us.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77

WE BECOME WILLING . . .

Daily Reflections - August 2

At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77

LIVING IT

Daily Reflections - August 1

The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

A PRAYER FOR ALL SEASONS

Daily Reflections - July 31

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can. And wisdom to know the difference. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 125

GIVING BACK

Daily Reflections - July 30

. . . he has struck something better than gold. . . . He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product. AA ANONYMOUS, p. 129

ANONYMOUS GIFTS OF KINDNESS

Daily Reflections - July 29

As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout in one way or another. "THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ILLUSTRATED," p. 14

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