"As psychiatrists have often observed, defiance is the outstanding characteristic of many an alcoholic. So it's not strange that lots of us have had our day at...
"Then it is explained that other Steps of the AA program can be practiced with success only when Step Three is given a determined and persistent trial. This...
"We thought 'conditions' drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn't to our entire satisfaction, our drinking...
"The second difficulty is this: what comes to us alone may be garbled by our own rationalization and wishful thinking. The benefit of talking to another person...
"When gluttony is less than ruinous, we have a milder word for that, too; we call it 'taking our comfort.' We live in a world riddled with envy. To a greater...
"During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. And this was true whether we...
"We can try to stop making unreasonable demands upon those we love. We can show kindness where we had shown none. With those we dislike we can begin to...
"When, by such simple devices, we have placed ourselves in a mood in which we can focus undisturbed on constructive imagination, we might proceed like this:...
"Almost timidly, one of my friends began to speak. 'We know how hard up you are, Bill. It bothers us a lot. We've often wondered what we might do about it. But...
"A great wave of outraged resentment engulfed the meeting, sweeping every member to a single resolve: 'Out he goes!' The elders led Ed aside. They said firmly,...
"When we encountered AA, the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it...
"It is when we try to make our will conform with God's that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble...
"But in AA we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we...
"Our next problem will be to discover the person in whom we are to confide. Here we ought to take much care, remembering that prudence is a virtue which...
"Some people, of course, may conclude that they are indeed ready to have all such defects taken from them. But even these people, if they construct a list of...
"We saw we needn't always be bludgeoned and beaten into humility. It could come quite as much from our voluntary reaching for it as it could from unremitting...
"Whenever we fail any of these people, we can promptly admit it...to ourselves always, and to them also, when the admission would be helpful. Courtesy,...
"Next came the expression of an aspiration and a hope for himself. He hoped, God willing, that he might be able to find some of these treasures, too. This he...
"Now comes the biggest question yet. What about the practice of these principles in all our affairs? Can we love the whole pattern of living as eagerly as we...
"'So spoke the group conscience. The group was right and I was wrong; the voice on the subway was not the voice of God. Here was the true voice, welling up out...
"Dismayed, the elders looked at one another, for they knew he had them cold. So Ed stayed. Ed not only stayed, he stayed sober...month after month. The longer...
"Now let's take the guy full of faith, but still reeking of alcohol. He believes he is devout. His religious observance is scrupulous. He's sure he still...
"Once we have come into agreement with these ideas, it is really easy to begin the practice of Step Three. In all times of emotional disturbance or indecision,...
"Many will at once ask, 'How can we accept the entire implication of Step Six? Why...that is perfection!' This sounds like a hard question, but practically...
"As we approach the actual taking of Step Seven, it might be well if we AA's inquire once more just what our deeper objectives are. Each of us would like to...
"When evening comes, perhaps just before going to sleep, many of us draw up a balance sheet for the day. This is a good place to remember that inventory-taking...
"He thought it better to give comfort than to receive it; better to understand than to be understood; better to forgive than be forgiven." (Twelve and Twelve,...
"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...
"Quite a while later, Ed got a sales job which took him out of town. At the end of a few days, the news came in. He'd sent a telegram for money, and everybody...
"To clergymen, doctors, friends, and families, the alcoholic who means well and tries hard is a heartbreaking riddle. To most AA's, he is not. There are too...
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