Archive for July 18, 2024

Endigar 908 ~ Countering Self Delusion

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2024 by endigar

Step One: “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.”

1st Step Principle: We will find enduring strength only when we first admit complete defeat over our isolated, obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior. (Adapted from 12 Steps & 12 Traditions, top of page 22)

AA Extracted Value: Honesty

ACA Extracted Values: Powerlessness & Surrender

Other Extracted Values: Acceptance

If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help. This we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort.

~ Alcoholics Anonymous, There is a Solution, page 25

START OF QUOTE—————————————

Only an alcoholic at the end of the road would need to spend some serious time debating whether or not to choose life over death. Maybe there is some middle-of-the-road solution we haven’t thought of yet? Is there some other way we can get better without spiritual help? Perhaps we simply need to try harder to control our drinking. There must be some other solution out there that will work. How much longer can we deny we can’t control our drinking by ourselves? Have we really lost the power of choice in drink?

What more do I have to lose by giving a spiritual solution a try?

~ Practice These Principles by Alex M.

END OF QUOTE—————————————

It is quite astonishing to realize how difficult it is to be truthful with myself when the obsession is amplifying a pathological appetite in my body. Being honest with myself is an event repeated over and over to amplify the process of knowing myself and what I truly want. It seems like such awareness should be second nature. It has been my experience that human life embraces a multitude of necessary lies. Old age is in a galaxy far, far away. Sex equals love. Being good requires social martyrdom. Hurting other people will protect me. Getting my driver’s license provides escape from accountability. I suppose it should not be so surprising that being truthful is a learned skill and not the default response to living life on life’s terms. My alcoholism forces me to face this reality.

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Endigar 907

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2024 by endigar

Courage to Change of Jun 9:

When my study of the Steps reached Step Seven (“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings”), I stumbled on the very first word. “Humble!” I thought, “The last thing I need is to be more humble.” Hadn’t I been humble all my life, putting everyone’s needs ahead of my own? What had it ever brought me except abuse?

But Al-Anon suggested that perhaps I had confused humility with humiliation. Humility does not mean begging for mercy. Real humility, I discovered, is the ability to see my true relationship to God and to my fellow human beings.

The second word wasn’t much easier. I had learned not to ask anyone for anything. Al-Anon showed that my knowledge and experience are limited. I don’t know all the answers – and I don’t have to know them! I can ask for help.

My concept of the last word has also changed. I used to think of shortcomings as crimes, faults, sins, or mistakes. Now I think of them as blocks within me that prevent me from reaching my full potential and distance me from my Higher Power.

Today’s Reminder

There are many things that I can do to improve my life and to further my recovery, but I cannot heal myself. Today I can ask for help in becoming free of all that blocks me from my true self.

“If my problems have brought me to prayer, then they have served a purpose.”

~ As We Understood . . .

END OF QUOTE—————————————

Step 7 – Humbly asked Him, the God of our understanding, to remove our shortcomings.

Alternative versions of the Seventh Step minus humility:

Step 7 – Impatiently told the God of our understanding to get His ass over here and remove our shortcomings.

Step 7 – Expectantly allowed God to review our self-appraisal and remove the shortcomings we have identified.

Step 7 – Resentfully asked God to remove His own shortcomings of neglectful detachment and blood magic.

Step 7 – Apathetically told God our shortcomings and their elimination are His job and not ours.

Step 7 – Despairingly asked God to remove our emotions and transform us into automatons.

Step 7 – Fearfully asked God to print out a blueprint of self-transformation and cheer us on as we prevent social criticism.

Humility activates the magic of connection and is necessary to embrace the truth of my situation. For me, this Step touches on the one aspect of this program that gives us permission to seek out the loving supernatural of something greater than myself, that truly seems to care about my life and our Fellowship. It is the beginning of seeking conscious contact with My Higher Power.

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