The Truth

Daily Gratitude
#1

Abandon yourself to God? Nope, I didn't believe that. Surrender to Alcohol? At first, that's what I thought I did. I surrendered to alcohol for 32 years, it was my Master. Did I surrender to AA? Nope. That would mean I follow the book as it's written, and take directions from other alcoholics... heaven knows I didn't and don't do that. I will never win AA of the Year

I'm grateful that my surrender, WAS AND IS TO THE TRUTH. The daily pursuit of the truth.

I can say today, that I have abandoned my ego, my pride, my fears and every single one of my other defects - to the relentless pursuit of the truth and find strength and courage in the fellowship and literature to act on the truth.

I am grateful for the truth. It set me free.

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#2

I’m currently in a program very similar to AA and I’m struggling in it. Considering finding alternative methods and community. Honestly the groups trigger me and 12 hours a week has got me feeling depressed not refreshed. I have 11 new days under my belt after throwing 90 days down the drain. But the program I signed up for I thought I would be getting more one on one therapy but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Am I terrible for disliking group? Am I awful for it being triggering and depressing? I appreciate the community of people but I don’t want to tell old stories that bring up trauma 12 hours a week. I want to move on and heal. I haven’t seemed to get anywhere close to that.

#3

Here's AA in a nutshell

  1. Abandon your pride, ego, fears..admit that alcohol is your master, and by yourself, you cannot stay sober

  2. Get honest. Really honest. It is impossible to change your life if you are looking through a filtered or distorted lens. This is the hardest part imo, because the truth about me was ugly. Admitting my faults, flaws, my selfishness and self centeredness is not pleasant. But, it's absolutely necessary if I truly wish to change. I need to admit these things to another alcoholic or anybody I really trust.. I find another alcohol best suited to hear my confessions or admissions because they have the best chance of understanding
    .. because they have done similar things.

  3. To the best of my ability, I identify those who I have harmed as a result of my drinking, or even just because of the person I was when drinking.. and I make an honest effort at restitution. Pay them back, live life differently, do things I've promised and never fulfilled.

  4. Find another alcoholic and show him how to do what you just did, and help him change his life.

That's it. The steps on the wall, written in the book... are not the steps the original 100 did. What I just explained is what they did.

How do I know? Because Bill Wilson says so in numerous writings after the book was published

If you can get real honest, have. Willingness to make past relationship retored to good standing. And seek daily to be helpful to the human race vs just always looking out for yourself... then you too can get well.

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#4

This is one of the best things ever shared on this app. Thanks

#5

Ha! Don't inflate my ego
.. I'll need.another 4th step.. but thank you. It really just takes honesty, willingness and an open mind.. I know that.sounds cliche.. but for me that is the truth...

Tradition 3:
The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

I had that sincere desire. The desire was strong enough to get brutally honest.. and an open mind necessary, because I was out of ideas.. I had exhausted my solo attempts.. so I took a few.suggestions, and voila

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