THINK
Old-timers told me, “Think the drink through.” Step TEN tells me to think the day through. Both imperatives are slip preventers.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. (emphasis added)
The chapter in the 12 & 12 is worth rereading ~ Chapter 10
When I reread it with others in a recent meeting, I saw the notes and memos of what others said they learned working this step, living with out booze.
The first memo is See people as God sees them, not as I want them to be. The person who is driving me nuts is precious to God. (Isaiah 43:4)
Another memo is Trials come for a reason, right beside the first paragraph on page 96: “ . . . every time we are disturbed no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us.”
I hate this.
Why? I got used to playing the drama queen, a.k.a innocent victim – injured party. Putting on my big girl pants and dealing with basic life issues is hard work. But if I want sobriety more than my way, I have a choice: do a little spot-cleaning and hand the problem over to God who has a better way out of a conflict than my drama. (Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:15-18)
Living with other people creates conflict. So,
. . . coming to terms with the fact . . . all people including ourselves are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong . . . it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by people who like us, are suffering the pains of growing up. (Page 92)
At the end of the day, when I go over the hours, it’s also pointless to pretend my motives are always spotless. (Page 94) That’s where the “when we are wrong” comes in. Having worked Steps One to Nine, it’s not like I don’t know my often-silly self. (Choices)
Interior tantrums are just as bad and dangerous as exterior ones.
Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
How do I maintain my spiritual condition? For me it’s quite simple: on a daily basis I ask my Higher Power to grant me the gift of sobriety for that day! I have talked to many alcoholics who have gone back to drinking and I always ask them: “Did you pray for sobriety the day you took your first drink?” Not one of them said yes. As I practice Step Ten and try to keep my house in order on a daily basis, I have the knowledge that if I ask for a daily reprieve, it will be granted.
From the book Daily Reflections
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