The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

by Alcoholics Anonymous

or else.

Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.

When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.

So we used our own conception, however limited it was.

“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?

or else

for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper.

We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.” We have then completed Step Seven. Now we need more action, without which

Page 79 Maybe we are divorced,

Although these reparations take innumerable forms, there are some general principles which we find guiding. Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be. We may lose our position or reputation or face jail, but we are willing. We have to be. We must not shrink at anything.

but if he were in jail he could provide nothing for either family.

forgiveness.

and the whole situation has only since been adjusted.

But drinking does complicate sex relations in the home. After a few years with an alcoholic, a wife gets worn out, resentful and uncommunicative. How could she be anything else? The husband begins to feel lonely, sorry for himself. He commences to look around in the night clubs, or their equivalent, for something besides liquor.

Undoubtedly we should admit our fault.

Our design for living is not a one-way street.

husband.

Keep it always in sight that we are dealing with that most terrible human emotion —

Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept he home in turmoil. We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough.

A remorseful mumbling that we are sorry won’t fill the bill at all.

being very careful not to criticize them.

Their defects may be glaring, but the chances are that our own actions a...

asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, toler...

The spiritual life is not a theory. We h...

We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters.

Our behavior will convince them more than our words.

There may be some wrongs we can never fully right. We don’t worry about them if we can honestly say to ourselves that we would right them if we could. Some people cannot be seen — we sent

there may be a valid reason for postponement in some cases. But we don’t delay if it can be avoided.

As God’s people we stand on our feet; we don’t cra...

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past no...

word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us — sometimes quickly,

sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.

This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right...

We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. W...

resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance ...

tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame.

react sanely and normally,

It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it,

we can employ our mental faculties with assurance,

We relax and take it easy. We don’t struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.

We are careful never to pray for our own selfish ends.

If not members of religious bodies, we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which emphasize the principles we have been discussing. There are many helpful books also.

Make use of what they offer. As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action.

“Thy will be done.

“Faith without works is dead.” The next chapter is entirely devoted to Step

Twelve.

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends — this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.

Perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover. You can easily find some by ask...