Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

by Alcoholics Anonymous

emotional “dry benders”

Other kinds of disturbances—jealousy, envy, self-pity, or hurt pride—did the same thing. A spot-check inventory taken in the midst of such disturbances

envy n. (pl. envies) [mass noun] a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck: she felt a twinge of envy for the people on board. -(the envy of) a person or thing that inspires envy: France has a film industry that is the envy of Europe. v. (envies, envying, envied) [with obj.] desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to (someone else): he envied people who did not have to work at the weekends | [with two objs] I envy Jane her happiness. -desire for oneself (something belonging to another): a lifestyle which most of us would envy.

Other kinds of disturbances—jealousy, envy, self-pity, or hurt pride—did the same thing. A spot-check inventory taken...

self-pity n. [mass noun] excessive, self-absorbed unhappiness over one's own troubles. self-pitying adj. characterized by self-pity: he was in one of his self-pitying moods. <DERIVATIVES> self-pityingly adv. self-policing n. [mass noun] the process of keeping order or maintaining control within a community without accountability or reference to an external authority. adj. (of a community) independently responsible for keeping and maintaining order.

a willingness to admit when the fault is ours, and

equal willingness to forgive when the fault is elsewhere.

We shall look for progress, not for perfection.

Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.

real love

pointless to become angry,

growing up.

pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress.

😡

one-time agnostics who still cling to the A.A. group

the God of the Atom, maybe,

certain experiment lest it prove his pet theory wrong.

thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where there is discord, I may bring harmony—that where there is error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt, I may bring faith—that where there is despair, I may bring hope—that where there are shadows, I may bring

For in meditation, debate has no place.

spiritual power, beauty, and love of

Well, meditation is like that, too; it helps to envision our spiritual objective before we try to move toward it. So let’s get back to that sunlit beach—or to the plains or to the mountains, if you prefer.

This can be done, but it has hazards.

Feeling unsettled

proffers

Hold out for acceptance

prayer is the sense of belonging

Hesitating doubt

Not likely to be true

that life is not a dead end,

transformed,

Thoroughly or drastic changed

Now

We know this because we see monotony, pain, and even calamity turned to good use by those who keep on trying to practice A.A.’s Twelve Steps.

Tedious

“two-stepping.” And

“two-step” illusion.

“to practice these principles in all our affairs,”

because all people are fallible,

How,

“Don’t.” They repeatedly say “We ought…” but never “You must!”

home group.

other alcoholics

v...

dictator

chairman

hier...

drunks.

grateful!”

rotating committee,

servants.

treasurer,

secretary

simple services

are really servants, not senators.

lack of it.”

grief and anxiety wear away,