Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

by Alcoholics Anonymous

All of the Twelve Steps require sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust, to God’s will.

It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly.

the practice of Step Three.

i.e., it's not a once and be done thing; it requires PRACTICE.

1/3/16, 1/7/16 where have I been at fault? what is / was MY ROLE in each particular item or relationship on my inventory? emotional insecurity - where does it appear, and whence? my failings generate fear, self-pity, greed, posessiveness, defensiveness (pride)

survival.

insist upon ruling our lives.

Our desires for sex, for material and emotional security, and for an important place in society often tyrannize us.

tyranni...

Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are.

Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for us.

faith which really works in daily living is still out of reach.

sex desire

financial security

quest for security

frightened

weak

protectors

Or they abuse and defraud him

power-mad,

there can be no peace.

Every time a person imposes his instincts unreasonably upon others, unhappiness follows.

anger, jealousy, and revenge are likely ...

desire for prestige

Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking.

Instincts on rampage balk at investigation.

If temperamentally we are on the depressive side, we are apt to be swamped with guilt and self-loathing.

oblivion looks possible as a solution.

lost all perspective,

If, however, our natural disposition is inclined to self-righteousness or grandiosity, our reaction will be just the opposite.

We will be offended at A.A.’s suggested inventory.

We shall claim that our serious character defects, if we think we have any at all, have been caused chiefly by excessive drinking.

we think our indignation is justified and reasonable—that our resentments are the “right kind.”

We aren’t the guilty ones. They are!

At this stage of the inventory proceedings, our sponsors ...

They comfort the mela...

the newcomer has some assets

As soon as he begins to be more objective, the newcomer can fearlessly, rather than fearfully, look at his own defects.

driven by pride of self

the majority of A.A. members have suffered severely from self-justification during their drinking days.

self-justification

the maker of excuses;...

We had made the invention of alibi...

We had to drink because times were hard or t...

We had to drink because at home we were smothered with love ...

We had to drink because at work we were great successes o...

We thought “conditions” drove us to drink,

It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.

Living life on life's terms. Grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.

vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride.

We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it.

Recognize and

We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it.

Also step 10, p. 90