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constructed so that we need not debate the existence of
God; but for best results, most of us must depend upon a
Higher Power. You say the group is your Higher Power, and
no rightminded A.A. would challenge your privilege to
believe precisely that way. We should all be glad that good
recoveries can be made even on this limited basis.
"But turnabout is fair play. If you would expect tolerance for
your point of view, I am sure you would be willing to
reciprocate. I try to remember that, down through the
centuries, lots of brighter people than I have been found on
both sides of this debate about belief. For myself, of late
years, I am finding it much easier to believe that God made
man, than that man made God."
Breach the Walls of Ego
People who are driven by pride of self unconsciously blind
themselves to their liabilities. Newcomers of this sort
scarcely need comforting. The problem is to help them
discover a chink in the walls their ego has built, through
which the light of reason can shine.
The attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle
of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of
humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all.
Nearly all A.A.'s have found, too, that unless they develop
much more of this precious quality than may be required just
for sobriety, they still haven't much chance of becoming truly
happy. Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose,
or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet
any emergency.
TWELVE AND TWELVE
Losing Financial Fears
When ajob still looked like a mere means of getting money
rather than an opportunity for service, when the acquisition
of money for financial independence looked more important
than a right dependence upon God, we were the victims of
unreasonable fears. And these were fears which would make
a serene and useful existence, at any financial level, quite
impossible.
But as time passed we found that with the help of A.A.'s
Twelve Steps we could lose those fears, no matter what our
material prospects were. We could cheerfully perform
humble labor without worrying about tomorrow. If our
circumstances happened to be good, we no longer dreaded a
change for the worse, for we had learned that these troubles
could be turned into great values, for ourselves and for
others.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 121-122
Only God Is Unchanging
"Change is the characteristic of all growth. From drinking to
sobriety, from dishonesty to honesty, from conflict to
serenity, from hate to love, from childish dependence to
adult responsibility -- all this and infinitely more represent
change for the better.
"Such changes are accomplished by a belief in and a
prectice of sound principles in favor of good ones that work.
Even good principles can sometimes be displaced by the
discovery of still better ones.
"Only God is unchanging; only He has all the truth there is."
R.S.V.P. -- Yes or No?
Usually, we do not avoid a place where there is drinking -- if
we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes
bars, night clubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain
ordinary parties.
You will note that we made an important qualification.
Therefore, ask yourself, "Have I any good social, business,
or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting
to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere?"
Then go or stay away, whichever seems better. But be sure
you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that
your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of
what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can
bring to it.
If you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic
instead!
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 101-102
Clearing a Channel
During the day, we can pause where situations must be met
and decisions made, and renew the simple request "Thy will,
not mine, be done."
If at these points our emotional disturbance happens to be
great, we will more surely keep our balance provided we
remember, and repeat to ourselves, a particular prayer or
phrase that has appealed to us in our reading or meditation.
Just saying it over and over will often enable us to clear a
channel choked up with anger, fear, frustration, or
misunderstanding, and permit us to return to the surest help
of all -- our search for God's will, not our own, inthe moment
of stress.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 102-103
Whose Responsibility?
"An A.A. group, as such, cannot take on all the personal
problems of its members, let alone those of nonalcoholics, in
the world around us. The A.A. group is not, for example, a
mediator of domestic relations, nor does it furnish personal
financial aid to anyone.
"Though a member may sometimes be helped in such
matters by his friends in A.A., the primary responsibility for
the solutions of all his problems of living and growing rests
squarely upon the individual himself. Should an A.A. group
attempt this sort of help, its effectiveness and energies
would be hopelessly dissipated.

constructed so that we need not debate the existence of

God; but for best results, most of us must depend upon a

Higher Power. You say the group is your Higher Power, and

no rightminded A.A. would challenge your privilege to

believe precisely that way. We should all be glad that good

recoveries can be made even on this limited basis.

"But turnabout is fair play. If you would expect tolerance for

your point of view, I am sure you would be willing to

reciprocate. I try to remember that, down through the

centuries, lots of brighter people than I have been found on

both sides of this debate about belief. For myself, of late

years, I am finding it much easier to believe that God made

man, than that man made God."

Breach the Walls of Ego

People who are driven by pride of self unconsciously blind

themselves to their liabilities. Newcomers of this sort

scarcely need comforting. The problem is to help them

discover a chink in the walls their ego has built, through

which the light of reason can shine.

The attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle

of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of

humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all.

Nearly all A.A.'s have found, too, that unless they develop

much more of this precious quality than may be required just

for sobriety, they still haven't much chance of becoming truly

happy. Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose,

or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet

any emergency.

TWELVE AND TWELVE

Losing Financial Fears

When ajob still looked like a mere means of getting money

rather than an opportunity for service, when the acquisition

of money for financial independence looked more important

than a right dependence upon God, we were the victims of

unreasonable fears. And these were fears which would make

a serene and useful existence, at any financial level, quite

impossible.

But as time passed we found that with the help of A.A.'s

Twelve Steps we could lose those fears, no matter what our

material prospects were. We could cheerfully perform

humble labor without worrying about tomorrow. If our

circumstances happened to be good, we no longer dreaded a

change for the worse, for we had learned that these troubles

could be turned into great values, for ourselves and for

others.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 121-122

Only God Is Unchanging

"Change is the characteristic of all growth. From drinking to

sobriety, from dishonesty to honesty, from conflict to

serenity, from hate to love, from childish dependence to

adult responsibility -- all this and infinitely more represent

change for the better.

"Such changes are accomplished by a belief in and a

prectice of sound principles in favor of good ones that work.

Even good principles can sometimes be displaced by the

discovery of still better ones.

"Only God is unchanging; only He has all the truth there is."

R.S.V.P. -- Yes or No?

Usually, we do not avoid a place where there is drinking -- if

we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes

bars, night clubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain

ordinary parties.

You will note that we made an important qualification.

Therefore, ask yourself, "Have I any good social, business,

or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting

to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere?"

Then go or stay away, whichever seems better. But be sure

you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that

your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of

what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can

bring to it.

If you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic

instead!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 101-102

Clearing a Channel

During the day, we can pause where situations must be met

and decisions made, and renew the simple request "Thy will,

not mine, be done."

If at these points our emotional disturbance happens to be

great, we will more surely keep our balance provided we

remember, and repeat to ourselves, a particular prayer or

phrase that has appealed to us in our reading or meditation.

Just saying it over and over will often enable us to clear a

channel choked up with anger, fear, frustration, or

misunderstanding, and permit us to return to the surest help

of all -- our search for God's will, not our own, inthe moment

of stress.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 102-103

Whose Responsibility?

"An A.A. group, as such, cannot take on all the personal

problems of its members, let alone those of nonalcoholics, in

the world around us. The A.A. group is not, for example, a

mediator of domestic relations, nor does it furnish personal

financial aid to anyone.

"Though a member may sometimes be helped in such

matters by his friends in A.A., the primary responsibility for

the solutions of all his problems of living and growing rests

squarely upon the individual himself. Should an A.A. group

attempt this sort of help, its effectiveness and energies

would be hopelessly dissipated.