Our primary purpose May 30 The more A.A. sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere. A.A. comes of age, p. 109 It is with gratitude that I reflect on the early days of our Fellowship and those wise and loving "foresteppers" who proclaimed that we should not be diverted […]

A changed outlook June 01 Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered; my pleasure and my comfort came first. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. My whole attitude toward life and other people […]

Opening up to change June 08 Self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. With it comes the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. . . . we find […]

"Deep down within us" June 17 We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found. . . search diligently within yourself. . . . With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you. Alcoholics […]

A fellowship of freedom June 18 . . . if only men were granted absolute liberty, and were compelled to obey no one, they would then voluntarily associate themselves in the common interest. As Bill sees it, p. 50 When I no longer live under the dictates of another or of alcohol, I live in […]

"A.A. Regeneration" June 19 Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one's old life as a condition for finding a new one. A.A. comes or age, p. 46 A thousand beatings by John Barleycorn did not encourage me to admit defeat. I believed it […]

Release from fear June 20 The problem of resolving fear has two aspects. We shall have to try for all the freedom from fear that is possible for us to attain. Then we shall need to find both the courage and grace to deal constructively with whatever fears remain. As Bill sees it, p. 61 […]

Fear and faith June 21 The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed. When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion — well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self-deceived will […]

Today, I'm free June 22 This brought me to the good healthy realization that there were plenty of situations left in the world over which I had no personal power – that if I was so ready to admit that to be the case with alcohol, so I must make the same admission with respect […]

Trusting others June 23 But does trust require that we be blind to other people's motives or, indeed, to our own? Not at all; this would be folly. Most certainly, we should assess the capacity for harm as well as the capability for good in every person that we would trust. Such a private inventory […]

A spiritual kindergarten June 24 We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect. As Bill sees it, p. 95 When I came to A.A., I was run down by the bottle and wanted to lose the […]

A two-way street June 25 If we ask, God will certainly forgive our derelictions. But in no case does He render us white as snow and keep us that way without our cooperation. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 65 When I prayed, I used to omit a lot of things for which I needed […]

A gift that grows with time June 26 For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 151 The longer I chased these elusive feelings with alcohol, the more […]

Conforming to the A.A. way June 27 We obey A.A.'s Steps and Traditions because we really want them for ourselves. It is no longer a question of good or evil; we conform because we genuinely want to conform. Such is our process of growth in unity and function. Such is the evidence of God's grace […]

Tthe determination of our founders June 28 A year and six months later these three had succeeded with seven more. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 159 If it had not been for the fierce determination of our founders, A.A. would have quickly faded like so many other so-called good causes. I look at the hundreds of meetings […]

A rippling effect June 29 Having learned to live so happily, we'd show everyone else how. . . . Yes, we of A.A. did dream those dreams. How natural that was, since most alcoholics are bankrupt idealists. . . . So why shouldn't we share our way of life with everyone? Twelve steps and twelve […]

Sacrifice = Unity = Survival June 30 The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival of A.A. will always depend upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice mean unity and […]

The best for today July 01 The principles we have set down are guides to progress. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 60 Just as a sculptor will use different tools to achieve desired effects in creating a work of art, in Alcoholics Anonymous the Twelve Steps are used to bring about results in my own life. I […]

The heart of true sobriety July 02 We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 568 Am I honest enough to accept myself as I am and let this be the "me" that I […]

EXPERIENCE: THE BEST TEACHER July 03 Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87 Some say that experience is the best teacher, but I believe that experience is the only teacher. I have been […]

A natural faith July 04 . . . deep down in every man, woman and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations […]

A new direction July 05 Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly. . . . Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities. Alcoholics anonymous, pp. 45, 85 I hear talk of the "weak-willed" alcoholic, but I am […]

Identifying fear . . . July 06 The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear. . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 76 When I feel uncomfortable, irritated, or depressed, I look for fear. This "evil and corroding thread" is the root of my distress: Fear of failure; fear of others' […]

. . . And letting go of it July 07 . . . primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had […]

. . . And letting go of it July 07 . . . primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had […]

I am an instrument July 09 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 70 The subject of humility is a difficult one. Humility is not thinking less of myself than I ought to; it is acknowledging that I do certain things well, it is accepting a compliment graciously. God […]

Toward peace and serinity July 10 . . . when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 74 When situations arise which […]

A turning point July 11 A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted, rather than as something we must have. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Either the A.A. way of life becomes one of joy or I return to the darkness and despair […]

Giving up the center stage July 12 For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. . . . Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 70 Why do […]

HUMILITY IS A GIFT July 13 As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 72 When I first came to A.A., I […]

A nourishing ingradient July 14 Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 74 How often do I focus on my problems and frustrations? When I am having a "good day" these same problems shrink in […]

Pride July 15 For thousands of years we have been demanding more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion. Never was there enough of what we thought we wanted. In […]

"A measure of humility" July 16 In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 It was […]

Surrender and self-examination July 17 My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. Thus I think it can work out with emotional sobriety. If we examine every disturbance we have, great or small, we will find at the root of it some unhealthy dependency and its consequent unhealthy […]

Grateful for what I have July 18 During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Today my prayers consist mostly of saying thank you to my Higher Power for my sobriety and for the […]

False pride July 19 Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His help. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Many false notions operate in false pride. The need for direction to live a decent life is […]

Shortcomings removed July 20 But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works" began to carry bright promise and meaning. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn't say, "Humbly […]

A priceless gift July 21 By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all […]

"The good and the bad" July 22 "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 The joy of life is in the giving. Being freed of my shortcomings, that I may more freely be of service, allows humility to grow in me. My […]

I ask God to decide July 23 "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." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the […]

Helping others July 24 Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 20 Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful and resentful […]

Those who still suffer July 25 For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 151 I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety. […]

The "worth" of sobriety July 26 Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 160 When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I […]

Giving freely July 27 We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have learned to love God and one another. A.A. comes of age, p. 234 To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never a strong characteristic during my days as a […]

Those who still suffer July 28 Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody. A.A. comes of age, p. 232 A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Large or small, firmly established […]

Anonymous gifts of kindness July 29 As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout in one way or another. "The twelve traditions illustrated," p. 14 The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal challenge, reminding me to share and give of myself. Before sobriety the only thing I ever supported was my […]

Giving back July 30 . . . he has struck something better than gold. . . .He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product. Alcoholics anonymous, […]

A prayer for all seasons July 31 God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 125 The power of this prayer is overwhelming in that its simple beauty parallels the A.A. Fellowship. […]

Living it August 01 The spiritual life is not a theory.  We have to live it. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 83 When new in the program, I couldn't comprehend living the spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I'm sober, I can't comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking. God, as […]

WE BECOME WILLING . . . August 02 At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77 How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step! I wish to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh […]

 . . To be of service August 03 Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 77 It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love. God loved me enough to take me from alleys and jails so […]

Seeds of faith August 04 Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 34 As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a "scientific thinker" like me, no answer could withstand […]

Listening deeply August 05 How persistently we claim the right to decide all by ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 37 If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have made the program work for themselves, I have a chance […]

Driven August 06 Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 62 My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking. I drank to celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows. Humility is the answer. I […]

A "design for living" August 07 We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that […]

"Made a list . . ." August 08 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 When I approached the Eighth Step, I wondered how I could list all the things that I have done to other people since there were so many people, […]

". . . Of all persons we had harmed" August 09 . . . and became willing to make amends to them all. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 One of the key words in the Eighth Step is the word all. I am not free to select a few names for the list and […]

Redoubling our efforts August 10 To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways, Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 As I continue to grow in […]

Removing  "the ground glass" August 11 The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective. This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits. As […]

A look backward August 12 First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done; . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 As a traveler on a fresh and exciting A.A. journey of […]