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 […]

The upward path June 02 Here are the steps we took. . . . Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 59 These are the words that lead into the Twelve Steps. In their direct simplicity they sweep aside all psychological and philosophical considerations about the rightness of the Steps. They describe what I did: I took the Steps […]

On a wing and a prayer June 03 . . . we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76 Steps Four and Five were difficult, but worthwhile. Now I was stuck on Step Six and, in despair, I picked up the Big Book and read this […]

Letting go of our old selves June 04 Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last. . . .Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have […]

Entirely ready? June 05 "This is the Step that separates the men from the boys.". . . the difference between "the boys and the men" is the difference between striving for a self-determined objective and for the perfect objective which is of God. . . . It is suggested that we ought to become entirely […]

All we do is try June 06 Can He now take them all — every one? Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76 In doing Step Six it helped me a lot to remember that I am striving for "spiritual progress." Some of my character defects may be with me for the rest of my life, but most […]

Long-term hope June 07 Since most of us are born with an abundance of natural desires, it isn't strange that we often let these far exceed their intended purpose. When they drive us blindly, or we willfully demand that they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is […]

Opening up to change June 8 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 […]

Living in the now June 09 First, we try living in the now just in order to stay sober — and it works. Once the idea has become a part of our thinking, we find that living life in 24-hour segments is an effective and satisfying way to handle many other matters as well. Living […]

Impatient? Try levitating June 10 We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people. As Bill sees it, p. 111 Impatience with other people is one of my principal failings. Following a slow car in a no-passing lane, or waiting in a restaurant for the check, drives me to distraction. Before I give God a […]

Family obligations June 11 . . . a spiritual life which does not include. . . family obligations may not be so perfect after all. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 129 I can be doing great in the program — applying it at meetings, at work, and in service activities — and find that things have gone […]

Forming true partnerships June 12 But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. We have been especially stupid and stubborn about them. The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another […]

Living our amends June 13 "Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child neurotic. The entire family is, to some extent, ill." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 122 It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt myself, but also those around me. Making […]

When the going gets rough June 14 It is a design for living that works in rough going. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 15 When I came to A.A., I realized that A.A. worked wonderfully to help keep me sober. But could it work on real life problems, not concerned with drinking? I had my doubts. After […]

Making A.A. your higher power June 15 ". . .You can . . . make A.A. itself your 'higher power.' Here's a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. . . . many members . . . have crossed the threshold just this way. . . . their faith broadened and […]

Open-mindedness June 16 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. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 46 Open-mindedness to concepts of a […]

"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 […]