Friday, August 11, 2006
A.A.: More About Alcoholism: Spiritual Solution
"Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. His defense must come from a Higher Power."
"Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems."
Alcoholics Anonymous
More About Alcoholism
Page 43
I opened myself to the principles and program of AA in hopes of finding a solution to my drinking problem. I was willing to try a different approach, a spiritual approach, even though I was cautious. I initially just put a toe in the water, afraid that I was getting involved with a bunch of kooks. I found pretty normal people. No one tried to force feed me anything. The only suggestion offered was that I stop relying on myself and try (just try) to look to elsewhere for answers.
At first, I found that I was able to stay sober by just hanging around other people who also used to have drinking problems. It felt good to go to meetings and hear others share how they had struggled and then found relief by working the 12 Steps. For the first time, I knew that there were people who understood me and the difficulties that I was going through. I wasn't alone.
For me, the simple willingness to try was the beginning of a new way of facing all my problems. Faith is like a muscle -- it strengthens with exercise. I don't claim to be perfect -- I really don't want to be. I do, however, enjoy working on myself, making progress, and being of some service to others. But, "First Things First." If you have a drinking problem and don't know what to do about it, post a comment, or call a local AA group (you can find numbers Online @ www.sponsornet.com/resources.html or http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/meetings/a/blaa.htm.
All the best...
Bill B.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
"Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems."
Alcoholics Anonymous
More About Alcoholism
Page 43
I opened myself to the principles and program of AA in hopes of finding a solution to my drinking problem. I was willing to try a different approach, a spiritual approach, even though I was cautious. I initially just put a toe in the water, afraid that I was getting involved with a bunch of kooks. I found pretty normal people. No one tried to force feed me anything. The only suggestion offered was that I stop relying on myself and try (just try) to look to elsewhere for answers.
At first, I found that I was able to stay sober by just hanging around other people who also used to have drinking problems. It felt good to go to meetings and hear others share how they had struggled and then found relief by working the 12 Steps. For the first time, I knew that there were people who understood me and the difficulties that I was going through. I wasn't alone.
For me, the simple willingness to try was the beginning of a new way of facing all my problems. Faith is like a muscle -- it strengthens with exercise. I don't claim to be perfect -- I really don't want to be. I do, however, enjoy working on myself, making progress, and being of some service to others. But, "First Things First." If you have a drinking problem and don't know what to do about it, post a comment, or call a local AA group (you can find numbers Online @ www.sponsornet.com/resources.html or http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/meetings/a/blaa.htm.
All the best...
Bill B.
Get the latest edition of:
Alcoholics Anonymous
AA Services
aa addiction alcoholism recovery sponsornet substance abuse
# posted by Bill B. @ 11:58 PM 
