April 20 2012 | AA 12 Steps In Action | Step 4 "Inventory" | Alcoholics Anonymous Today's AA daily reflection: "self examination…" Self appraisal has become very popular in many workplaces, and often this is enhanced when we get feedback from others about how we are doing…
"Yes but no but yes, there was a reason for it!" The most cumbersome part of any self appraisal, the fearless moral inventory in step four, the spot check inventory on any given day is always influenced by our own attitudes and outlook. And self appraisal is very difficult at the best of times. We can appeal to our good conscience "God" and also ask for feedback from someone who has no axe to grind. We can always ask the help on any given day…
Our ability to listen in early recovery is very difficult. And as time goes by we learn what it is to listen to the world, people in difficult places talking about difficult things, and when it is about us it is all the more difficult. Recent conversations with friends in recovery made it clear that the more we talk about what is going on truths, our experience strength and hope in the moment of now, truth with others helps others be truthful with us…
We are always our own worst critic. And the critic inside us will be harsher and more prejudiced than anyone else in my experience. And when that critic, the one inside us starts talking loudly, we cannot hear and listen to the world. And the worst of it can be that we forget, "what people think of me is none of my business" is forgotten. We start judging who we can trust, when in fact we will be judged anyway. Step four and step five is about letting go and self forgiveness, and what the world chooses to do in judging the truth of us, it works to our benefit. Those who love us will, those who don't love us will drift away…
"What will people think of me if I tell the truth and share my experience strength and hope, about my life, how it was back in the day and how it is today?" I do strive to be open honest and willing to live life and share the truth of me. This is how recovery works for me. And another conversation recently, a person feared sharing their truth until they got the meeting. They shared their truth, and they helped another alcoholic to share the truth with them. One person's openness helped another person open up about their nightmare. The other person with a nightmare may never share their calamity and that is their choice, but at least my friend who was able to share helped another person in their recovery on that particular day…
I do believe the truth will always help us find peace and serenity. False pride, shame and guilt may stop many from sharing truth and that's okay. And fear of what other people think, this is very disabling whenever it happens, at the same time it must be a personal choice, my hope is that we develop the courage, faith and confidence to be truthful with ourselves so we may help others. Some things may be never known to others for many many reasons and it is a person's choice what they choose to share to help anyone anywhere who needs help in recovery. Step four being thorough and fearless, helps us let go what we think of ourselves, encouraging love and tolerance and an open outlook. And we need not fear what other people think of us, and those who love us most will give us the feedback we need and hopefully in the day when most needed…
DonInLondon 2005-2011
Recovery, all about being on the happy road of desitiny, a caution? ~ G. K. Chesterton "New roads; new ruts" -/- Out of the problem and into the solution, from ego to esteem, from no choices, to choices, from nothing to something, as we are included, as reality offers, just for today...
From living in fear, putting on a brave face, using a thin veneer of ego and beset by problems, to having courage, faith and confidence, living in the solution is progress to good choices. Whatever we face, hard times or good times, if we can be included, make choices and find fellowship, our needs most likely met, less driven by wants, life works...
-/-
AA Daily Reflection: Daily Reflections ~ SELF-EXAMINATION... We ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Alcoholics Anonymous,p.86
When said sincerely, this prayer teaches me to be truly unselfish and humble, for even in doing good deeds I often used to seek approval and glory for myself. By examining my motives in all that I do, I can be of service to God and others, helping them do what they want to to. When I put God in charge of my thinking, much needless worry is eliminated and I believe He guides me throughout the day. When I elimate thoughts of self-pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness as soon as they enter my mind, I find peace with God, my neighbor and myself.
-/-
As Bill Sees It ~ We Need Outside Help... It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn't be nearly enough. We'd have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves -- the help of God and of another human being. Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility.
If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way. 1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 59 2. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961
As Bill Sees It ~ 319 Two Authorities Many people wonder how A.A. can function under a seeming anarchy. Other societies have to have law and force and sanction and punishment, administered by authorized people. Happily for us, we found that we need no human authorities which are far more effective. One is benign, the other malign. There is God, our Father, who very simply says, "I am waiting for you to do my will." The other authority is named John Barlicorn, and he says, "You had better do God's will or I will kill you."
-/-
I do not speak for Alcoholics Anonymous I speak for myself. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of unique and authentic people who speak for themselves where they will to share experience, strength and hope about recovery on a daily basis. Anonymity affords sanctuary to find how to live sober and be open, honest and willing to learn life day by day. For me "truth," "love" and "wisdom" offer the best spiritual experience by living reality today. Into the fabric of recovery from alcoholism are woven the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, steps to be open, honest and willing to learn, traditions to live unity, service and recovery.
-/-
Step 4 "Fearless Inventory" Reading Video Link:
"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves"
-/-
"Yes but no but yes, there was a reason for it!" The most cumbersome part of any self appraisal, the fearless moral inventory in step four, the spot check inventory on any given day is always influenced by our own attitudes and outlook. And self appraisal is very difficult at the best of times. We can appeal to our good conscience "God" and also ask for feedback from someone who has no axe to grind. We can always ask the help on any given day…
Our ability to listen in early recovery is very difficult. And as time goes by we learn what it is to listen to the world, people in difficult places talking about difficult things, and when it is about us it is all the more difficult. Recent conversations with friends in recovery made it clear that the more we talk about what is going on truths, our experience strength and hope in the moment of now, truth with others helps others be truthful with us…
We are always our own worst critic. And the critic inside us will be harsher and more prejudiced than anyone else in my experience. And when that critic, the one inside us starts talking loudly, we cannot hear and listen to the world. And the worst of it can be that we forget, "what people think of me is none of my business" is forgotten. We start judging who we can trust, when in fact we will be judged anyway. Step four and step five is about letting go and self forgiveness, and what the world chooses to do in judging the truth of us, it works to our benefit. Those who love us will, those who don't love us will drift away…
"What will people think of me if I tell the truth and share my experience strength and hope, about my life, how it was back in the day and how it is today?" I do strive to be open honest and willing to live life and share the truth of me. This is how recovery works for me. And another conversation recently, a person feared sharing their truth until they got the meeting. They shared their truth, and they helped another alcoholic to share the truth with them. One person's openness helped another person open up about their nightmare. The other person with a nightmare may never share their calamity and that is their choice, but at least my friend who was able to share helped another person in their recovery on that particular day…
I do believe the truth will always help us find peace and serenity. False pride, shame and guilt may stop many from sharing truth and that's okay. And fear of what other people think, this is very disabling whenever it happens, at the same time it must be a personal choice, my hope is that we develop the courage, faith and confidence to be truthful with ourselves so we may help others. Some things may be never known to others for many many reasons and it is a person's choice what they choose to share to help anyone anywhere who needs help in recovery. Step four being thorough and fearless, helps us let go what we think of ourselves, encouraging love and tolerance and an open outlook. And we need not fear what other people think of us, and those who love us most will give us the feedback we need and hopefully in the day when most needed…
DonInLondon 2005-2011
Recovery, all about being on the happy road of desitiny, a caution? ~ G. K. Chesterton "New roads; new ruts" -/- Out of the problem and into the solution, from ego to esteem, from no choices, to choices, from nothing to something, as we are included, as reality offers, just for today...
From living in fear, putting on a brave face, using a thin veneer of ego and beset by problems, to having courage, faith and confidence, living in the solution is progress to good choices. Whatever we face, hard times or good times, if we can be included, make choices and find fellowship, our needs most likely met, less driven by wants, life works...
-/-
AA Daily Reflection: Daily Reflections ~ SELF-EXAMINATION... We ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Alcoholics Anonymous,p.86
When said sincerely, this prayer teaches me to be truly unselfish and humble, for even in doing good deeds I often used to seek approval and glory for myself. By examining my motives in all that I do, I can be of service to God and others, helping them do what they want to to. When I put God in charge of my thinking, much needless worry is eliminated and I believe He guides me throughout the day. When I elimate thoughts of self-pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness as soon as they enter my mind, I find peace with God, my neighbor and myself.
-/-
As Bill Sees It ~ We Need Outside Help... It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn't be nearly enough. We'd have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves -- the help of God and of another human being. Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility.
If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted. After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way. 1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 59 2. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961
As Bill Sees It ~ 319 Two Authorities Many people wonder how A.A. can function under a seeming anarchy. Other societies have to have law and force and sanction and punishment, administered by authorized people. Happily for us, we found that we need no human authorities which are far more effective. One is benign, the other malign. There is God, our Father, who very simply says, "I am waiting for you to do my will." The other authority is named John Barlicorn, and he says, "You had better do God's will or I will kill you."
-/-
I do not speak for Alcoholics Anonymous I speak for myself. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of unique and authentic people who speak for themselves where they will to share experience, strength and hope about recovery on a daily basis. Anonymity affords sanctuary to find how to live sober and be open, honest and willing to learn life day by day. For me "truth," "love" and "wisdom" offer the best spiritual experience by living reality today. Into the fabric of recovery from alcoholism are woven the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, steps to be open, honest and willing to learn, traditions to live unity, service and recovery.
-/-
Step 4 "Fearless Inventory" Reading Video Link:
"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves"
-/-
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