"This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code." Pg. 84 Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
I call this the sobriety formula.
No matter what problem I complained about, my sponsor directed me to this page and promised me I would "cease fighting anything or anyone" if I followed these steps. I remember being very irritated by this response early in my sobriety because I felt I wasn't being heard or understood. How could words on a page in a book written back in 1935 solve my dilemma with my current boyfriend? my job? my family?
To this day, whenever I am disturbed, I utilize this formula. I have watched my various, deadly addictions drop from me year after year like the useless skin of a snake. I have noticed my ever widening circle of friends. I have experienced an ever increasing peace inside of me, even when I fly upside down in the middle of a thunderstorm. I no longer run the show. I have the great pleasure of demonstrating to others, through my ever increasing freedom, the miraculous power of Truth and selflessness and abstinance.
Best,
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