Here we are, it's December, the 12th month of the year, and time to share some of my experience with Step 12.
Step 12 : Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry our message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Do any of you want Step 12 expressed in only five (5) words?
TO FEEL GOOD, DO GOOD
When we help others, it makes us feel good. When we feel good about ourselves, we are not inclined to pick up a drink of alcohol to change how we feel.
TO FEEL GOOD, DO GOOD
This includes doing good things for all other human beings. It is not limited to only helping other alcoholics. Let it also include doing good things for animals and even inanimate objects as well.
To repeat : When we help others, it makes us feel good. When we feel good about ourselves, we are not inclined to pick up a drink of alcohol to change how we feel.
THE PROMISES
Most of us are aware of 'The Promises' of the 9th step which are on pages 83 and 84 in The Big Book in Chapter 6, - Into Action.
There are about 140 promises in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.
Step 12 begins with a promise : Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps.
This is a promise. We are promised a Spiritual Awakening if we work the previous 11 steps.
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING / EXPERIENCE
The 12th Step promises us a spiritual awakening. Appendix II, pages 567 and 568, in the back of the Big Book is well worth studying.
In my thoughts on Step 9, I talked about how some amends are uncomfortable and of the spiritual experience I had the day I stopped short of telling-off another member of A.A. so I would not have to then make an amend to him. This change in behavior is, in and of itself, a spiritual awakening or experience.
WORKING WITH OTHERS
In The Big Book, Chapter 7 - Working With Others, on page 89 says : PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.
In my opinion, working with others ranks number 2 on my list of most important actions we can take to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
What is number 1? In order to recover from active alcoholism you must want to do so. A.A. is not for those who need it. A.A. is for those who want it!
What more have I to offer on the 12 Step? For now this is my best effort.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
NOV 24, 18 .. I AM NOW IN IRKUTSK, RUSSIAN SIBERIA
Hello One And All in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
My stay in Ulaanbaatar was very short, only six days dating from the 23rd of October when I flew into Ulaanbaatar from Seoul, South Korea, until the 29th of October when I flew from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk, Russian Siberia.
I am now 'carrying the message' here in Irkutsk.
I hope to return again to Ulaanbaatar next Spring of 2019.
Until then ..
Best Wishes from Kanbaatar ..
My stay in Ulaanbaatar was very short, only six days dating from the 23rd of October when I flew into Ulaanbaatar from Seoul, South Korea, until the 29th of October when I flew from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk, Russian Siberia.
I am now 'carrying the message' here in Irkutsk.
I hope to return again to Ulaanbaatar next Spring of 2019.
Until then ..
Best Wishes from Kanbaatar ..
Thursday, October 4, 2018
OCT 4, 18 .. SOON I WILL RETURN TO MONGOLIA ..
Soon I will return to Mongolia.
October 16th, I will fly from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, on the West Coast of the United States.
On October 17th I will fly from Seattle, Washington, to Seoul, South Korea, arriving October the 18th. In Seoul I will visit friends and attend meetings.
Then on October 23rd I will fly from Seoul, South Korea, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
I look forward to seeing all of my friends in Ulaanbaatar.
Smiles, Kanbaatar
October 16th, I will fly from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, on the West Coast of the United States.
On October 17th I will fly from Seattle, Washington, to Seoul, South Korea, arriving October the 18th. In Seoul I will visit friends and attend meetings.
Then on October 23rd I will fly from Seoul, South Korea, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
I look forward to seeing all of my friends in Ulaanbaatar.
Smiles, Kanbaatar
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
JAN 30, 18 .. STEP ONE
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5, How It Works, page 59, states :
Step 1 .. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
I wonder how many members fully realize that there are two steps that come before we get to the above Step 1?
On page 58, prior to the steps that appear on pages 59 and 60 are the following words.
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps.
One has to want this program. Further one has to be willing to go to any length to get it.
So IF you want this program and are willing to go to any length to get it THEN you are ready to take the suggested twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
What exactly is step 1.
Allow me to share a true story with you.
In 1950, I was sitting in a High School latin language class. Little did I know on that long ago school morning, that my life was about to change forever.
Sitting next to me on my left was a fellow student who was wearing eye glasses. Fooling around, as I tended to do in class, I reached over across his face with my right hand and I took off his eye glasses and put them on.
Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Blackboard! Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Leaves On The Trees Outside The Window!
You see? I did not know that I could not see normally. I did not know that I had a problem. If one does not know that one has a problem, there can not possibly be a solution to the problem.
This is what Step 1 is. Step 1 is the simple admission that one has a problem with alcohol.
This should be a simple yes or no. Yes I have a problem. No I do not have a problem.
Next month I will write about my thoughts on Step 2.
Step 1 .. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
I wonder how many members fully realize that there are two steps that come before we get to the above Step 1?
On page 58, prior to the steps that appear on pages 59 and 60 are the following words.
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps.
One has to want this program. Further one has to be willing to go to any length to get it.
So IF you want this program and are willing to go to any length to get it THEN you are ready to take the suggested twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
What exactly is step 1.
Allow me to share a true story with you.
In 1950, I was sitting in a High School latin language class. Little did I know on that long ago school morning, that my life was about to change forever.
Sitting next to me on my left was a fellow student who was wearing eye glasses. Fooling around, as I tended to do in class, I reached over across his face with my right hand and I took off his eye glasses and put them on.
Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Blackboard! Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Leaves On The Trees Outside The Window!
You see? I did not know that I could not see normally. I did not know that I had a problem. If one does not know that one has a problem, there can not possibly be a solution to the problem.
This is what Step 1 is. Step 1 is the simple admission that one has a problem with alcohol.
This should be a simple yes or no. Yes I have a problem. No I do not have a problem.
Next month I will write about my thoughts on Step 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)