The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous says, "But what about the real alcoholic? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink. We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink... he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. These observations would be academic and pointless if the alcoholic never took the first drink thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion. Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather then in his body."
If the problem centers in our minds and we use our reasoning power in an attempt to solve our problem, than we are trying to solve our problem with our problem. This will never work, as many of our own experiences prove. We continued to drink alcoholically even though we knew we shouldn't and certainly did not want to. Lack of power - that is our dilemma. We must find a new source of power to propel our thoughts. Our thought process can no longer be propelled by our human instincts but rather by the will of God through inspiration.
Once we find that source of power - that is God. We have subrogated our thought process to His will and we are now at peace. Our prayer, at this and each moment, is that anyone who suffers from addiction, whether actively or not, may find God as the very chief source of their power.
Written by Armand
Written by Armand
Instincts and will, bodily and mental dysfunction, drinking against my will, rationalization followed by defiance, can't seem to solve the problem, can't really even identify the problem. As you clearly point out, the main problem turns out to be the very source of the problem. But this source, it's all I know. Can you trust it, this self-source? That was a terrifying question. The answer, of course, is that I couldn't trust my thinking or my consequent behavior, and yet I was trying to find normalcy in my relationships, therefore, in my life. Answer to this impossible dilemma - alcohol. Result - bigger problems. Answer - more alcohol, prodigious amounts followed by an even more prodigiously wasted life. My recovery from this seemingly hopeless state of mind and body is a direct result of a new source of my thinking. That source is The Power Within me, revealed to be by incorporating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they have become my life. Yes, inspiration implanted by The Power Within me displaced perspiration, planted by me. The main problem - me, the source. The only solution - The Power Within me, The Source.
ReplyDeleteMichael if a psychic change does not occur, whether drinking or not than an alcoholic continues to suffer from untreated alcoholism...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteHow true this is and the 12 steps of recovery are what led me to a sober life. My thinking is faulty and based on fear of people places and things. To overcome this I have a higher power in my life today and in sharing these thoughts with God and another person in steps 5 and 10 the fear goes away.
ReplyDeleteAnne you have been missed. Thanks...Armand
ReplyDeleteI believe I had a problem with alcohol from my very first drink as a boy. As I grew my struggle only got worse. I knew very early on that I did not drink like my friends. I had to plan my blackout and subsequently my hangover. I drank until I passed out or ran out of money. I was doomed to become a drunk like most of my family. My sister entered into AA 12 years before me. She changed everything about her life. She never spoke to me about my drinking; she only demonstrated to me a better way of living. As my drinking progressed, slowly things started to be taken away from me. I was living a nightmare without any control over my thoughts and behavior. I can't explain what happened next. Without realizing it, I did the first three steps on my first day. The pain had overwhelmed me. Alcohol won the war. I knew only God could change my fate. Since then I been walking a crooked path toward the will of God. Only the Creator, not the created, can lead me to a life of purpose and meaning. 11+ years I only feel I am getting glimpses of my role in this life. The program of AA has led me through my struggle. The pain and struggle still rests with me from time to time. Now I have a way of conquering my human instincts and the limitations they place upon me. I am learning to live the spiritual life. It is work but it is the only solution for the way to live this life. For that I thank God everyday.
ReplyDeleteJim thanks for your comment. I say this and people only smile if they don't have time with the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. In AA it takes 5 years to find your marbles, 10 years to learn how to play with them..Anyone who says "time doesn't matter in AA," doesn't have any time...Thank you...Armand
DeleteCol 3:1-4 "1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed the main problem, for no one is capable of willing away their own will and truth be told, we are all from the moment of conception totally self willed creations by Devine design. We instinctively propel ourselves into full throttle fits of rage until our demands are met, our bellies are full and a freshly powered diaper is wrapped around our bottoms... If we are fortunate, our parents will avoid nurturing our fledgling self-will-run-riot, and establish and nurture the healthy boundaries and a spiritual relationship with God required to navigate successfully and joyfully through life. Then, there are those of us who by degrees, were raised by wolves.... But we too can recover if we have the capacity to be honest. Thankfully, most parents place our need for lovingly imposed corrective guidance ahead of their inward desire for our all too conditional acceptance and approval.
ReplyDeleteThis divinely inspired act of sacrificial love is the cornerstone for making healthy life choices. No matter our parental guidance or lack thereof, The Devine Author of life provides messengers and models who's sole purpose is to point the way to acceptance of His unrelenting desire to embrace us in the bosom of His unfathomable love. If only we are willing... But, I went my own way, made my own plans, executed them with fervor and justified my excess appetites with self-indulgent arguments backed by delusional excuses. All the while accumulating an insurmountable mountain of gilt and shame. Life finally became a desperate race for any elixir to numb the pain of a journey with no meaning and a future destination too terrifying to contemplate. Alcohol became both the vehicle and fuel for my afterburner fired journey into, Hell...
Yet, when all hope was lost, when death became the only frighteningly attractive option left, an Unseen Hand reached out from eternity and in the rarest moment of sanity, I cried out to that same God I had ignored and abandoned for most of my life. And; In that very instant, in that very place, I discovered that like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz the "ruby slippers" had been available all along. I simply chose to ignore them. The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are in a very real sense the "ruby slippers" of a Loving God's personal invitation to finally come home. Today, I have no need to fear the future nor regret the past for I am convinced that He is more than able and faithful to complete the good work He has begun in me and all who humbly seek His face, and by His power, practice His principles in all their affairs. Just one day at a time, every day of our lives, until we meet Him face to face.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote ' no need to fear the future or regret the past." A life in the present inspired by God is a life made possible by integrating the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into our life in such a way that they become our life...Thank you...Armand
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