I learned in Alcoholics Anonymous that I have three basic
instincts, a social, sexual and security instinct. These instincts are
God given and necessary for life but in me I can never get enough of
what it is I think I need. The great psychiatrist Sigmund Freud defines
an instinct as a bodily need manifested in our thought process. So
what occurs for us as alcoholics is our instincts manifest themselves
in our thought process and triggers our self centered fear. I learned
in Alcoholics Anonymous that alcohol is but a symptom of our true
malady. Our true malady is self centered fear, afraid that we are not
going to get what we want, afraid that we are going to lose what we
have. Once our fear is triggered we reach for our character defects in
an attempt to satiate our instincts. But in us we can never get enough
of what it is we think we need. Then we run around chasing our tail
creating havoc in our lives but more importantly havoc in the lives of
everyone around us. This is THE FUNCTIONING PIECE OF ALCOHOLISM.
The solution to the problem of alcoholism is a vital
spiritual experience, as we must give life to our relationship with
God. How? By letting go of our human nature so that our thought process
is no longer propelled by our instincts but rather by the will of God
through inspiration,
As an active alcoholic, the limitations of my life were extreme. Only my fear was limitless. Fear outran every desire and created the mental and emotional havoc that only alcohol could assuage. As a result I drank until the day I first encountered something stronger than my desire to drink, the desire NOT to drink. As a recovering alcoholic, I know that my awakened spirit is the strongest and best part of me. In fact, it is only through the spirit that my life can be manageable or peaceful. There is no doubt that I have come to know the spirit through understanding the Twelve Steps and incorporating them into my life. Livening fearlessly can only occur by living in the spirit. In my human nature, all of my thinking will ultimately be fear-dominated. So the alternative becomes not how I live but where I live.
ReplyDeleteMy functionability was very dis functional .
ReplyDeleteFull of self centered fear, my life was pretty much of a train wreck . Not being able to make decisions or engage in healthy relationships that would have positive results , I lived in a world where negative things just constantly happened & I was left to wonder why ! Lost in a sea of self pity, resentments, my motivation was fear. Totatally dis functional in a phases of life. My alcoholic existence was all there was . Being broke down I came to A. A. for help, they suggested that I follow some suggestions and get a sponsor, and pointed to the 12 steps. As a result of these steps I've been awakened to a new life! A functionable life , a life of living life on life's terms. Amen !
Michael Love to read when you write " not how I live but where I live." For those who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body it is the back half of the Eleventh Step which says "praying only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry it out."...Thanks...Armand
ReplyDeleteDon thank you for sharing your experience. An alcoholic handles dysfunction with anger and resentment. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous tells us that "resentment is the number one offender and that we had to be free of anger." This can only occur for us in the will of God through A vital spiritual experience...Armand
ReplyDeleteWhat is human nature?
ReplyDelete