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AA p 60-62 ----- "Bondage of self"
The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. On that basis we are almost always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. Most people try to live by self-propulsion. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased. Life would be wonderful. In trying to make these arrangements our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous. He may be kind, considerate, patient, generous; even modest and self-sacrificing. On the other hand, he may be mean, egotistical, selfish and dishonest. But, as with most humans, he is more likely to have varied traits.
What usually happens? The show doesn't come off very well. He begins to think life doesn't treat him right. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be. Still the play does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame. He becomes angry, indignant, self-pitying. What is his basic trouble? Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind? Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well? Is it not evident to all the rest of the players that these are the things he wants? And do not his actions make each of them wish to retaliate, snatching all they can get out of the show? Is he not, even in his best moments, a producer of confusion rather than harmony?
Our actor is self-centered - ego-centric, as people like to call it nowadays. He is like the retired business man who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all would be Utopia if the rest of the world would only behave; the outlaw safe cracker who thinks society has wronged him; and the alcoholic who has lost all and is locked up. Whatever our protestations, are not most of us concerned with ourselves, our resentments, or our self-pity?
Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NYAtmoGiWw
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded BY alcoholics, FOR alcoholics
p18-19, AA
But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.
That the man who is making the approach has had the same difficulty, that he obviously knows what he is talking about, that his whole deportment shouts at the new prospect that he is a man with a real answer, that he has no attitude of Holier Than Thou, nothing whatever except the sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no fees to pay, no axes to grind, no people to please, no lectures to be endured—these are the conditions we have found most effective.
After such an approach many take up their beds and walk again.
None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning.
A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe.
A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work.
end quote
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded BY alcoholics, FOR alcoholics and has become the largest and best support group in the world (for alcoholics).
People who come inappropriately to AA for other problems such as drug addiction, depression or emotional problems will rarely be able to fully identify with the AA fellowship or fully comprehend the AA program of recovery.
There are exceptions of course, but non-alcoholics should be prepared to be disappointed in AA
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvWV2CWOVWQ
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12 Prayers & 12 Meditations ~ Prayer, Meditation & Vision
1. 9th Step Prayer
2. 10th Step Watch Prayer
3. The Service Prayer
4. The Daily Review
5. The 24 Hours Ahead Prayer
6. The Inspiration Prayer
7. Throughout the Day Prayer
8. Freedom Prayer
9. The Select Prayers
10. The Right Action Prayer
11. The Many Times Prayer
12. The Sick & Suffering Prayer
PDF ---- https://www.mediafire.com/?hk4trpg3b6a0q#okxu5owu7xuoa
DAVE F
https://youtu.be/Cv72OUP6GWo
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9SdH-nNOFE
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My Higher Power - The Light Bulb
By Clarence H. Snyder - "The Home Brewmeister"
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aahplightbulb.html
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzNDhwgP9aA
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AA page 86
On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead.
We consider our plans for the day.
Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.
Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use.
Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u08ItPPtgrQ
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FAIR USE
https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/thought-for-the-day/twenty-four-hours-a-day
Twenty-Four Hours a Day ~ Feb 22
Thought for the Day
Now we can take an inventory of the good things that have come to us through A.A. To begin with, we're sober today. That's the biggest asset on any alcoholic's books. Sobriety to us is like goodwill in business. Everything else depends on that. Most of us have jobs, which we owe to our sobriety. We know we couldn't hold these jobs if we were drinking, so our jobs depend on our sobriety. Most of us have wives or husbands and children, which we either had lost or might have lost, if we hadn't stopped drinking. We have friends in A.A., real friends who are always ready to help us. Do I realize that my job, my family, and my real friends are dependent upon my sobriety?
Meditation for the Day
I must trust God to the best of my ability. This lesson has to be learned. My doubts and fears continually drive me back into the wilderness. Doubts lead me astray, because I am not trusting God. I must trust God's love. It will never fail me, but I must learn not to fail it by my doubts and fears. We all have much to learn in turning out fear by faith. All our doubts arrest God's work through us. I must not doubt. I must believe in God and continually work at strengthening my faith.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may live the way God wants me to live. I pray that I may get into that stream of goodness in the world.
https://www.twolisteners.org/?page_id=4479
God Calling ~ February 22
You Must Trust
You must trust Me wholly. This lesson has to be learnt. You shall be helped, you shall be led, guided, continually. The children of Israel would long before have entered the Promised Land — only their doubts and fears continually drove them back into the wilderness. Remember always, doubts delay. Are you trusting all to Me or not?
I have told you how to live and you must do it. My children, I love you. Trust My tender Love. It will never fail you, but you must learn not to fail it.
Oh! could you see, you would understand. You have much to learn in turning out fear and being at peace. All your doubts arrest My work. You must not doubt. I died to save you from sin and doubt and worry. You must believe in Me absolutely.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69KX7P1999g
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Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5 - How it works / pages 65-71
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The first and second edition book "Alcoholics Anonymous" is in public domain in the United States. The Big Book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. First published in 1939.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEG_B0wfpVY