How It Works . . .
RARELY HAVE we seen a person fail who has
thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover
are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves
to this simple program, usually men and women who are
constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.
There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault;
they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally
incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living
which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less
than average. There are those, too, who suffer from
grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them
do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used
to be like, what happened, and what we are like now.
If you have decided that you want what we have and
are willing to go to any length to get it - then you
are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought that we could
find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With
all earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be
fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of
us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result
was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with alcohol - cunning, baffling,
powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there
is One who has all power - that One is God. May you
find him now.
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning
point. We asked His protection and care with complete
abandon.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as
a program of recovery:
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Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't
go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No
one among us has been able to maintain anything like
perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints.
The point is, that we were willing to grow along spiritual
lines. The principles we have set down are guides to
progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual
perfection.
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter of the
agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after
make clear three pertinent ideas:
A) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
B) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
C) That God could and would if He were sought.
How it works - Chapter 5, page 58-60 of the Book , Alcoholics Anonymous
© Alcoholics Anonymous