today, i am back to step 1 simply because i am feeling powerless over circumstances in my life. i need to keep in mind that above and beyond all else i am an alcoholic and no matter what transpires i cannot drink over them. when rough times hit (as in today's news) i must keep that fresh in my mind lest i return to where i came from. God forbid...

Today for me its the 6th step and P/T, patients and tolerance of a few people. Damn I'm grateful to have theses steps in my life.

Um I think of the step before the first step. "don't take the first drink or other mind altering substance"Sometime that's all I have going for me.I see the steps as being a product of the absolutes. Absolute purity, for example ,who can claim to have absolute purity in todays world..I think it;s important to know that we do the steps to the best of our ability. an awakening of the the spirit is the desired result of working the steps in our lives.

I CANNOT WORK THEE STEPS, THEY DRIVE ME. THE INTELLECT HAS CAUSED MORE DENIAL THAN ACCEPTING THE FACT, THAT GOD IS THE POWER WHICH ENABLES ME TO BECOME HUMBLE. STEPS 6 AND 7 CONSTANTLY REMIND ME THAT SOMETIMES I AM WAY, WAY TO SMART TO SEE MY TRUTH. PRIDE IS STILL A PROBLEM IN MY LIFE. I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT LIVING THE PROGRAM IS MUCH EASIER THAN THINKING ABOUT IT. THERE IS NO MENTAL DEFENSE, SO THEREFORE, ALL MY INTELLECT IS OF NO AVAIL. THE POWER MUST COME FROM NATURE, WHOM I CALL, MY HIGHER POWER. I NOW ACCEPT THAT GETTING STUPID HAS GIVEN ME A BETTER WAY TO GET HUMBLED. THE 5TH STEP TELL ME THAT GOD IS THE ONLY POWER THAT RIDS ME OF DEFECTS. I ONLY GET TO TRY AND ABSTAIN FROM BEHAVIORS THAT STILL CAUSE ME PAIN. THE CREDIT TO A SANE ATTITUDE TO LIFE, ONLY GOES TO GOD.

The first step is the only one we have to do perfectly...however if I don't take a DAILY inventory...I'm screwed. Resentments will pop up, and my mind is totally out to get my ass and if I carry around a resentment for too long, I know I'm going to drink. So when I wake up in the morning, I get on my knees, ask God to releave me of the bondage of self. I go about my day being careful that old ways of thinking and behaving don't creep in, get to a meeting, help another alcoholic and when I lay my little pointed head on the pillow at night, I do my daily inventory, if I have harmed or hurt someone, I make amends ASAP...if I don't...I'm screwed!

in my exp step one is done becoming convinced one is alcoholic or not. It is a step we dont keep doing in aa we get it done then with that exp what is one willing to do to recover. Step one in the bb is about the allergy and the obsession. If the problem has been removed by the 10th step then it no longer exists for us if every day we stay spiritualy fit. thats what our founders wrote and that was their exp and in almost 7yrs it has become mine.
God bless
dave

I guess it would be - been of service lots today... but step one has been evolving too, because I am admitting to many people that yes I am powerless of alcohol(my stinkin thinkin) and my life has become unmanageable. So I really believe step one is the start of the day and the rest work in the actions we do during the day.... did that sens??

For myself today it would be the 3rd step. The last few days I have taken my will back in certain situations, but the key is to identify what your doing and getting back on your square.

They say you only have to do Step 4 once--but I'm thinking I need to do it again in case I missed something.

Maybe not redo step 4, just add to. The only step we have to do perfectly is the 1st step.

For me there is only one half of one step left to complete, Step 12B:

"Practice these principles in all our affairs"

Well, I had a slip last night so I have been to 3 meetings today and I am starting all over again with step one. I spoke to my sponsor 3 times today as well.This is so damned frustrating. I go for awhile not even thinking about drinking and then I get burned (burn myself???) with alcohol.

12th step. Practicing these principles in all are affairs.
Was at a meeting the other night night and a long timer mentioned this and thought to myself, now that's keeping it simple. Its possible I heard it before but this time it stuck. For myself early on I use to hear this or that then after numerous times of hearing the same thing the t light bulb came on and I thought OH I got it now. How amazing.

To Recovery

Eleven. Today is Sunday, I am about to go to church, my favorite place to practice step 11. Although I do it everyday, I feel like I get a littler closer to my Higher Power when I am at church.

I also practice step ten every day, continuing to take personal inventory.
Step one I do every morning with my Higher Power.

Today I am working or focusing on the 3rd step,I have a real problem with giving it up to a Higher Power of my understanding,because I don't understand it,and How am I gonna trust something, that is gonna help me with my own shit,and trust that he will take care of my shit!!!??? make sense??? See that is where I am at!!!