I have thought alot about the replies to my post that you refer to and, in particular, what has materialised since my post before my eyes to the person I wrote the post about (member of AA group).

I think it is as simple as denial and them feeling they have another option. They just do not have the gift of desperation....yet. They are not willing to go to any lengths.....yet. They still have hope they will be saved. They are in denial and not ready to give up the fight and put the bottle down.....yet.

It is destroying to watch the pain. I don't think they are far off the jumping off point and they need to do it for them and not for those around.

I so hope the 'yets' don't kill them.

I have faith and have handed it over to my HP.

having faith and believing in yourself -

and most of all - action - that's what it takes.

Anna, I have been pondering upon this issue myself & I'm going to bring it up in my F2F tonight. Allot sobriety in this mtg.........I'll report back.
Hugelz, Billie

I believe that steps 1, 2, and 3 are to be focused on and worked regardless of how much sober time I have. I don't know why some get it and some don't, but one day at a time we should keep doing all the things that will keep us sober: meetings, step work, talking to other alcoholics, prayer etc.

I have 27 years sober and that's how I do it. AA is a blessing and I plan to keep coming.

You know what my Medicine Man says, "Leap and the net will be there"
You can do this. Why do I have faith in you? Ever ask yourself that?

Anna I see lots of insight in your posts and what I believe to be a honest desire to reach a level of sobriety. My suggestion at this time would be not to give up. To continue to seek the truth with in yourself because that is where the power is. God is within us but most of us do not have the willingness that it takes to turn inward so that we may clean out enough of ourself to access that power. I see you move a little closer to that willingness every step you take and believe that you do have the capacity and soon enough the willingness. LOVE YOU!

many do not want to change. It is an easier option to stay in ones comfort zone than look in the mirror. It takes courage to take on change. Fear will stop many. Faith in self was a mistake for me,it is all I knew because of ignorance and lack of knowledge. Alcohol will do all it can to stop one being honest with ones self and others, it will give one all the excuses under the sun. Faith in a higher power worked for me 100% and it can work for anyone if it worked for me.

I used to be real hard on myself in the beginning of my journey. I thought "I know why I'm not getting IT" Because I WILL NOT give myself to this simple program"

I have discovered this just wasn't true. No one wants to hurt. I damned sure didn't. It wasn't that I would not, but that I was incapable, for a while, of the honesty required for this simple program. In that area, God did for me what I could not do for myself when I was 6 months dry, could not get the "God" thing, had been running on self will. Life totally unmanageable by me.

Big surprise, the obsession returned. I was scared to death. I went to a meeting that night and instead of sayin what I had carefully rehearsed in my mind, the truth came out. The compulsion was lifted right then and there. That night I had my first conversation on the way home with a spiritual entity crying the entire way home in relief. The spirituality simply happened. I couldn't take a test and get an A on my paper like I thought in the beginning. This program is totally experiential in my experience.

nice share glad2bee thanks

depends.................what is your comfort zone? a personal question i know...............which deserves a personal answer........revealed only to self.

"faith" is not restricted to the the hug of a higher power. you mentioned the universe. "we" harbor the essence of the beginning..........chemically speaking...........we also share the same components of the end.............................my question to you.......do you have faith in life or death?


my bad.....a trick question :)

I have faith in death, inonothing. Hence my dilemma. Death is inevitable, and will come too soon, if I continue on my present path. No question there.

Faith in life and all good things that I have yet to experience is difficult yet for me to grasp. Fear of the unknown, the proverbial "good" life, requires abandon on my part or a spiritual awakening where I am graced with faith in my HP to do for me what I cannot do for myself.

I would say my comfort zone is carrying the defects and dysfunctional behaviors that kept me ignorant and drinking, things like traditions and superstition, worry and assuming. It is also not letting go of my past and holding onto the things I assumed I would be taking to my grave. I have faith in many things, without faith in my higher power I would not have a life to cherish. My faith both in life and death with my higher power shares nothing with fear or alcohol. I have a question, what is the one thing you want or wanted to take to your grave and never share with anyone else? .JK

Touche, inonothing. This is howtolive's ego posting now since I already sent you a PM.

I like a good philosophical challenge once in awhile. And don't worry, I declared victory. Hehe.

My main point was that no matter what my mind is telling me about booze or my journey to sobriety, my faith (yet to be seen) can trump all doubt. Doubt will otherwise stagnate my progress.

"What if this simple program won't work for me?"

I need to drop the what ifs and plod forward with unquestioning faith in a positive outcome. If not faith in my HP, then faith in the postulations of all people sober and happy.

Have faith that you can face anything, anything! No need to fear. Fear is an illusion anyway. I think that is a large part of what may be holding you back. Have faith in YOU, you have all you need to conquer your demons and beyond. Just say no to FEAR or watch it drift by and know it cannot hurt you, you are able to survive the anxiety and terror that seems to want to engulf you sometimes. I know this, because I had (have) this fear of fear myself! If you can go a step further, know your HP will never ever give you more than you can handle if you live life correctly. And for today, it sounds like you did good?

Welll said Karmic Kool. BTW, good thing you've posted your actual pic before, lol, so I know you're pretty. LMAO at your avatar. What a beaut! LOL.