I don't know what you mean, Bob. There are the 9th step and 10th step promises in the Big Book and many more scattered throughout. They are the rewards of the action we take in the 12 steps.

I don't know of "The Promise." There are many.

There's twelve promises Bob. Commonlt referred to as "The Promises". Best way to understand them is to do the work and experience them in your own life.

For me, I still haven't won the lottery. I earn less money now than I did for most of my drinking.

But I have a life today that I couldn't possibly imagine while I was still a drunk, or while I still had my head up my bum. I never knew what I was missing.

Are you talking about "The Promises" found on pgs 83 & 84 of the Big Book?

Because I'm not familiar with "The Promise".

P.s I am absolutelt not saying that anyone else has their head up their bum. I'm saying that's where mine was :o)

I will have to read more about that. I am sure I have experienced many of the rewards without realizing, In the 4 years I have been sober anyway. .Sometimes I don't put 2 and 2 together.

LOL @ Paulokes!

Bob, these are the 9th step promises talked about and read at meetings.

The 12 Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
2. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
8. Self-seeking will slip away.
9. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
12. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

the promises are a way of saying that life in sobriety changes....yes many have come to me in my life...like paulokes I have not won lotto and make less now and for many years now than I did in my drinking days and yes I struggle with that but the life quality is so much happier...with exception to money...but then I have a gift from 12 step recovery of my own business now as self employed a driving instructor and that has provided money when I needed it just because GOD is in charge of it....it seems to come at just the right moments....students appear when I really am stressed about my money and income needs...so maybe that part is a promise I am receiving too?

There are loads and loads of promises in the big book. The ones that are most commonly refered to as people have said are the ones after step 9.

In the big book for each step from 3 onwards the book explains why the step needs to be done, what to do for the step and what the results will be - these results are often in the form of promises.

My personal favourites are the statements at step 10. These have changed from future tense (we will) to present tense (We are). This is because by this time we have had a spiritual awakening so the promises have come true.

Step 10 Statements:
1) We have ceased fighting anything or anyone even alcohol
2) For by this time sanity will have returned
3) We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame.
4) We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically.
5) We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any though or effort on our part. It just comes!
6) That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation.
7) We feel as though we have been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected.
8) We have not even sworn off, Instead the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us.
9) We are neither cocky nor are we afraid.
10) That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

For me this contains the biggest promise. In step 2 we state the solution to the problem of alcoholism - being restored to sanity and by step 10 we see the statement (2) - for by this time sanity will have returned.

This is my experience and I believe that it will continue to be so as long as I keep in fit spiritual condition.

Here's the thing Bob at least in my experience, if you expect something as fact your sure to receive rewards, But if the rewards are a expectation not received don't worry about that , life has a way of taking care of itself:) Just be grateful to be alive and sober today and accept what is.. You cannot go wrong if your striving for a change long awaited and being accomplished with a opened eye at what you still may have going on!

Not drinking and being ok with that as a lifestyle is but a beginning. There's still much consideration to be made on how healthy your really willing to be.
Its quite easy to make a set of words such as these (promises) a misery measuring stick instead of just a overview of what has occurred for some of those who have contributed to the Big Book . And those who have applied this book in their lives as a remedy to how they have been living whether sober or Drunk.

Expectations and short changing oneself go hand and hand.

Stay sober and keep your ear to the pavement and you want miss out I hope.
Billy

Billy I can identify with that! I needed $160 to pay a bill I was behind on, went to a meeting and came home, checked my sales and I had a sale for a little over $160! Amazing how that works!

Nicky that 1st promise identifies me quite accurately given my situation and what I aqm going through with the divorce and all.

Chris thanks for reminding me of the 12 promises. I guess I do hear them at some of the meetings.

Billy, I had to reread what you wrote (cos I'm not very smart) but I think I finally get what you mean. Your book is in the mail btw :-)

The purpose of the book is to enable it`s reader to find a power greater than him/herself to solve all their problems..

Basically a spiritual awakening. Justification in God`s eyes and on to sanctification being the reward..

...g

...

Gnon - the way I see it is that the reward is the privilege of helping others.