and begin feeling better about yourself!
Why are you even here today? Some are relatively new to recovery and, for others, this is not our first rodeo. I don’t know about you, but I am here because I discovered that I am powerless over alcohol and that my life had become unmanageable.
I admitted it at first and then, soon after admitting it, accepted the fact that I was both powerless over anything outside of myself and also the unmanageability of my life.
I was learning that there was a way for me to not only feel better about myself but also to be a much better person than I ever thought that I had a right to be.
Imagine that, my life had just jumped into the 1st Step of AA which states We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.
I was witnessing others, who had been in my same position of life, who now were becoming or had attained Happiness, Joy, and Freedom in their lives.
Did I want that too? Of course, I did. Was I willing to do what they were doing to get it? Absolutely. I was willing to do anything to achieve even a small piece of what I was witnessing in them.
Being addictive, I not only wanted what they had but also wanted more, much more. One of the first great pieces of advice that these people gave me was fake it till I make it. So, not knowing what really to do, I faked it by copying all that I saw and heard them say.
If they said it, I said it. If they did it, I did it. Soon I was not faking or copying but had the feeling that my thoughts and actions were coming originally from myself. I stopped questioning why and answered “just cause” whenever one of these questioning thoughts arose.
What a relief it was to get so much relief just by first admitting and then accepting what I came to believe were the facts that I was an alcoholic and that my life had become unmanageable.
I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, once I take that first drink, I can no longer guarantee my actions. WOW, I had no idea that simply facing the facts of my alcoholism would lead to such real relief.
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?
Step 1 of the 12 Steps states: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.
This relief ALL started from my admitting and accepting Step 1 of this marvelous Program of AA. If it can work for me, it can for you, too. How you may ask?
I did it by admitting and then totally accepting the facts of Step 1. I also knew that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. And that I had had enough and wanted no more.
I was more than ready to see what came next because it was starting so well. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt better about myself. Thank you, God!
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