Many newcomers to the AA Program have a disdain for any references to religious thoughts or ideas. This leads them to shutting themselves off from listening to anything related to religion. Even after being told that this is not a religious program but is a spiritual program, I wondered what is the difference. Also, why do I need to pay any attention to it. It has not worked for me in the past so why will it work now? How can I get this absolute faith that was cited? Then I started paying attention to others who were working their program and seeing many who I had known to have been as miserable and defeated as I was.
Since this is such a big change in our thinking when we start, we are reminded that this program was designed by people just like us who were inspired by Divine Wisdom. This reminds us of the shortened version of Step 3 that is recommended be taken before any decisions are made, if possible. Simply say “God, help me!” Then go to work on making the change. When I ask for God’s help when making decisions, He does! Sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly. But He ALWAYS does!
They were now seemingly Happy, Joyous, and Free. Before and after meetings, they were jokin’ and smokin’ and having a great time. (I formerly had added tokin’ to this but figured I should delete this, lol) I wanted what they had and was willing to do anything to attain some measure of that comfort. One of my first pieces of advice that I remember receiving was to believe that things were getting much better because I actually heard, saw, and felt them getting better in myself. I told my sponsors this and was asked how much I really believed it. I told them just how I felt. I truly believed that working my program and diving head first into the spiritual side of it was making me a different, newer person. I really did not feel like I was that old person any more.
I was then told that I now could say that I knew what Faith was. This was because I could feel, smell, touch, taste, hear the difference and knew the changes to be true. This brings us right back to the basic CBA. First comes the shortened 3rd Step, God Help Me!. Then I Create the idea that I could be a good person who was happy with myself. Then I truly and deeply Believe that I can actually fulfill this thought. Finally, I actually Achieve the serenity that I had sought for so long and had seemed to be just out of reach. This, then, is the birth of Faith. When I can actually demonstrate this by FEELING it, then it is true to me.
It all starts out with Fake it ‘till I Make it or acting “As If” and the good times will roll and follow! Remember Nike’s slogan – Just do it! When I finally just did it, I became Happy, Joyous, and Free. You can do it, too, if you CHOOSE to.