| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
MajestyJo
Average Member
Canada
590 Posts |
 Posted - 09/21/2007 : 22:48:03
|
From "Physician, heal Thyself!":
"I tried every gimmick that there was to get some peace
of mind, but it was not until I was brought to my alcoholic
knees, when I was brought to a group in my own community
with the butcher, the baker, the carpenter, and the mechanic,
who were able to give me the Twelve Steps, that I was finally
given some semblance of an answer to the last half of the
First Step. So, after taking the first half of the First Step, and
very gingerly admitting myself to Alcoholics Anonymous,
something happened. And then I thought to myself: Imagine
an alcoholic admitting anything!"
© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition;
Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 305-06
It took me a long time to find the acceptance of Step One. I couldn't understand the word powerlessness until I substituted it with the word control. I thought I was in control, yet when I was able to get honest, I could see how I got hurt anyway and I hurt others. They say you need to take the first half of Step One 100%. I came to meetings and admitted to being an alcoholic, yet I didn't want to wear the label I had put on my dad and my ex-husband. I knew I was an addict, but didn't want to admit to being an alcoholic. That was the insanity of my disease. I used alcohol like I used other people, places and things in my life. Always looking for something or someone to make me feel better.
|
Love Always,
Each Day is a New Beginning, so have a great one. |
|
|
MajestyJo
Average Member
Canada
590 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2007 : 02:49:22
|
The second part of this Step is why I have to do this Step every morning. My life is unmanageable when managed by me. That is why I turn my day over to the God of my understanding by saying the Serenity Prayer, follow it with the Third and get out of my own way with the Seventh.
|
Love Always,
Each Day is a New Beginning, so have a great one. |
 |
|
|
MajestyJo
Average Member
Canada
590 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2007 : 04:48:56
|
The Steps don't apply just to the alcohol and drugs in my life, I apply the steps in all my affairs. When dealing with people, places and things in my life, I need to remember to get honest, find acceptance, and surrender to the fact, what is in the moment often can't be changed by me but I need to go to a Higher Power and ask for help.
I have often thought of starting a group for Chronic Pain. The same principles apply, honesty, open mindedness and willingness. I can't let my pain rule my life. I can't take my pain out on others. I have to keep 'living' the steps, one day at a time.
|
Love Always,
Each Day is a New Beginning, so have a great one. |
|
|
|
Serenity
Administrator
17 Posts |
 Posted - 10/17/2007 : 08:36:19
|
This step for me is also a daily thing, I must keep in mind at all times I am an alcoholic, and my life is totally unmanagable.. By admitting complete defeat to this disease, I am willing to turn my life over to the god of my understanding. For that I "might" have a good chance on staying sober just for today. My recovery is never finished, nor will it ever be. Thanks for keeping me into today! |
 |
|
|
|
MajestyJo
Average Member
Canada
590 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2007 : 01:36:36
|
Step One
by Father Joseph C. Martin
The reason for AA's effectiveness is simple: it is COMPLETE. The founders of AA found that all 12 steps are absolutely essential. Those who "pick and choose" among the steps and try to justify omitting any of them, and then advise newcomers to do the same, will get only what they are paying for - fragmented and lumpy sobriety.
We begin the climb up the ladder of sobriety by taking the First Step. If you want to get well, acknowledge that you are sick. No one is about to take on a way of living that excludes the use of alcohol, unless he realizes that continuing to drink will destroy him. When you hurt bad enough to want to stop hurting, hyou will then do something to stop the pain. And that "something" is about as easy as self-surgery, because if it had been less painful, the alcoholic would have done it long ago. The "self-surgery" here is to stop drinking.
Quote: "Step One is the base of the pyramid of the rest of the alcoholic's life"
So the alcoholic about to take on a life without alcohol must admit he is powerless over alcohol, that his life has become unmanageable because of it. He must acknowledge not with just his head (intellectually) that he is an alcoholic; but in his guts and in his heart (emotionally) that he is indeed an alcoholic, and that drinking will kill him.
To me Step One is not just a step "to take" and then leave behind and go on. Step One is an awareness of one's condition, and it should be thought about and the realization deepened every day.
Step One is the base of the pyramid of the rest of the alcoholic's life. "I am an alcoholic" is the most profound statemnt that the alcoholic can make. It is the central fact of his life, and all else must be built around this fact.
As far as unmanageability of life as the result of one's drinking is concerned, some people have great difficulty seeing this. For some it is relatively easy. They see that alcohol has cost them their families, their jobs, their self-respect, or whatever. But many alcoholics have not visibly lost a whole lot, and therefore believe that their lives had not become unmanageable. But that is a myth that each alcoholic must see through if he is to get well.
When alcohol controls the mind, the mind is not managing one's life-themind is being managed by alcohol. Every alcoholic's life ahs become unmanageable and controlled by a chemical.
What one must do is seperate his mind from alcohol and then see what true manageability is all about; he will see that once his mind is not controlled by thoughts of drinking, then it is free to think other things and to do and plan other things that wer impossible during the drinking days.
Admitting we are powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable is the most profound admission that the sick and suffering alcoholic can make. It is absolutely essential before he can begin to be free and walk tall. And so it is that the most important of all the steps on the jurney to sobriety is the first. May you take the first Step.
(Excerpted from The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Father Joseph C. Martin)
Quote: TODAY is a new DAY in the free life of mine -
LORD, just like a baby "It's ONE STEP AT A TIME"
AND LORD, should I falter - "Don't let me hide"
Make me pick myself up with ONE step-not a stride.
- Dorothea M.
|
Love Always,
Each Day is a New Beginning, so have a great one. |
|
|
|
Woody
Administrator
USA
304 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2007 : 21:11:28
|
| I'm kinda thankful that step one has two parts. The first part, for me, wasn't too hard, altho I do it every day at least once. I can accept the fact that I am powerless over alcohol and drugs. It's the second part that gives me pause. Yes, my life WAS unmanageable. Today, with the program, the people and being in recovery, I can manage my life just fine.(well, sorta) I know that it was referring to my days of use and abuse. I just have to keep that in mind when working this step. I was powerless over alcohol and drugs when I used them. So, keeping it simple, I just don't use and drink. Well, it sounds easy anyway. We all know the truth. |
 |
|
|
|
Lin
Junior Member
USA
352 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2007 : 04:25:43
|
I debated if I should respond. I wanted to reply to step one, but it is in t he AA section and I'm not AA. Oh well. If I overstep any boundaries ro step on toes by responding to step one in the AA section, I can delete my reply.
Step one...I loved your insight Dean. We often look at things differently after an oursider points out the real truth to us.
And like Woody said...I also work step one every day...the first part. I have to. My husband will never stop drinking. I'm resigned to that, even though I always have that little HOPE. So I am powerless over it. I can't change the facr.
And like Jo said, I also am powerless over the things and people and events in my life. I got a kick in the teeth this mornign from a co-worker. She asked me to 's ub for her Monday and Tuesday. MOnday is local for me an Tuesday is a drive. I dont like to do the drives for meetings at night. I also had local plans already to go to a Pampered CHef party my out of town ex- boss is hositng Tuesday. She is coming to town for one night and I was looking forward to it. I told my co-worker I'd do MOnday but not Tuesday because I had pervious plans. I got email back from her today.that since I'd rather go to a party than help her out. she got somebody else who could do BOTH of them. SOunds pretty childish to me. I WANT To do the MOnday one, but now she's is pulling back the offer. I'll try to call later and see what's up, but I do know I am powerless over what she does or does not do. I will have to use step one on this one. I heard last week that "K" could not come to the party because she was subbing MOnday and Tuesday for this person. But her reply today said she ahd asked me first. Not so and I know it. Manipulation? sounds like it to me.
LIN |
 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Step One
