AA Twelve Steps 2.0 AA Twelve Steps 2.0
May 30, 2015, 06:18:09 AM by Kerry
Based on this survey of one I say that AA's Twelve Steps are not as effective as they could be. For example: Step 8 of 12: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Another example: Step 9 of 12: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Both Steps are missing the element of service, of completing/acknowledging another. Re: "Made a list of all persons we had harmed . . ." The use of the word "we" reveals a misunderstanding about the word responsibility. Stated responsibly it would read: "I made a list of all the persons I harmed . . ." The "we" mind usually tells the story, ". . . and then she got pregnant" rather than, "I impregnated her." Or, "I manipulated him into impregnating me." It's understood that an AA member intends to continue to be an alcoholic, day after day, after day for life. The mantra, the affirmation, "I am an alcoholic" continually produces that intention. The problem is that it's not a now statement; its tense is incorrect. It contains an implied lie for which there are undesirable consequences. It implies, [I am at this very moment and always will be an alcoholic. It's impossible to complete my experience of addiction so as to be able to choose to drink socially and responsibly]. A truthful, in present-time, statement would be, "I have been an alcoholic and am not now [right this very second] being one." Just as it's possible to complete ones addiction to knee-jerk verbal abuse (to abusing or being abused) so too is it possible to intend to complete ones addiction to alcohol so as to be able to choose to drink socially and responsibly. Write a Comment:Sorry, you must be logged in to post a comment! |
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