For my Sponsees. Ongoing posts to explain my personal interpretation, and preferred method, of recovering from Alcoholism, using the Basic Text of Alcoholics Anonymous as a template. Based on 20yrs sober life experience. I just add bits when I remember something. NOBODY, including myself, speaks for AA as a whole. Take what you like and leave the rest. Live and Let Live. The Principles of Unity and Tolerance of other people's views and opinions are FAR more important than ANY personality in AA
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Step 11: You NEED to be outclassed after Step 9. Hence the importance of Step 11
Hmm. for me the way it works is that I have to look for more spiritually developed people outside AA in order to 'move the goalposts' and maintain an appetite for progress, as I have found that I need to maintain my sources of inspiration. I was really inspired by AA when I first went there, but now my primary sources of inspiration and 'guiding lights' so to speak are outside AA. monks and nuns in the main. and a few special 'normal' people. its something that's very difficult to explain until you experienced it. i feel very humble in the company of my betters outside AA. they are very senior in terms of personal development in a way that is felt more than told, and goes beyond words. i use AA mainly for service now, and fellowship, and stories of hope and what have you, but my spiritual guidance is from monks and nun type people, more than AA's. hope that makes some sense! I love AA's and i am very grateful for the recovery i have gained from it, but its inspiration has been long surpassed by the people I have come into contact with outside AA. my willingness to learn from people outside AA, has made me a better person, a better AA, and a better sponsor. in my opinion anyway!
Hmm. for me the way it works is that I have to look for more spiritually developed people outside AA in order to 'move the goalposts' and maintain an appetite for progress, as I have found that I need to maintain my sources of inspiration. I was really inspired by AA when I first went there, but now my primary sources of inspiration and 'guiding lights' so to speak are outside AA. monks and nuns in the main. and a few special 'normal' people. its something that's very difficult to explain until you experienced it. i feel very humble in the company of my betters outside AA. they are very senior in terms of personal development in a way that is felt more than told, and goes beyond words. i use AA mainly for service now, and fellowship, and stories of hope and what have you, but my spiritual guidance is from monks and nun type people, more than AA's. hope that makes some sense! I love AA's and i am very grateful for the recovery i have gained from it, but its inspiration has been long surpassed by the people I have come into contact with outside AA. my willingness to learn from people outside AA, has made me a better person, a better AA, and a better sponsor. in my opinion anyway!
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