Nobody ever really enjoys admitting to being wrong, its much easier to blame others. Openmindedness relates to humility another important principle of recovery in a big way. Click a book cover icon to view the big book or 12. All a person needs is the open mindedness and the willingness to believe that we believe this program works. Jan 03, 2020 a man can fail many times, but he isnt a failure until he blames someone else. The benefits of openmindedness in recovery aa cleveland. Jul 09, 2007 although it is not part of the original 1939 big book solution, the following excerpt does make its appearance in the 2nd edition of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, appendices ii spiritual experience. The centrality of these three to our sobriety is aptly conveyed by the acronym we have coined out of them. Anger and resentment that are allowed to smolder can create such turmoil within an alcoholic that he is driven back to alcohol to soothe his emotional unrest. It is meant to provide all the resources one needs to study the 12 steps as outlined in the 4th edition of alcoholics anonymous.
Open in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12 traditions. Breaking down step ten of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Many members of aa and na define the three primary principles of recovery. Discuss and reflect upon the concepts of honesty, open mindedness, and willingness.
Now that we have made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to god as we understand him and have written down all the things that are blocking us, it is time for more. Such an individual tends to benefit a great deal more from the process of trial and error. Jul 07, 2016 without any one of these virtues, someone in recovery from alcohol addiction is likely to stumble, if not fall, back into active alcoholism. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Use a separate checklist sheet for each moral inventory.
When i got to step three, it was explained to me that it would be necessary for me to trust in something higher and wiser than myself, something personal to me. Honesty, open mindedness and willingness are the key requirements for. The big book of aa has helped millions of men and women. Upon doing so, you will find that your faith in the world and in sobriety was never so far away to begin with. Openmindedness is one of the essentials of recovery, with honesty and. And so it goes with step ten of aa alcoholics anonymous. Much can be said about willingness, honesty and open mindedness. This accounts for the phenomenon the sponsor describes. Just reading a book or visiting a website that supports an opposing view can foster. An openminded approach can be a crucial tool for people who are recovering from alcoholism. We find it is common for people first coming into recovery to have a difficult time with this simple concept. Aa 12 step recovery meeting quotes sayings alcoholics anonymous program sponsor slogans. Jan 07, 2020 breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous. Continuing to do anything in our daily lives usually means that we get better at it.
In the program of alcoholics anonymous, one of their sayings is, willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. In alcoholics anonymous, it is common for members to admit. To say that an individual is openminded means that they are receptive to new and. Open your mind to recovery open mindedness is key sober. Appendix ii, spiritual experience, alcoholics anonymous, page 567568. The book daily reflections is forever a thorn in my side now. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into. When breaking down step six i like to focus more on the word ready than entirely. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. Willingness in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Those with openmindedness might be less inclined to agree with this. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. Liabilities and assets checklist for a moral inventory.
Now we can aim at the very best of all we know or can learn. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics anonymous. Mindedness in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Love and tolerance promote open mindedness and freedom from judging others and their opinions. Sep 22, 2016 we need to get back to open mindedness, love and tolerance if aa is to not eventually shrink into becoming a quaint relic from the last century, or just one more obscure religious movement. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. We need to get back to openmindedness, love and tolerance if aa is to not. Being open minded does not mean accepting and believing everything you are told.
God is referenced 142 times in the big book so we put god at the center of this aa coin. Just reading a book or visiting a website that supports an opposing view can. Sep 19, 2018 love and tolerance allow you to understand you can love someone without having to like everything about them. The virtue of willingness willingness is one of the essentials of recovery, according to the big book.
New comers often confuse open mindedness with conformity. Write the name of a person, relationship, event, or situation that is a big concern for you. The primary purpose of this site is to carry the message contained within the big book of alcoholics anonymous. This was my first time reading the for agnostics chapter, and i really enjoyed it. When i reached step three, the necessity of trusting in something higher and wiser than myself was explained to me. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which. Aa big book, from spiritual experience the images and institutions such as the triumvirate, symbol of the triangle, and the three legged stool are all proof of the fact that three items, bundled together can wield enormous powers that have. However the word ready is a reminder that we are prepared, open and available. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. This website has been created as a service to those who suffer from addiction to alcohol, narcotics or both. Big book index page aa origin xvxvii aa organization xix, 565 aa program summary 164. It is one of the indispensable principles of the 12step program, together with honesty and openmindedness.
The following is what i have found in studying the big book, alcoholics anonymous. Not incidentally, we are told this in the big books appendix ii, spiritual. There is a principle which is a bar against all informa. Leave all prejudices at the door, and open your heart to the power of selfdiscovery. Open mindedness 549 patience 118 peace 75 personal inventory 6471, 84. Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on. All recovery medallions for aa, na and alanon, aa coins all. The acronym how stands for h onesty, o pen mindedness, and w illingness. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve. We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Honesty, openmindedness, willingness harmony place. Big book of alcoholics anonymous appendix ii spiritual experience page 567.
I hadnt met my bottom yet, but i knew i was powerless over alcohol. In the rooms of many 12 step programs, this is called the spiritual. Apr 17, 2017 a little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into action. Ii spiritual experience the terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change suf. The big book speaks very directly about being open minded towards recovery and other spiritual concepts. Open in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. This could be something recent, something from drinking days, something or someone high on your priorities list, or situations in which you feel tempted to give up and give in. Experience the big book is a guided, detailed study of the aa big book and 12 steps, by dr.
Big book of alcoholics anonymous appendix ii spiritual experience page 567 much can be said about willingness, honesty and open mindedness. Jan 29, 2017 this echoes language in the big book cautioning us that resentment is the biggest offender. Alcoholics anonymous crossword challenge crossword puzzle. It is meant as a supplement to a rigorous program, to be used whenever and wherever it might be needed. Open mindedness relates to humility another important principle of recovery in a big way. Contempt prior to investigation is a famous quote listed in the big book of aa. This special antique bronze aa coin wserenity prayer on back highlights the essentials of willingness, honesty and open mindedness. Appendix ii, spiritual experience, alcoholics anonymous, page 567568 this quote from the big book lays out what we need to start recovery and stay in recovery. The first thing that comes to mind is the acronym of how. The terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms. Those who feel turned away by stepbased programs when reading we agnostics should never forget that openmindedness is a key aspect of sobriety. The person in the aa program must develop patience, love, tolerance, and an understanding of other people despite their differences. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous.
It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. Appendix of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. Sun on reverse with 12 rays representing the 12 steps which leads to a god center. Aa meeting quotes slogans and other inspirational sayings. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into action. To say that an individual is openminded means that they are receptive to new. The more openminded some of us think of ourselves, the more closeminded we are about god. The virtue of openmindedness practice these principles.
Big book alcoholics anonymous appendix ii spiritual experience pages 567 568. When alcoholinduced depression led to a drunkeninduced suicide attempt, my lowest point had arrived. This special edition aa token with what we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition from page 85 of the big book it als highlights the essentials of willingness, honesty and open mindedness. There needs to be room for unbelievers in aa, instead of them just sitting on their hands in meetings while members talk endlessly about god. For us, openmindedness is a secular virtue, one which is understood in the reductive terms of a socialutility category. In alcoholics anonymous, it is common for members to admit that my best. We suggest working with a sponsor or spiritual adviser as you go through the work and indeed, all along your journey of recovery.
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