One Day at a Time in Al-Anon:
The First Step is a clear and ringing statement of our true status in the alcoholic situation. It should leave no doubt in our minds as to just where we stand. Reading the first half, admitting we are powerless over alcohol, might generate instant resistance in our minds. The automatic response may be: “Not me, I’m not powerless. I’ll fix this.” But the Step goes on to say: “our lives have become unmanageable.” This challenge denies that we are able to do any fixing. For haven’t we, ourselves, demonstrated beyond doubt that we have not been competent to manage our lives?
Today’s Reminder:
The First Step is by no means a statement of despair. It merely points out our human limitations. It prepares us to become humble, so we can find the spiritual answers that will place our lives on an entirely different plane. It is preparing us for deliverance from problems we cannot cope with alone.
“Let not my stubborn self-will stand in the way of my achieving serenity. Before I can accomplish anything, I must accept my need for help.”