Another big advantage for those in recovery is that humility serves as an instrument for seeing through the egos attempt to deny the severity of the sufferers addiction. When bill w wrote the big book he only used the word humility 2 times in the basic text first 164 pages. Humility in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. In the big book, as the text alcoholics anonymous is known, we read the written words of the first 100 men. The word humility comes from latin, meaning of the earth, not the heavens. It originated the twelvestep program now used widely among addictions outside alcohol.
Humble in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Posted by bgmcpherson may 10, 2020 posted in 12 and 12 quotes, big book, big book quotes, emotional sobriety, freedom, humility. One of the greatest places, nobody ever talks about, in reference to humility is in the big book. Step 8 made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along. I devoted weeks to research and i learned some interesting things. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a.
The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. Sometimes this is because a person believes that any form of pride is bad, and sometimes an essentially arrogant person is using false humility as a way of disarming or manipulating other people. We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning. 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. It was in my 22nd year of sobriety, when i received a phone call from my first wifes husband at the time and the conversation started going south. At best, we can only glimpse the meaning and splendor of such a perfect ideal. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell. In my opinion, alcoholics anonymous has three great humility steps in the twelvepoint program. James work was know to bill wilson, primary author of the big book and cofounder of aa. There is an important distinction between being sober and being in recovery. Working on the seventh step requires constant thoughtfulness and commitment to being honest, courageous and humble.
Alcoholics anonymous is often referred to as a 12step program, and aa is the basis for many other 12step programs that have been established. April 17, 2017 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. 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. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book. When you walk into a meeting, you leave what you are at the door and walk in as who you are. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. Humility to me means viewing myself with an honest and realistic perspective. Thats the way my drinking began, as a way to make the pain go away. At the time the big book of alcoholic anonymous was published. An evergrowing freedom we saw that we did not need to be bludgeoned or beaten into humility. The steps helped each of the cofounders of aa in their own recovery from alcoholism and have continued to help countless. Last november, i volunteered to speak at a topic meeting. I decided to speak on the topic of humility since the words humble and humility show up so often in the big book.
Humility in recovery from addiction humility is a personal quality that can be undervalued in the modern world. So it is that we fi rst see humility as a necessity. Aa speaker bob d and aa speaker ralph w session 5 of 11 doing a comprehensive and indepth aa big book study. Alcoholics anonymous quotes author of alcoholics anonymous. It is the main breeder of fear, a soulsickness in its own right p. This translates into practices of not using honorifics. The big book is one of the bestselling books of all times 30 million copies sold. Breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous. Most people will admit that humility is praiseworthy, but it tends to be associated with weakness.
The big book itself does not offer a defense of its own theological method, but one can be found easily enough in the work of aas third cofounder, william james. Those closest to wilson are characterized as having atrociously poor memories and at times even. No matter how much one suffers as the result of addictive behavior, pride will always grow back, not unlike a weed, and attempt to cover up the damage with denial. Another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another human being. The little red book makes frequent reference to basic matter in alcoholics anonymous, third edition. Being sober versus being in recovery psychology today. Aa definition of humility another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another human being is humilitya word often misunderstood. Mental, spiritual and physical disease readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. It is important that we remain anonymous because we are too few, at present to handle the overwhelming number of personal appeals which may result from this publication. Step seven 73 newcomer in alcoholics anonymous is told, and soon realizes for himself, that his humble admission of powerlessness over alcohol is his fi rst step toward liberation from its paralyzing grip. The first stepadmitting that one is powerless over alcoholis the newcomers task, and without it nobody ever gets far in aa. Bill wilson expanded this definition when he wrote that humility was, the clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a. It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. Guess ill never be a saint, but whatever i am, i want to be sober and in a.
You dont need a twosided printer to print on both sides. The modern focus is on individual empowerment and assertiveness. Breaking down step seven of aa alcoholics anonymous. I bring the desire and the willingness and aa gives me the blueprint and the tools to build a whole new spiritual and emotional foundation to my life. Empowering freedom by humility 1212 pg 75, 76 and big. At the time the big book of alcoholic anonymous was published 1935, and later when the twelve steps and twelve traditionswas published 1952, the quality of humility referred to a reasonable perspective of oneself. False humility on the other hand, is to belittle ones self or take a false view or statement of ones self in a belittling way. None of the contributors had been sober more than a couple of years at the time. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. Much of the everyday talk we hear, and a great deal of what we read, highlights. While it is widely known, it is worth mentioning again. This would be my first speaker meeting at this group, and it would be on the friday after thanksgiving. 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.
This misunderstanding about humility means that people fail to recognize how much the. The principle of anonymity some thoughts from the a. Humility is a personal quality that can be undervalued in the modern world. In his book, writing the big book, schaberg wastes no time dropping a bomb on any version of aa history originating from bill wilson or any of his closest associates who were actively involved in the earliest formative stages of what eventually became aa. Humility is also characterized by the absence of aggressive selfassertion, the sort of arrogant behavior that many of us displayed when we were riding high in our drinking days. But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all their life story. When i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing, or situation some fact of my life unacceptable to me, and i can find no serenity until i accept that person.
A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into action. The person with false humility has a driving need to convince others of how humble he or she is. The big book doesnt come with an index, so here is one in the form of a bookmark. The attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of aas twelve steps. Print a copy of the first side print page 1 only, then reinsert it into the paper tray of your printer and print page 2. 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.
We hope the little red book opens new avenues of thought and helps the aa member arrive at his or her successful interpretation of the program. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online. Here is a letter published in the aa grapevine, december 1999, vol. The differences are clear to those who have experienced both phases in their healing process from alcoholism. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. Chuck notes that the long form of the 12th tradition says that anonymity reminds the member to practice a genuine humility. Thus seen, recovery is a lifelong process of surrendering the one and growing in the other.
As the book alcoholics anonymous, first published in 1939 aa 19392001, states, we should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble. Empowering freedom by humility 1212 pg 75, 76 and big book pg 552. But if pride is the breeding ground of all character defects, humility is the nourishing soil of all the virtues. Aa grapevine, june 1961 there can be no absolute humility for us humans. Questions and answers from the alcoholics anonymous big book. For instance to know of yet to deny ones own spiritual gifts, positive traits, abilities, good behaviors, intelligence, and maturity. The big book is alcoholics anonymouss primary text. Many in recovery regard the 6th and 7th steps as evidence of the programs divine inspiration, for when the book alcoholics anonymous was written only two short paragraphs were devoted to these steps. They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock. When i think about step 7, i think about humility, as it tends to be the central theme of this step. Breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. As bill sees it perfect humility, p recovery the big book.
A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous. Humility and happiness alcoholics anonymous cleveland. Alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008. See more of recovery the big book, the aa way on facebook. I have found that the process of discovering who i really am begins with knowing who i really dont want to be. It manifests itself as a result of how i choose to behave, the choices and decisions i have made and how i act on those in my day to day life. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. The seventh step of alcoholics anonymous urges us to embrace pursuit of. Humility is a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt.
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