AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy aa-alive.net)

October 5, 2025
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Took Stock Honestly
If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself
about values. We did exactly the same thing with our lives. We took stock
honestly. First, we searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused
our failure. Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was
what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 64
 

Thought to Ponder
Clear vision for tomorrow comes only after a real look at
yesterday. That's why we A.A.s take personal inventory.
 

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A W O L  =  A A Way Of Life.
 

A Member Shares:
I am an alcoholic and my name is Erik. I first saw step 4 at a Big Book study that I went through a number of times. The first time I skipped those days because I thought we were all going to put our dirty laundry on the table, and I couldn't deal with that thought. But my sponsor explained we were just learning and I went back. The phrase "Resentment is the “number one’’ offender." didn't really work for me. At that moment I didn't have any resentments. Most of my problems were in the later parts of fear and sex conduct. But I learned to develop resentments later. And I learned to get through them as needed, sometimes slow, sometimes quicker. My sponsor points out that this step is about learning the exact "Nature" of my wrongs, not wallowing in them. Last week I heard a speaker say "they put the word 'Usually' on page 65 for those who get too rigid." After getting through Steps 4 & 5 finally the first time, I have revisited them with my sponsor several times. What I understand today is that it's not about impressing him or you, but rather for me to look at and see the patterns and nature of my illness. Somewhere (Step Ten) it says it's a lifelong process so I can never say I am done. Thank you for letting me share.
 

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(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)