Internal Spiritual Maladjustment

A vicious cycle of:

Living in excited states of emotion;

(manic, mania:  acute; excessive elation, excitement, agitation; terror, violence)

Growing gnawing anxiety;

(grandiose, grandiosity:  unnecessary grand display of thought, feeling, emotion, action)

Spiraling depression;

(feeling:  remorseful, guilty, self-loathing; filled with resentment, self-pity, fear)

    ...all culpable advocates of the spiritual malady called alcoholism.

A] HOME GROUP:  A regular meeting which supports our need for structure, order, discipline, enthusiasm and tradition;

B] SPONSOR:  An AA member who supports our need to work the Steps in a practical, mechanical, spiritual manner -- as outlined in the Big Book; identifies and supports our need for guidance, direction, commitment, service, developing a relationship with and reliance upon God, as we understand Him, and of our being a sponsor in the same regard;

C] TWELVE STEPS:  Take or "work" the 12 Steps utilizing directions in the Big Book coupled with the directions contained within the essays in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.  When the time is right, begin taking Steps 10, 11 & 12 on a daily basis.

We ask for help in the morning and give thanks at night to whatever idea of G.O.D. we may have for our sobriety.

We check in with our sponsor regularly.  We tell our sponsor the truth about what is going on in our life right now.

We seek advice and direction, especially from our sponsor.

We have a regular schedule of meetings.  We go early, stay for the entire meeting and remain after for fellowship.

We ask AA's for their phone number, including newcomer phone numbers.  We call 5 AA’s every day during the course of our day.  We ask how they are doing.

We ask for a commitment to service at meetings we attend regularly. 

We do what we say we are going to do when we say we will do it.  If we can’t, we notify someone -- preferably in advance.

We avoid "H.A.L.T." -- getting too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely, or too Tired -- as it is alcoholism’s culpable advocate.

We make our bed daily.  We attend to our personal hygiene.  We exercise regularly.  We dress appropriately.  We continue to improve upon the elimination of our use of foul and objectionable language.

We frequently read pages 1 - 103 in the Big Book, including The Doctors Opinion, and the step essays in the 12n’12.

We work with alcoholics even newer than ourselves -- as soon as possible -- as our sponsors suggested it is vital to our recovery.

We write down one thing we are grateful for in our day, our plans for the upcoming day, and any problems apparent to us which might threaten our sobriety.  We share this with our sponsor the following day when we "check in."

We dress appropriately for the event -- respectfully.

We are on time or early.

We introduce ourselves as alcoholic.  We avoid the use of multiple identification.  We extend thanks and gratitude for being invited.

We greet the newcomers and invite them into the fellowship of AA.

We focus when sharing on what we used to be like, taking full responsibility for our actions, what happened and what we are like now.  We side-step the temptation to blame alcohol, alcoholism as a "disease," our parents, family, friends, employers or others for our difficulties.  If we mention our family background, it is in a general way. 

We share our drinking history, focusing on our first drinking episode in which we experienced the abnormal effect produced by alcohol.

We avoid confusing or alienating new members or prospective members by respecting AA's singleness of purpose.  It is suggested we minimize historical accounts of problems unrelated to alcohol, i.e. drug addiction/use, compulsive overeating, being a victim, etc.  It is most effective when prospects and newcomers identify primarily with problems associated with alcohol and alcoholism.

We relate pertinent elements of The Doctor's Opinion as we share our drinking history and drinking related experience.

 We avoid the use of foul and objectionable language while sharing. 

AA is a program of attraction.  Vulgar and obscene language is certainly a distraction.  It presents a negative community image of the AA way of life to those outside who may be visiting an open meeting to learn about alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous.  Furthermore it does not represent the only real authority in AA -- the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous -- as vulgar and obscene language cannot be found within it's covers.  Clearly no one attending an AA meeting will ever be offended by an absence of obscenity or lack of vulgarity from a speaker or participant. 

We describe events surrounding hitting bottom, and what led us to AA. 

We mention the importance of having a sponsor, a home group, and of taking the steps.

We briefly mention our experience with service work, working with others, and the benefits we realized as a result thereof.

We summarize our pitch.   We invite newcomers to join us on the "high road."  And we thank those who invited us and close our talk on time.