Spirit matters progress not perfection marr addiction. Twelve step recovery emphasizes two concepts, seemingly paradoxical. The actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be. I didnt drink today is progress over what i was like the day i came in but its not alot of progress over yesterday. Aa meetings in upper marlboro washington area intergroup. With this in mind, we will be exploring the aspects of spirituality that focus on recovery, how spirituality is blocked by addiction, and how all of us can strengthen our spiritual journey, regardless of whether or not we have a history of. To be effective, this guide needs to be used alongside your big book of alcoholics anonymous. Progress not perfection is an oftenused phrase in recovery circles. Progress in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The text is discussing the 12 steps a member takes.
I once saw progress not perfection as accepting imperfection, today i see it as a montra on my life long spiritual journey. John c and john h, are apparently at least as extreme as big book thumpers but on the opposite end of. Progress, not perfection what does that mean in recovery. Atlanta central office of alcoholics anonymous 270 peachtree street nw, suite 1060 atlanta. If you were a member of aa and woke up tomorrow morning inspired to write a book about the spirituality of aa and the 12 steps you might want to call it the spirituality of imperfection. Making the same mistakes or practicing the same poor behavior over and over again is not progress. Suspended progress not perfection oracle location temporarily closed back to meetings. A study of aa s book twelve steps and twelve traditions. Suspended progress not perfection oracle location temporarily closed. Miracles in progress 12 step recovery forums alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous big book quiz anyone. Aa big book workshop, taking the 12 steps as done in the 1940s duration. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fairminded and tolerant evaporates on the spot.
With this in mind, we will be exploring the aspects of spirituality that focus on recovery, how spirituality is blocked by addiction, and how all of us can strengthen our spiritual journey, regardless of whether or not we have a history of substance abuse. In the big book and beyond the most obvious difference between the big book of alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions are in steps six and seven. Thus blinded by prideful selfconfi dence, we were apt to play the big shot. Our fi rst objective will be the development of selfre. Suspendedprogress not perfection oracle alcoholics. Here they are again, translated to a sex addiction format. They helped me to acquire the experience i have today. Oct 23, 2014 go to enough twelve step meetings and youll encounter them. The alcoholics anonymous preamble alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their. As the big book, alcoholics anonymous tells us, we are not destined for sainthood and we should not be discouraged when we cannot maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. For the fourteen years i was in and out of recovery i barely cracked the literature. Step 6 is an important step in recovery for several reasons. Progress, not perfection six simple rules for a better life. Early on i heard about those big book thumpers and i was kind of.
Motivational progress not perfection sayings aa 12 steps. When temporary good fortune came our way, we indulged ourselves in fantasies of still greater victories over people and circumstances. Early on when i was a participant in the strategic coach program, founder dan sullivan preached the importance of focusing on progress, not perfection. Its origin is the 12 step program of aa alcoholics anonymous, and the phrase can be found in aas key piece of literature, the book alcoholics anonymous or what is commonly known as the big book. Its been a long period of reconstruction as there is no microwave recovery, and one of the principles they demonstrated for me was progress, not perfection. I think, though, that there is certain seriousness about this phrase that i had not thought of before. New years resolutions tend to fail because people take on too many, or ones that are too big. Perfection in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. The contents of this site are the responsibility of sioux falls area intergroup. Aa is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. There is a large hill at the side of my place, a kind of tropical forest i can see while at the. 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.
The point is we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. Those aas allowed me to be as screwed up as i was, asking nothing more that for me to put in a honest effort into staying away from the drink for that day. In order to be as helpful and inclusive as possible, some of these are repetitive as in turning it over and step three, which basically is turning it over, or in economic insecurity and money, which encompasses economic insecurity. Online meetings akron area intergroup council of alcoholics. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. Shop motivational progress not perfection sayings aa 12 steps, big book, recovering clean and sober gifts clean and sober crewneck sweatshirts designed by manbird as well as other clean and sober merchandise at teepublic. I also as i continue to work the steps i must remain aware i never will be perfect. Lets jump in and explore what it means to practice and how we can shift our perspective to view practice, not perfection, as the ultimate goal. It is an open invitation to partner with our higher power and make a firm decision to let go of the character defects or flaws that have been in control for years. Honest, open and free virtual meeting online meeting. Atlanta central office of alcoholics anonymous 270 peachtree street nw, suite 1060 atlanta, ga 30303 directions business hours. In my opinion, one of the greatest big book workshops ever recorded. And the spirituality of imperfection tells us another thing that we ought to know, especially if we have read the big book.
I now get to practice rule 62 and not take myself too damn seriously. The saying, progress, not perfection comes from alcoholics anonymous. It allows you to celebrate the little victories as achievement of progress. From learning to practicing one way to move into focusing on the process rather than the result is to understand the difference between practice and learning. Oct 08, 2017 as noted in an article on aa agnostica in april of 2016, the second secular aa convention 3, the first article published about a convention only a few months away. Shop alcoholics anonymous womens and mens clothing designs. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Progress not perfection location temporarily closed. 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. Overcome perfectionism in recovery progress not perfection. Perfection in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Progress not perfection area 63 alcoholics anonymous. Anyway, my point was just that there is a very good chance that the authors of the big book had significantly less time than even the relatively young four years.
Im grateful for all my growing pains in this amazing fellowship. First printed in 1939 and 1952, respectively, both were principally authored by aa cofounder bill wilson. I agree with you, progress not perfection sounds like a dead end, you have reached as far as you will. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online. This is an incredible story by a great aa speaker who shares how he found faith when. The tenth step of alcoholics anonymous introduces the tried and true philosophy of progress, not perfection. As bill put it, we claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Step 6 is the getting ready for removal stepthe step that can bring noticeable change when it comes to our thought patterns and behaviors. Ferry pass united methodist church 7300 n davis hwy. Such work may look like an overwhelming goal to an outsider, but those of us in aa know that our true goal is progress, not perfection. The big book thumpers strive for an air of perfection.
Suspendedprogress not perfection oracle alcoholics anonymous. Working with a big book guide can help tremendously when trying to understand what the particular step is asking and even promising. Youre not going to change a lifetime of bad choices overnight. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking. This workshop features two of the alltime best aa speakers, mark h. Feb 03, 2014 in my opinion, one of the greatest big book workshops ever recorded. The emphasis of progress, not perfection in recovery. If you have been around the tables of aa long enough, you know there are plenty of common sayings that are stated in one form or another during every meeting. Progress not perfection is a comforting thought because for many of us being perfect was a part of our problem. Mt zion united methodist church 15772 nc 50 garner, nc. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. A study of aas book twelve steps and twelve traditions. Alcoholics anonymous, progress not perfection, wednesday at 12.
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 is not endorsed or approved by the general services office of alcoholics anonymous. If you were a member of aa and woke up tomorrow morning inspired to write a book about the spirituality of aa and the 12 steps you might want to call it the spirituality of imperfection but you would be too late. Nov 02, 2016 progress, not perfection if you have been around the tables of aa long enough, you know there are plenty of common sayings that are stated in one form or another during every meeting. Aa recovered alcoholics anonymous aa11 19,064 views. Twelve step recovery is all about spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles, the authors of alcoholics anonymous explain. Our fi rst objective will be the development of selfre straint. Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas. World services georgia aa big book online grapevine. Two members of the program committee, john c and john h, are apparently at least as extreme as big book thumpers but on the opposite end of the spectrum. They know the literature inside and out, quote it frequently and give the page number they are quoting from to underscore their authority.
Step ten continued to take personal inventory and when. Todays aa meetings the official tridistrict intergroup. After completing step 5, youre ready to move on to step 6, which means asking your higher power for help in letting go of your wrongs so you can make a full and complete recovery. Of course, people turned away from us, bored or hurt. Nov 02, 2011 we claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. 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.
Progress not perfection overcoming perfectionism in recovery progress not perfection is an oftenused phrase in recovery circles. Big book, discussion, location temporarily closed, open, wheelchair access. Atlanta central office of alcoholics anonymous 270 peachtree street nw, suite 1060. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
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