Daily Reflection

JUNE 6
ALL WE DO IS TRY
Can He now take them all—every one?
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76
In doing Step Six it helped me a lot to remember that I am
striving for "spiritual progress." Some of my character
defects may be with me for the rest of my life, but most
have been toned down or eliminated. All that Step Six asks
of me is to become willing to name my defects, claim them
as my own, and be willing to discard the ones I can, just for
today. As I grow in the program, many of my defects
become more objectionable to me than previously and,
therefore, I need to repeat Step Six so that I can become
happier with myself and maintain my serenity.

Attitude

“Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us.”

Daily Reflection

JUNE 5
ENTIRELY READY?
"This is the Step that separates the men from the boys
" . . . the difference between "the boys and the men" is
the difference between striving for a self-determined
objective and for the perfect objective which is of God. . . .
It is suggested that we ought to become entirely willing to
aim toward perfection. . . . The moment we say, "No,
never!" our minds close against the grace of God. . . . This
is the exact point at which we abandon limited objectives,
and move toward God's will for us
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 63, 68, 69
Am I entirely ready to have God remove these defects of
character? Do I know at long last that I cannot save myself?
I have come to believe that I cannot. If I am unable, if my
best intentions go wrong, if my desires are selfishly
motivated and if my knowledge and will are limited—then
I am ready to embrace God's will for my life.

Daily Reflection

JUNE 4
LETTING GO OF OUR OLD SELVES
Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have
omitted anything for we are building an arch through
which we shall walk a free man at last. . . . Are we now
ready to let God remove from us all the things which we
have admitted are objectionable?
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 75, 76
The Sixth Step is the last "preparation" Step. Although I
have already used prayer extensively, I have made no
formal request of my Higher Power in the first Six Steps. I
have identified my problem, come to believe that there is a
solution, made a decision to seek this solution, and have
"cleaned house." I now ask: Am I willing to live a life of
sobriety, of change, to let go of my old self? I must
determine if I am truly ready to change. I review what I
have done and become willing for God to remove all my
defects of character; for in the next Step, I will tell my
Creator I am willing and will ask for help. If I have been
thorough in the preparation of my foundation and feel that I
am willing to change, I am then ready to continue with the
next Step. "If we still cling to something we will not let go,
we ask God to help us be willing." (Alcoholics Anonymous,
p. 76)

In line with todays Daily Reflection

A Quiet Prayer

I say a quiet prayer for those I love. I know that my prayers have power. The prayer that I hold in my heart for another person is held in both our hearts. It is helped by invisible hands, blown by the breath of angels toward the soul of another. Love leads one toward what is right and good in this life. If I can love, the rest will fall into place. This love that I feel will teach and guide me, it will give me courage to act or to temper my aggression. It is this experience of love that is the single most important part of my life. Through love all else will come, all is possible.

All things remain in love.

 W. B. Yeats

Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama

We should value our enemies because they provide us with unique opportunities to practice patience, tolerance and forbearance.

Daily Reflection

JUNE 3
ON A WING AND A PRAYER
. . . we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized
willingness as being indispensable.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76
Steps Four and Five were difficult, but worthwhile. Now I
was stuck on Step Six and, in despair, I picked up the Big
Book and read this passage. I was outside, praying for
willingness, when I raised my eyes and saw a huge bird
rising in the sky. I watched it suddenly give itself up to the
powerful air currents of the mountains. Swept along,
swooping and soaring, the bird did things seemingly impossible
for mortal birds to do. It was an inspiring example
of a fellow creature "letting go" to a power greater than
itself. I realized that if the bird "took back his will" and
tried to fly with less trust, on its power alone, it would spoil
its apparent free flight. That insight granted me the
willingness to pray the Seventh Step prayer.
It's not easy to know God's will in each circumstance. I
must search out and be ready for the currents, and that's
where prayer and meditation help! Because I am, of
myself, nothing, I ask God to grant me the knowledge of
His will and the power and courage to carry it out—today.

Daily Reflection

JUNE 2
THE UPWARD PATH
Here are the steps we took. . . .
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59
These are the words that lead into the Twelve Steps. In
their direct simplicity they sweep aside all psychological
and philosophical considerations about the lightness of the
Steps. They describe what I did: I took the Steps and
sobriety was the result. These words do not imply that I
should walk the well-trodden path of those who went
before, but rather that there is a way for me to become
sober and that it is a way I shall have to find. It is a new
path, one that leads to infinite light at the top of the
mountain. The Steps advise me about the footholds that are
safe and about chasms to avoid. They provide me with the
tools I need during the many parts of the solitary journey of
my soul. When I speak of this journey, I share my
experience, strength and hope with others.

Bye Bye Miss American Pie!

Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

Each one of us is responsible for the whole of humankind. We need to think of each other really as brothers and sisters and to be concerned for each other’s welfare. Rather than working solely to acquire wealth, we need to do something meaningful, something directed seriously towards the welfare of humanity as a whole.

Daily Reflection

JUNE 1
A CHANGED OUTLOOK
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84
When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish,
totally self-centered; my pleasure and my comfort came
first. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip
away. My whole attitude toward life and other people is
changing. For me, the first "A" in our name stands for
attitude. My attitude is changed by the second "A" in our
name, which stands for action. By working the Steps,
attending meetings, and carrying the message, I can be restored
to sanity. Action is the magic word! With a positive,
helpful attitude and regular A.A. action, I can stay sober
and help others to achieve sobriety. My attitude now is that
I am willing to go to any length to stay sober!