Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 9
A SPIRITUAL AXIOM
It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no
matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 90
I never truly understood the Tenth Step's spiritual axiom
until I had the following experience. I was sitting in my
bedroom, reading into the wee hours, when suddenly I
heard my dogs barking in the back yard. My neighbors
frown on this kind of disturbance so, with mixed feelings of
anger and shame, as well as fear of my neighbors'
disapproval, I immediately called in my dogs. Several
weeks later the exact situation repeated itself but this time,
because I was feeling more at peace with myself, I was able
to accept the situation—dogs will bark—and I calmly
called in the dogs. Both incidents taught me that when a
person experiences nearly identical events and reacts two
different ways, then it is not the event which is of prime
importance, but the person's spiritual condition. Feelings
come from inside, not from outward circumstances. When
my spiritual condition is positive, I react positively.

Dear God

Dear God,
I would like to take a minute, not to ask you for anything, but to simply say THANK YOU for all I have.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 8
DAILY INVENTORY
. . . and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59
I was beginning to approach my new life of sobriety with
unaccustomed enthusiasm. New friends were cropping up
and some of my battered friendships had begun to be
repaired. Life was exciting, and I even began to enjoy my
work, becoming so bold as to issue a report on the lack of
proper care for some of our clients. One day a co-worker
informed me that my boss was really sore because a
complaint, submitted over his head, had caused him much
discomfort at the hands of his superiors. I knew that my
report had created the problem, and began to feel
responsible for my boss's difficulty. In discussing the
affair, my co-worker tried to reassure me that an apology
was not necessary, but I soon became convinced that I had
to do something, regardless of how it might turn out. When
I approached my boss and owned up to my hand in his
difficulties, he was surprised. But unexpected things came
out of our encounter, and my boss and I were able to agree
to interact more directly and effectively in the future.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 7
DAILY MONITORING Continued to take
personal inventory. . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
The spiritual axiom referred to in the Tenth Step— "every
time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is
something wrong with us"—also tells me that there are no
exceptions to it. No matter how unreasonable others may
seem, I am responsible for not reacting negatively.
Regardless of what is happening around me I will always
have the prerogative, and the responsibility, of choosing
what happens within me. I am the creator of my own
reality.
When I take my daily inventory, I know that I must stop
judging others. If I judge others, I am probably judging
myself. Whoever is upsetting me most is my best teacher. I
have much to learn from him or her, and in my heart, I
should thank that person.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 6
FACING OURSELVES . . . and Fear says,
"You dare not look!"
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49
How often I avoided a task in my drinking days just
because it appeared so large! Is it any wonder, even if I
have been sober for some time, that I will act that same
way when faced with what appears to be a monumental
job, such as a searching and fearless moral inventory of
myself? What I discover after I have arrived at the other
side—when my inventory is completed—is that the illusion
was greater than the reality. The fear of facing myself kept
me at a standstill and, until I became willing to put pencil
to paper, I was arresting my growth based on an intangible.

Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

The more we feel concern for others and seek their well-being, the more friends we will have and the more welcome we will feel.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 5
YESTERDAY'S BAGGAGE
For the wise have always known that no one can make
much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular
habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds,
and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what
is wrong.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
I have more than enough to handle today, without dragging
along yesterday's baggage too. I must balance today's
books, if I am to have a chance tomorrow. So I ask myself
if I have erred and how I can avoid repeating that particular
behavior. Did I hurt anyone, did I help anyone, and why?
Some of today is bound to spill over into tomorrow, but
most of it need not if I make an honest daily inventory.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 4
A NECESSARY PRUNING
. . . we know that the pains of drinking had to come before
sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 94
I love spending time in my garden feeding and pruning my
beautiful flowers. One day, as I was busily snipping away,
a neighbor stopped by. She commented, "Oh! Your plants
are so beautiful, it seems such a shame to cut them back." I
replied, "I know how you feel, but the excess must be
removed so they can grow stronger and healthier." Later I
thought that perhaps my plants feel pain, but God and I
know it's part of the plan and I've seen the results. I was
quickly reminded of my precious A.A. program and how
we all grow through pain. I ask God to prune me when it's
time, so I can grow.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 3
SERENITY AFTER THE STORM
Someone who knew what he was talking about once
remarked that pain was the touchstone of all spiritual
progress. How heartily we A.A. 's can agree with him. . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 93-94
When on the roller coaster of emotional turmoil, I
remember that growth is often painful. My evolution in the
A.A. program has taught me that I must experience the
inner change, however painful, that eventually guides me
from selfishness to selflessness. If I am to have serenity, I
must STEP my way past emotional turmoil and its
subsequent hangover, and be grateful for continuing
spiritual progress.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 2
"THE ACID TEST"
As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for
the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten
we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use,
day by day, in fair weather or foul Then comes the acid
test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live
to good purpose under all conditions?
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
I know the Promises are being fulfilled in my life, but I
want to maintain and develop them by the daily application
of Step Ten. I have learned through this Step that if I am
disturbed, there is something wrong with me. The other
person may be wrong too, but I can only deal with my
feelings. When I am hurt or upset, I have to continually
look for the cause in me, and then I have to admit and
correct my mistakes. It isn't easy, but as long as I know I
am progressing spiritually, I know that I can mark my effort
up as a job well done. I have found that pain is a friend; it
lets me know there is something wrong with my emotions,
just as a physical pain lets me know there is something
wrong with my body. When I take the appropriate action
through the Twelve Steps, the pain gradually goes away.

Insanity

My doctor asked if any members of my family suffered from insanity, I replied, no, we all seem to enjoy it.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 1
LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and
rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for
alcohol is a subtle foe.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I
have found in the program. Relief from that pain is
provided in the solutions contained in A.A.'s Twelve Steps.
But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can
become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and
turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get
into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I
going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to
regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within
myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me
honest and humble.