Daily Reflections May 20 2026

ONE DAY AT A TIME
Above all, take it one day at a time. 

AS BILL SEES IT, p.11

Why do I kid myself that I must stay away from a drink for only one day, when I know perfectly well I must never drink again as long as I live? I am not kidding myself because one day at a time is probably the only way I can reach the long-range objective of staying sober. If I determine that I shall never drink again as long as I live, I set myself up. How can I be sure I won’t drink when I have no idea what the future may hold? On a day-at-a-time basis, I am confident I can stay away from a drink for one day. So I set out with confidence. At the end of the day, I have the reward of achievement. Achievement feels good and that makes me want more!

Walk In Dry Places - May 10 2026

Doing the impossible things
Achievements.

One of our friends became critical of our AA group, suggesting that we were limiting ourselves by focusing solely on recovery when so many other accomplishments waited on the horizon. After all, isn’t it written that “with God, all things are possible?”

It is indeed true that we should place no limits at all on our Higher Power. Even nonbelievers will admit that nature and the universe show power and intelligence that are far beyond our understanding.

What limits us is our own ability to receive and use our Higher Power in proper ways. Even if our journey in the program gives us boundless self-confidence, we must always deal with our own selfish tendencies and the temptation to seek personal gain rather than personal improvement. Certain kinds of success can be fully as toxic as any drug. Some of us, in fact, can deal with disappointments more effectively than we can with too much success.

The Idea of “doing impossible things” is fully covered in the Steps. We seek knowledge of “God’s will for us and the Power to carry that out.” This means that we’ll find the where-withdrawal to do anything that belongs in our lives. Anything else is needless and perhaps even dangerous.

I’ll not feel that I lack faith simply because I haven’t been able to reach certain goals. My Higher Power will show me how to balance my life so I can accept what is rightfully mine. There is no need to do the seemingly “impossible” unless it is in the order of things.

AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

~ Page 40 ~

Material Achievement

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that no satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.

We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.

In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfaction were simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 71 ~

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrec #AA #BillW #Security

 Page 40 ~

Material Achievement

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that no satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.

We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.

In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfaction were simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 71

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Doing the impossible things

Achievements.

One of our friends became critical of our AA group, suggesting that we were limiting ourselves by focusing solely on recovery when so many other accomplishments waited on the horizon. After all, isn’t it written that “with God, all things are possible?”

It is indeed true that we should place no limits at all on our Higher Power. Even nonbelievers will admit that nature and the universe show power and intelligence that are far beyond our understanding.

What limits us is our own ability to receive and use our Higher Power in proper ways. Even if our journey in the program gives us boundless self-confidence, we must always deal with our own selfish tendencies and the temptation to seek personal gain rather than personal improvement. Certain kinds of success can be fully as toxic as any drug. Some of us, in fact, can deal with disappointments more effectively than we can with too much success.

The Idea of “doing impossible things” is fully covered in the Steps. We seek knowledge of “God’s will for us and the Power to carry that out.” This means that we’ll find the where-withdrawal to do anything that belongs in our lives. Anything else is needless and perhaps even dangerous.

I’ll not feel that I lack faith simply because I haven’t been able to reach certain goals. My Higher Power will show me how to balance my life so I can accept what is rightfully mine. There is no need to do the seemingly “impossible” unless it is in the order of things.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

Material Achievement

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that no satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.

We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.

In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfaction were simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 71

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Deserving Success
Achievements

It’s said that alcoholics sometimes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Some of us, deep down inside, don’t really think we deserve success. We might be discouraged by feelings of guilt or low self-esteem, or perhaps we don’t want to become targets of envy or competitive attacks.

We need to practice acceptance of our current situation, always believing that we do have a right to achievements that match our talents and experience, indeed, such achievements may only be possible now that we’re sober and thinking rightly.

Some people think that our occupations and our program are separate matters. But the very last idea in the 12 Steps is to practice our principles “in all our affairs.”

If we take the view that any useful work is a form of service, we’ll find opportunities to be beneficial to everyone. With that attitude, we will also realize that we deserve success.

I ‘ll know today that I have a right to do well in any legitimate activity for which I am qualified.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Battles we’ve won or lost.
Achievements.

Even the continuous sobriety we’re enjoying is no shield from traps we seem to set for ourselves. At times, we can find ourselves in the foolish game of continuing to fight battles we’ve won or lost.

One losing battle is the attempt to win the approval of someone who has always disliked us. That person may be gone, but we still fight….and lose….. the same battle when we find ourselves in a similar situation.

We also may have won some battles without knowing it. This can happen when we’ve set our goals unrealistically high. We may be fairly

successful in our work, for example, but still feel that we have failed because a high goal we set eluded us. That goal, however, may have been all but impossible to attain, and while we mourn our perceived failure, we ignore the successes we many have achieved in the meantime. Consequently, we should never let any of these battles interfere with our plan for sobriety. We must stay sober at all costs.

This day, I’ll not strive to impress people who may always disapprove of me. I will also accept my successes even if they fall short of my highest dreams.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

RAISING THE FRUSTRATION THRESHOLD

Achievement

What happens when we hit snags in our lives? In drinking, it was a common practice to chuck everything and just get drunk. This always made things worse, sometimes so much so that we forgot about the problem that triggered our frustrations.

Dealing with frustration is another part of growing up emotionally. Self-understanding in sobriety will help us detect surges of anger and irritation when things aren’t going as planned. We’ll recognize these feelings as being the same emotions that plagued us in our drinking days.

In sobriety, however, we are given choices. We actually do have the choice of pausing, letting the anger drain away, and then taking charge of the situation by knowing that God is working along with us. By doing this, we can eventually raise our threshold of frustration.

If some task or issue makes me angry today, I’ll back off and place the outcome in God’s hands. I’ll know this is working when I have a change in feeling about it.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

 Page 40

Material Achievement

No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that no satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.

We demanded more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion.

In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap was our lack of humility. We lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfaction were simply by-products and not the chief aims of life.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 71 ~

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

ACHIEVEMENT

“Do not mistake activity for achievement.”
– Mabel Newcomber

Often I am running in circles and not getting anywhere. I spend forever “doing” things and yet I know I am not achieving anything. I am going nowhere in my life!

“Be still and know that I am God.” I need to stop. I need to listen to the pain that is within. I need to relax in my gratitude. I need to rest in myself. Tomorrow has not yet come — today I take time for me.

Lord, I hear Your still small voice. Today I rest in me and discover Thee.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Battles we’ve won or lost.
Achievements.

Even the continuous sobriety we’re enjoying is no shield from traps we seem to set for ourselves. At times, we can find ourselves in the foolish game of continuing to fight battles we’ve won or lost.

One losing battle is the attempt to win the approval of someone who has always disliked us. That person may be gone, but we still fight….and lose….. the same battle when we find ourselves in a similar situation.

We also may have won some battles without knowing it. This can happen when we’ve set our goals unrealistically high. We may be fairly

successful in our work, for example, but still feel that we have failed because a high goal we set eluded us. That goal, however, may have been all but impossible to attain, and while we mourn our perceived failure, we ignore the successes we many have achieved in the meantime. Consequently, we should never let any of these battles interfere with our plan for sobriety. We must stay sober at all costs.

This day, I’ll not strive to impress people who may always disapprove of me. I will also accept my successes even if they fall short of my highest dreams. 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX #essentialsofrec #Emmet #Fox

YOUR OWN VALUATION

The world will take you at your own valuation. Your body will take you at your own valuation. Your business will take you at your own valuation; for the value that you really put upon yourself is the one that manifests. You may say, “But that cannot be true, because I know several people who are always boasting and pretending and yet no one ever takes them seriously.”

Please note that I said the value you really put upon yourself. People who boast, bluff, and pretend have really a poor opinion of themselves—or why would they pretend? And it is this poor opinion or sense of inferiority that is demonstrated in the failure that such people always make of their lives.

The man who really believes that his wares are excellent does not dream of lying about them. The man who is satisfied with what he is has no incentive to pretend to be something he is not. The man who is conscious of substantial achievement has no desire to boast.

Nature always takes you at your own valuation. Believe that you are the child of God. Believe that you express Life, Truth, Love. Believe that Wisdom guides you. Believe that you are a special enterprise on the part of God—and what you really believe, that you will demonstrate.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be . . . (1 John 3:2). 

© 1931 by Emmet Fox

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrec #frustration #Achievement

  3
December

Raising the frustration threshold
Achievement

What happens when we hit snags in our lives? In drinking, it was a common practice to chuck everything and just get drunk. This always made things worse, sometimes so much so that we forgot about the problem that triggered our frustrations.

Dealing with frustration is another part of growing up emotionally. Self-understanding in sobriety will help us detect surges of anger and irritation when things aren’t going as planned. We’ll recognize these feelings as being the same emotions that plagued us in our drinking days.

In sobriety, however, we are given choices. We actually do have the choice of pausing, letting the anger drain away, and then taking charge of the situation by knowing that God is working along with us. By doing this, we can eventually raise our threshold of frustration.

If some task or issue makes me angry today, I’ll back off and place the outcome in God’s hands. I’ll know this is working when I have a change in feeling about it.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Success

  4
October

Deserving Success
Achievements

It’s said that alcoholics sometimes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Some of us, deep down inside, don’t really think we deserve success. We might be discouraged by feelings of guilt or low self-esteem, or perhaps we don’t want to become targets of envy or competitive attacks.

We need to practice acceptance of our current situation, always believing that we do have a right to achievements that match our talents and experience, indeed, such achievements may only be possible now that we’re sober and thinking rightly.

Some people think that our occupations and our program are separate matters. But the very last idea in the 12 Steps is to practice our principles “in all our affairs.”

If we take the view that any useful work is a form of service, we’ll find opportunities to be beneficial to everyone. With that attitude, we will also realize that we deserve success.

I ‘ll know today that I have a right to do well in any legitimate activity for which I am qualified.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Achievement

 27
September 

ACHIEVEMENT


“Do not mistake activity for achievement.”

– Mabel Newcomber

Often I am running in circles and not getting anywhere. I spend forever “doing” things and yet I know I am not achieving anything. I am going nowhere in my life!

“Be still and know that I am God.” I need to stop. I need to listen to the pain that is within. I need to relax in my gratitude. I need to rest in myself. Tomorrow has not yet come — today I take time for me.

Lord, I hear Your still small voice. Today I rest in me and discover Thee.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Achievements

  5
September

Battles we’ve won or lost.
Achievements.

Even the continuous sobriety we’re enjoying is no shield from traps we seem to set for ourselves. At times, we can find ourselves in the foolish game of continuing to fight battles we’ve won or lost.

One losing battle is the attempt to win the approval of someone who has always disliked us. That person may be gone, but we still fight….and lose….. the same battle when we find ourselves in a similar situation.

We also may have won some battles without knowing it. This can happen when we’ve set our goals unrealistically high. We may be fairly

successful in our work, for example, but still feel that we have failed because a high goal we set eluded us. That goal, however, may have been all but impossible to attain, and while we mourn our perceived failure, we ignore the successes we many have achieved in the meantime. Consequently, we should never let any of these battles interfere with our plan for sobriety. We must stay sober at all costs.

This day, I’ll not strive to impress people who may always disapprove of me. I will also accept my successes even if they fall short of my highest dreams.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec