AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

~ Page 46 ~

True Ambition — and False

We have had a much keener look at ourselves and those about us. We have seen that we were prodded by unreasonable fears or anxieties into making a life business of winning fame, money, and what we thought was leadership. So false pride became the reverse side of that ruinous coin marked “Fear.” We simply had to be Number One people to cover up our deep-lying inferiorities.

<< << << >> >> >>

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE ~
1. P. 123
2. PP. 124-125

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc 

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AMBITION

“Show me a thoroughly satisfied man – and I will show you a failure.”

–Thomas Alva Edison

I need to strive for new things in my life. I need to push out into new areas and discover the richness of God’s world. I need to explore the varied creativity of creation.

There is so much that I have not done because of the wasted years of my addiction. So much that I have not seen, countries that I have not visited, languages that I have not learned and experiences that I have missed. My compulsive and obsessive behavior left me a prisoner of self – and also a victim of self.

The spiritual recovery I enjoy today says it is okay for me to have things, enjoy things and do things.

Help me to realize the energy and ambition You have created within me.

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AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrec #BillW #Ambition #Recovery

 Page 46

True Ambition — and False

We have had a much keener look at ourselves and those about us. We have seen that we were prodded by unreasonable fears or anxieties into making a life business of winning fame, money, and what we thought was leadership. So false pride became the reverse side of that ruinous coin marked “Fear.” We simply had to be Number One people to cover up our deep-lying inferiorities.

<< << << >> >> >>

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

~ TWELVE AND TWELVE ~
1. P. 123
2. PP. 124-125

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

AMBITION

“Show me a thoroughly satisfied
man – and I will show you a
failure.”
–Thomas Alva Edison

I need to strive for new things in my life. I need to push out into new
areas and discover the richness of God’s world. I need to explore the
varied creativity of creation.

There is so much that I have not done because of the wasted years of
my addiction. So much that I have not seen, countries that I have not
visited, languages that I have not learned and experiences that I have
missed. My compulsive and obsessive behavior left me a prisoner of
self – and also a victim of self.

The spiritual recovery I enjoy today says it is okay for me to have
things, enjoy things and do things.

Help me to realize the energy and ambition You have created within
me.

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrecovery

AMBITION

“The child without ambition is like a watch with a broken spring.”

~ R.W. Stockman ~

It is not wrong to have ambition. It is not wrong to want to be somebody. The tragedy is that this has to be said!

For too long, I played the tapes in my head that discouraged ambition and creative pride. I confused humility with timidity and self-abuse. I waited for things to happen, rather than making them happen for myself.

Today I know I am a creature of God, created to create. God is at work in my life. I am part of God’s miracle for the world.

God, may I always have ambition for those things that are good and true. 

© 2008 Leo Booth 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

AMBITION


“The child without ambition is like a watch with a broken spring.”

— R. W. Stockman

It is not wrong to have ambition. It is not wrong to want to be “somebody”. The tragedy is that this has to be said!

For too long we have played the tapes in our head that discouraged ambition and creative pride. We confused humility with timidity and self-abuse. We waited for things to happen, rather than made them happen.

Today I know that I am a creature of God — created to create. God is at work in my life. I am part of His miracle for the world.

O God, may I always have ambition for those things that are good and true.

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

True Ambition–and False, p. 46

We have had a much keener look at ourselves and those about us. We have seen that we were prodded by unreasonable fears or anxieties into making a life business of winning fame, money, and what we thought was leadership. So false pride became the reverse side of that ruinous coin marked “Fear.” We simply had to be Number One people to cover up our deep-lying inferiorities.

<< << << >> >> >>

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

12 & 12
1. p. 123
2. pp. 124-125 

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DAILY REFLECTIONS #essentialsofrecovery

TRUE AMBITION

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 124-25 

During my drinking years, my one and only concern was to have my fellow man think highly of me. My ambition in everything I did was to have the power to be at the top. My inner self kept telling me something else but I couldn’t accept it. I didn’t even allow myself to realize that I wore a mask continually. Finally, when the mask came off and I cried out to the only God I could conceive, the Fellowship of A.A., my group and the Twelve Steps were there. I learned how to change resentments into acceptance, fear into hope and anger into love. I have learned also, through loving without undue expectations, through sharing my concerns and caring for my fellow man, that each day can be joyous and fruitful. I begin and end my day with thanks to God, who has so generously shed His grace on me.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc

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THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrecovery

Looking back at our ambitions and aspirations we can recall many things we wanted and which we thought would make our lives complete. Some of them were impossible; they were the offspring of childish dreams, and later on, alcoholic wishing. Some of those things were possible for others but unattainable for us with our limited abilities.

We can now accept the fact that those things were not for us and wouldn’t have been good for us if we had had them. Some of them we obtained and wished we hadn’t. Their realizations were nothing compared to our expectations and the more we got the more we wanted. Ambitions were never realized because the more we advanced the more the horizons receded.

Published by Hazelden

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DAILY REFLECTIONS #essentialsofrecovery

TRUE AMBITION

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 124-25 

During my drinking years, my one and only concern was to have my fellow man think highly of me. My ambition in everything I did was to have the power to be at the top. My inner self kept telling me something else but I couldn’t accept it. I didn’t even allow myself to realize that I wore a mask continually. Finally, when the mask came off and I cried out to the only God I could conceive, the Fellowship of A.A., my group and the Twelve Steps were there. I learned how to change resentments into acceptance, fear into hope and anger into love. I have learned also, through loving without undue expectations, through sharing my concerns and caring for my fellow man, that each day can be joyous and fruitful. I begin and end my day with thanks to God, who has so generously shed His grace on me.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc 

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrec

It is almost a general rule that no one achieves in life what they planned in their youth. The great ambitions of our teens never seem to materialize.

In spite of all our plans, it is a safe bet to say, however, that we are where we were intended to be, doing the things that we were intended to do, whether we like it or not. Apparently we are not running the world.

It is very probable that we would have made a terrible mess of it had we followed our wishes and would have wound up a much bigger flop than we did. No matter what our station in life, we can daily thank God that it is no worse than it is.

Hazelden Foundation

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DAILY REFLECTIONS #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Ambition

 7
December

TRUE AMBITION

True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God.

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 124-25 

During my drinking years, my one and only concern was to have my fellow man think highly of me. My ambition in everything I did was to have the power to be at the top. My inner self kept telling me something else but I couldn’t accept it. I didn’t even allow myself to realize that I wore a mask continually. Finally, when the mask came off and I cried out to the only God I could conceive, the Fellowship of A.A., my group and the Twelve Steps were there. I learned how to change resentments into acceptance, fear into hope and anger into love. I have learned also, through loving without undue expectations, through sharing my concerns and caring for my fellow man, that each day can be joyous and fruitful. I begin and end my day with thanks to God, who has so generously shed His grace on me.

Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc

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Daily Zen #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Zen #Buddhism

  8
November

To shake off the dust
Of human ambition
I sit on moss in
Zen robes of stillness,
While through the window,
In the setting sun of late autumn,
Falling leaves whirl
And drop to the stone dais.

- Tesshu Tokusai (d. 1366)

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31
May 

AMBITION


“Show me a thoroughly satisfied man – and I will show you a failure.”

–Thomas Alva Edison

I need to strive for new things in my life. I need to push out into new areas and discover the richness of God’s world. I need to explore the varied creativity of creation.

There is so much that I have not done because of the wasted years of my addiction. So much that I have not seen, countries that I have not visited, languages that I have not learned and experiences that I have missed. My compulsive and obsessive behavior left me a prisoner of self – and also a victim of self.

The spiritual recovery I enjoy today says it is okay for me to have things, enjoy things and do things.

Help me to realize the energy and ambition You have created within me.

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Today’s Gift from Hazelden #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Ambition

26April

A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive.

— Pearl Bailey

Is our glass half full or half empty? We may see ourselves as positive people, but when we take the time to examine our thoughts closely, we may be surprised. We may have a lot to complain about, but so what? We can choose misery or happiness. It’s all in how we see that glass.

Instead of griping about bills, we become thankful for the money that is coming in. Instead of thinking about what activities we’re missing in our lives, we’re grateful for the solitude. Instead of being hurt by what friends and family aren’t doing, we feel blessed we have them in our lives in the first place.

Today I will humble myself by counting my blessings, knowing that without them I would truly be lost.

From the book:

Letting Go of Debt by Karen Casanova

Letting Go of Debt © 2000 by Hazelden Foundation

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 25
February

AMBITION


“The child without ambition is like a watch with a broken spring.”

— R. W. Stockman

It is not wrong to have ambition. It is not wrong to want to be “somebody”. The tragedy is that this has to be said!

For too long we have played the tapes in our head that discouraged ambition and creative pride. We confused humility with timidity and self-abuse. We waited for things to happen, rather than made them happen.

Today I know that I am a creature of God — created to create. God is at work in my life. I am part of His miracle for the world.

O God, may I always have ambition for those things that are good and true.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?