Walk In Dry Places

Willingness is the Key
Strong Desire

Although willpower alone does not work in overcoming alcoholism, there is a place for the will, or willingness, in the search for a happy sobriety. Things can happen if we are willing to let them happen. More important, progress often depends on our willingness to give up what stands in our way. It also requires our willingness to take the actions necessary for success.

This same willingness, so vital to finding sobriety, is also applicable in other areas of our lives. The pioneers of AA suggested that getting sober required being willing to go to any lengths. This is the key to other achievements and to the overcoming of problems besides alcohol.

We often have to put up with unpleasant conditions simply because we do not want to change them badly enough. For example, we may dislike the unpleasant coughing and risks of smoking, but lack the willingness to quit. We may brood over lost opportunities, but be unwilling to take advantage of the opportunities we have now.

The key to constructive change in our lives is willingness…… and that applies to other matters as well as to alcohol……………I’ll try to be honest today about what I really want. I will remind myself that if I want something badly enough, willingness is the key to action and to success.

DAILY ZEN - 23rd February 2026

Fulfillment of desire is an illusion; desire leads to more desire, not satisfaction.

-Kathleen McDonald, "How to Meditate" 

As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec

The Building Of Character, p. 204

Since most of us are born with an abundance of natural desires, it isn’t strange that we often let these far exceed their intended purpose. When they drive us blindly, or we willfully demand that they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is the point at which we depart from the degree of perfection that God wishes for us here on earth. That is the measure of our character defects, or, if you wish, of our sins.

If we ask, God will certainly forgive our derelictions. But in no case does he render us white as snow and keep us that way without our cooperation. That is something we are supposed to be willing to work toward ourselves. He asks only that we try as best we know how to make progress in the building of character.

12 & 12, p. 65

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Desire

DESIRE

“One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulating to creativeness, to love, and to long life.”
–Alexander A. Bogomoletz

Today I desire to live. I have discovered value in my life. I have experienced personal self-esteem. I am able to feel again, talk, trust and laugh again. Today I desire to live.

But I can remember when I felt lonely, isolated, angry, shutdown and hopeless. The desires I had were destructive, desiring isolation mingled with alcohol. Then the pain became too great and I experienced a vital “moment”. I realized I needed to make a choice — was I to live or die? I chose to live!

This was the beginning of my spiritual journey into self from which I discovered God and His world. Creative and positive desires were re-born in my life, and I am able to live and love again.

O Lord, may I continue to desire those things that do not hurt me. 

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Willingness is the Key
Strong Desire

Although willpower alone does not work in overcoming alcoholism, there is a place for the will, or willingness, in the search for a happy sobriety. Things can happen if we are willing to let them happen. More important, progress often depends on our willingness to give up what stands in our way. It also requires our willingness to take the actions necessary for success.

This same willingness, so vital to finding sobriety, is also applicable in other areas of our lives. The pioneers of AA suggested that getting sober required being willing to go to any lengths. This is the key to other achievements and to the overcoming of problems besides alcohol.

We often have to put up with unpleasant conditions simply because we do not want to change them badly enough. For example, we may dislike the unpleasant coughing and risks of smoking, but lack the willingness to quit. We may brood over lost opportunities, but be unwilling to take advantage of the opportunities we have now.

The key to constructive change in our lives is willingness…… and that applies to other matters as well as to alcohol……………I’ll try to be honest today about what I really want. I will remind myself that if I want something badly enough, willingness is the key to action and to success.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

WILLINGNESS IS THE KEY

Strong Desire

Although willpower alone does not work in overcoming alcoholism, there is a place for the will, or willingness, in the search for happy sobriety. Things can happen if we are willing to let them happen. More important, progress often depends on our willingness to give up what stands in our way. It also requires our willingness to take the actions necessary for success.

This same willingness, so vital to finding sobriety, is also applicable in other areas of our lives. The pioneers of AA suggested that getting sober required being willing to go to any lengths. This is the key to other achievements and to the overcoming of problems besides alcohol.

We often have to put up with unpleasant conditions simply because we do not want to change them badly enough. For example, we may dislike the unpleasant coughing and risks of smoking, but lack the willingness to quit. We may brood over lost opportunities, but be unwilling to take advantage of the opportunities we have now.

The key to constructive change in our lives is willingness—and that applies to other matters as well as to alcohol.

I’ll try to be honest today about what I really want. I will remind myself that if I want some-thing badly enough, willingness is the key to action and to success.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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DAILY ZEN #essentialsofrecovery

Desires achieved increase thirst like salt water.

-Milarepa, "Drinking the Mountain Stream"

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THE EYE OPENER #essentialsofrecovery

We are all subjects to the habit of imagining a lot of needs and desires that we would not actually want if we stopped and gave the matter some thought. List those needs some time and then think them over carefully. A yacht would be mighty nice in the summer but it’s a pest in the winter. A fat bank account takes more thought and hard work to keep than it ever did to acquire. It is much nicer to just let your friends have these things and you be their guest.

Published by Hazelden 

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrecovery

THOSE WHO WANT IT, NOT THOSE WHO NEED IT

Honest Desire

In the first bloom of sobriety, many recovering people confront drinking companions who also “need” the program. They’re often surprised and disillusion when efforts to help their friends are rejected—sometimes curtly.

We’re truly limited to helping those who desire recovery, not those who we think need it. Though intervention methods can be effective, we’re still largely helpless to assist those who don’t desire recovery.

We regret that we really have no answers for the millions who perish from alcoholism, unaware of their problem. We also can hold out little hope that any future recovery attempts will succeed without the individual alcoholic’s cooperation.

Desire—a personal determination and decision—is necessary for almost any kind of change. We have the freedom to choose in many areas of our lives, and alcoholics must eventually choose recovery in order to find and maintain it.

Though I’d love to see others recover, I must accept the fact that their personal desire and choice is necessary. I’ll remember this if any opportunities arise today to carry the message.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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Daily Zen #essentialsofrecovery

It is not that anger and desire are inherently evil or that we should feel ashamed when they arise. It is a matter of seeing them as the delusions that they are: distorted conceptions that paint a false picture of reality. They are negative because they lead to unhappiness and confusion.


- Kathleen McDonald, "How to Meditate"

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsorec #Willingness #Desire #Recovery

WILLINGNESS IS THE KEY

Strong Desire

Although willpower alone does not work in overcoming alcoholism, there is a place for the will, or willingness, in the search for happy sobriety. Things can happen if we are willing to let them happen. More important, progress often depends on our willingness to give up what stands in our way. It also requires our willingness to take the actions necessary for success.

This same willingness, so vital to finding sobriety, is also applicable in other areas of our lives. The pioneers of AA suggested that getting sober required being willing to go to any lengths. This is the key to other achievements and to the overcoming of problems besides alcohol.

We often have to put up with unpleasant conditions simply because we do not want to change them badly enough. For example, we may dislike the unpleasant coughing and risks of smoking, but lack the willingness to quit. We may brood over lost opportunities, but be unwilling to take advantage of the opportunities we have now.

The key to constructive change in our lives is willingness—and that applies to other matters as well as to alcohol.

I’ll try to be honest today about what I really want. I will remind myself that if I want some-thing badly enough, willingness is the key to action and to success.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec