AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

~ Page 91 ~

Courage and Prudence

When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.

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

Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved. 

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THINK, THINK, THINK

Prudence

It’s hard to believe, but some AA members insist that newcomers shouldn’t think. “Whoever said you should think?” some members are told. The newcomer is apparently supposed to suspend all thinking for several months until reaching a certain level of recovery.

This is nonsense, and it also contradicts AA teaching. If we don’t want people to use their heads, why do we have printed cards on meeting room walls that say, “Think, Think, Think”? We are always capable of thinking, even in moments of deep despair. Indeed, we could not keep from thinking.

A constructive approach to thinking is to form complete sentences from the slogan on the wall: Think what might happen if I take one drink. Think of the wonderful new life that awaits me in sobriety. Think about ways of improving myself and fol-lowing a more satisfactory lifestyle.
It’s also important to remember that good thinking will drive out bad thinking—but good thinking has to be cultivated.

I’ll keep my thinking centered today on the good things that can be done in life. I’ll focus my attention only on matters that are under my control, and I know that better thinking will bring better conditions.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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THINK, THINK, THINK

Prudence

It’s hard to believe, but some AA members insist that newcomers shouldn’t think. “Whoever said you should think?” some members are told. The newcomer is apparently supposed to suspend all thinking for several months until reaching a certain level of recovery.

This is nonsense, and it also contradicts AA teaching. If we don’t want people to use their heads, why do we have printed cards on meeting room walls that say, “Think, Think, Think”? We are always capable of thinking, even in moments of deep despair. Indeed, we could not keep from thinking.

A constructive approach to thinking is to form complete sentences from the slogan on the wall: Think what might happen if I take one drink. Think of the wonderful new life that awaits me in sobriety. Think about ways of improving myself and fol-lowing a more satisfactory lifestyle.
It’s also important to remember that good thinking will drive out bad thinking—but good thinking has to be cultivated.

I’ll keep my thinking centered today on the good things that can be done in life. I’ll focus my attention only on matters that are under my control, and I know that better thinking will bring better conditions.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation 

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrecovery

Sticking with the winners____Prudence

“Stick with the winners,” newcomers are told at Twelve Step meetings. The real message of this statement is to share the attitudes and actions of people who are successful in living sober.
No recovering person can have a successful day while dwelling on ideas that can be harmful. We’ll meet people in the course of the day whose attitudes may appall us. We may work with people who are critical, gossipy, or resentful. It’s not our duty to correct them or argue with them. We’re wise, however, not to accept what we recognize as wrong thinking.
Winners, in AA terms, are people who seek sobriety first and live up to the principles of the program. Seem them out for help in doing likewise.

I’ll try to associate with people who exemplify the highest and best in good attitudes. 

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~ Page 91  Courage and Prudence
When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.

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

Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved.

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

“Prudence is rational concern without worry.”

~ 1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962 ~
~ 2. TWELVE CONCEPTS, P. 65 ~
~ 3. TALK, 1966 ~

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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WALK IN DRY PLACES #essentialsofrec Prudence #Thinking

THINK, THINK, THINK

Prudence
It’s hard to believe, but some AA members insist that newcomers shouldn’t think. “Whoever said you should think?” some members are told. The newcomer is apparently supposed to suspend all thinking for several months until reaching a certain level of recovery.

This is nonsense, and it also contradicts AA teaching. If we don’t want people to use their heads, why do we have printed cards on meeting room walls that say, “Think, Think, Think”? We are always capable of thinking, even in moments of deep despair. Indeed, we could not keep from thinking.

A constructive approach to thinking is to form complete sentences from the slogan on the wall: Think what might happen if I take one drink. Think of the wonderful new life that awaits me in sobriety. Think about ways of improving myself and fol-lowing a more satisfactory lifestyle.
It’s also important to remember that good thinking will drive out bad thinking—but good thinking has to be cultivated.

I’ll keep my thinking centered today on the good things that can be done in life. I’ll focus my attention only on matters that are under my control, and I know that better thinking will bring better conditions.

© 1996 by Hazelden Foundation

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrec #Winners #Prudence #TwelveSteps

Sticking with the winners

Prudence

“Stick with the winners,” newcomers are told at Twelve Step meetings. The real message of this statement is to share the attitudes and actions of people who are successful in living sober.
No recovering person can have a successful day while dwelling on ideas that can be harmful. We’ll meet people in the course of the day whose attitudes may appall us. We may work with people who are critical, gossipy, or resentful. It’s not our duty to correct them or argue with them. We’re wise, however, not to accept what we recognize as wrong thinking.
Winners, in AA terms, are people who seek sobriety first and live up to the principles of the program. Seem them out for help in doing likewise.


I’ll try to associate with people who exemplify the highest and best in good attitudes.

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Courage and Prudence, p. 91

When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.


*******************************************

Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved.

*******************************************

“Prudence is rational concern without worry.”

1. Grapevine, January 1962
2. Twelve Concepts, p. 62
3. Talk, 1966 

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“Look Before You Leap”?, p.253

“Wise men and women rightly give a top rating to the virtue of prudence. They know that without this all important attribute little wisdom is to be had.

“Mere ‘looking before we leap’ is not enough. If our looking is charged with fear, suspicion, or anger, we had better not have looked or acted at all.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“We lose the fear of making decisions, great and small, as we realize that should our choice prove wrong we can, if we will, learn from the experience. Should our decision be the right one, we can thank God for giving us the courage and the grace that caused us so to act.”

Letters, 1966

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

“Look Before You Leap”?, p.253

“Wise men and women rightly give a top rating to the virtue of prudence. They know that without this all important attribute little wisdom is to be had.

“Mere ‘looking before we leap’ is not enough. If our looking is charged with fear, suspicion, or anger, we had better not have looked or acted at all.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“We lose the fear of making decisions, great and small, as we realize that should our choice prove wrong we can, if we will, learn from the experience. Should our decision be the right one, we can thank God for giving us the courage and the grace that caused us so to act.”

Letters, 1966 

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 Page 240

Hard on Ourselves, Considerate of Others

We cannot disclose anything to our wives or our parents which will hurt them and make them unhappy. We have no right to save our own skin at their expense.

Such damaging parts of our story we tell to someone else who will understand, yet be unaffected. The rule is we must be hard on ourselves, but always considerate of others.

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

Good judgment will suggest that we ought to take our time in making amends to our families. It may be unwise at first to rehash certain harrowing episodes. While we may be quite willing to reveal the very worst, we must be sure to remember that we cannot buy our own peace of mind at the expense of others.

~ 1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 74
~ 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 84

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

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A DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Defects #fear

 22
November

Reflection for the Day

“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess,” wrote de Tocqueville, “but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.” We learn in the Program that our defects do have value—to the extent that we use them as the starting point for change and the pathway to better things. Fear can be a stepping stone to prudence, for example, as well as to respect for others. Fear can also help us turn away from hate and toward understanding. In the same way, pride can lead us toward the road of humility. Am I aware of my direction today? Do I care where I’m going?

Today I Pray

I pray that my Higher Power will show me how to use my defects in a positive way, because nothing—not even fear or selfishness or greed—is all bad. May I trust that every quality that leads me into trouble has a reverse side that can lead me out. Pride, for instance, can’t puff itself up unduly without bursting and demonstrating that it is, in essence, only hot air. May I learn from my weaknesses.

Today I Will Remember

Good news out of bad.

© 1989 by Hazelden Foundation

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec #Prudence #decisions

 11
September 

“Look Before You Leap”?, p.253

“Wise men and women rightly give a top rating to the virtue of prudence. They know that without this all important attribute little wisdom is to be had.

“Mere ‘looking before we leap’ is not enough. If our looking is charged with fear, suspicion, or anger, we had better not have looked or acted at all.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“We lose the fear of making decisions, great and small, as we realize that should our choice prove wrong we can, if we will, learn from the experience. Should our decision be the right one, we can thank God for giving us the courage and the grace that caused us so to act.”

Letters, 1966

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As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Courage

 1
April
Courage and Prudence, p. 91

When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.

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

Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be achieved.

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

“Prudence is rational concern without worry.”

1. Grapevine, January 1962
2. Twelve Concepts, p. 62
3. Talk, 1966

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