Daily Reflections

SACRIFICE = UNITY = SURVIVAL

The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival of A. A. will always depend upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice means unity and survival for the group and for A. A.’s entire Fellowship. 

AS BILL SEES IT, p. 220

I have learned that I must sacrifice some of my personality traits for the good of A. A. and, as a result, I have been rewarded with many gifts. False pride can be inflated through prestige but, by living Tradition Six, I receive the gift of humility instead. Cooperation without affiliation is often deceiving. If I remain unrelated to outside interest, I am free to keep A. A. autonomous. Then the Fellowship will be here, healthy and strong for generations to come.

AS BILL SEES IT - April 7 2026

~ Page 97 ~

Self-Respect Through Sacrifice

At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have killed us. But we couldn’t get rid of alcohol unless we made other sacrifices. We had to toss self-justification, self-pity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry slate and quit blaming others for it.

Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up what had really been our dearest possessions—our ambition and our illegitimate pride.

~ A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 287 ~

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc 

As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrec #Sel-Respect #Sacrifice

Self-Respect Through Sacrifice

p. 97
At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have killed us. But we couldn’t get rid of alcohol unless we made other sacrifices. We had to toss the self-justification, self-pity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry state and quit blaming others for it.

Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up what had really been our dearest possessions–our ambitions and our illegitimate pride.

A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 287

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EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrec #Service #Traition1 #tradition2 #tradition5

SERVICE

Whomsoever shall compel you to go with him one mile… go with him…. Go another mile.

~ Og Mandino 

No effort must ever seem so great that it will stop us from giving completely of ourselves in helping someone find the kind of life others helped us find. It is the responsibility of each member to go to any lengths in giving service. Whatever sacrifice it may require from us will bring great rewards.

We always learn that, in the act of one person helping another, no person can give without receiving, or get without giving. We learn from our sponsors that when they help us, they are also helping themselves. This experience is a very important part of the Program. Our 1st, 2nd, and 5th Traditions are grounded in the principle of service to others. We are privileged to share in that experience.

When I undertake to help another person or our Fellowship, I must strive to do more and serve better than is expected of me.

©1990 by Anonymous, Published by Hazelden

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Daily Reflections #essentialsofrecovery

SACRIFICE = UNITY = SURVIVAL


The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival of A. A. will always depend upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice means unity and survival for the group and for A. A.’s entire Fellowship. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 220

I have learned that I must sacrifice some of my personality traits for the good of A. A. and, as a result, I have been rewarded with many gifts. False pride can be inflated through prestige but, by living Tradition Six, I receive the gift of humility instead. Cooperation without affiliation is often deceiving. If I remain unrelated to outside interest, I am free to keep A. A. autonomous. Then the Fellowship will be here, healthy and strong for generations to come.

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Daily Reflections #essentialsofrec

 GIVING FREELY

We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have learned to love God and one another.

 A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 234

To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never a strong characteristic during my days as a practicing alcoholic. The giving of time or money always demanded a price tag. As a newcomer I was told “we have to give it away in order to keep it.” As I began to adopt the principals of Alcoholics Anonymous in my life, I soon found it was a privilege to give to the Fellowship as an expression of the gratitude felt in my heart. My love of God and of others became the motivating factor in my life, with no thought of return. I realize now that giving freely is God’s way of expressing Himself through me. 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

SACRIFICE


“To believe in sensible ideas is easy, but to implement them involves sacrifice.”

– Dorothy Fosdick

What am I prepared to sacrifice for what I want? I remember the time I said I would do “anything”. Today I know that anything must be translated into something. No person, job or thing can be allowed to come between myself and abstinence. This love of self will enable me to love others. But I must remember to sacrifice my desire to please others and place my needs as a priority in my life.

Today I know that if I do not love myself enough to make sacrifices, then I can be nothing.

In gratitude I give up those things I know will hurt me.

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Elder’s Meditation of the Day #essentialsofrecovery

“The Elders say that if you want something good, you have to suffer for it.”

–Chuck Ross, LAKOTA

People sometimes have a misconception of sacrifice.  This is a strong word for Indian people.  On the other side of sacrifice is another whole world.  During sacrifice, our beliefs are tested.  We may all have good beliefs but if you test a good belief, then you get real beliefs.  Real beliefs make new people; real beliefs make new self images.  Real beliefs allow determination and desires and faith to come true.  Good is always available to us but we often can’t bring it within until we let go of the old ways. We let go of the old ways by suffering.   Suffering is only letting go of things that don’t work anymore.  On the other side of suffering is a new world.

Creator, help me to let go of old ways.  Let my old thoughts and beliefs be abandoned.  Every change is preceded by struggle.  Help me go through the struggle today. 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec

SACRIFICE

“To believe in sensible ideas is easy, but to implement them involves sacrifice.”

– Dorothy Fosdick

What am I prepared to sacrifice for what I want? I remember the time I said I would do “anything”. Today I know that anything must be translated into something. No person, job or thing can be allowed to come between myself and abstinence. This love of self will enable me to love others. But I must remember to sacrifice my desire to please others and place my needs as a priority in my life.

Today I know that if I do not love myself enough to make sacrifices, then I can be nothing.

In gratitude I give up those things I know will hurt me. 

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Elder’s Meditation of the Day #essentialsofrec

“It is a paradox in the contemporary world that in our desire for peace we must willingly give ourselves to struggle.”

–Linda Hogan, CHICKASAW


The Grandfathers have taught us about sacrifice.

We have been taught to pray for the people in a pitiful way.

Struggle and conflict is neither good nor bad, it just is.

Everything that grows experiences conflict.

When the deer is born it is through conflict.

When the seed first grows, it is through conflict.

Conflict precedes clarity.

Everything has the seasons of growth.

Recognize – acknowledge – forgive and change.

All of these things are done through conflict.




Great Spirit, give me the courage today to see that struggle and conflict are here to teach me lessons that are a gift from you.

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #FrLeo #Sacrifice

16
August 

SACRIFICE


“To believe in sensible ideas is easy, but to implement them involves sacrifice.”

– Dorothy Fosdick

What am I prepared to sacrifice for what I want? I remember the time I said I would do “anything”. Today I know that anything must be translated into something. No person, job or thing can be allowed to come between myself and abstinence. This love of self will enable me to love others. But I must remember to sacrifice my desire to please others and place my needs as a priority in my life.

Today I know that if I do not love myself enough to make sacrifices, then I can be nothing.

In gratitude I give up those things I know will hurt me.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec