THE PROMISES

 

 

 

The Promises of Recovery

 

 

If we are painstaking about this phase of development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.

 

  • We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
  • We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it.
  • We will comprehend the word SERENITY… and we will know peace.
  • No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
  • That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
  • We will lose interest in selfish things, and we will gain interest in our fellows.
  • Self-seeking will slip away.
  • Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
  • Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
  • We will intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle us.
  • We will suddenly realize that GOD is doing for us, what we could not do for ourselves.

 

 

Are these extravagant promises?  We think not.  They are being fulfilled among us, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.  They will always materialize IF WE WORK FOR THEM!

 

 

From The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

 

The Promises of Untreated Alcoholism

 

 

If we are casual with this phase of our development, we will be drunk before we are halfway through.

 

  • We are going to know a new imprisonment and a new misery.
  • We will relive the past and won’t be able to shut the door on it.
  • We will comprehend the word CONFLICT and we will know PAIN.
  • No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will sink even lower.
  • That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will deepen.
  • We will gain interest in selfish things and lose interest in our fellows.
  • Self-esteem will slip away.
  • Our whole attitude and outlook on life will SUCK.
  • Fear of people, and of economic insecurity will grow.
  • We will intuitively know how to run from situations that didn’t used to bother us.  GOOD OPPORTUNITIES
  • We will suddenly realize God would never have done to us what we were doing to ourselves.

 

 

Are these extravagant promises?  We think not!  They are being fulfilled among us every day, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.  They will ALWAYS materialize if we work for them.

 

 

From the experience of thousands of AA and NA members.