When we do not know which way to turn, let us not be too proud to ask for directions. We have found our way to a program, which can guide us out of the confusion and into an ordered, satisfying way of life. In our program, there are people who can give us the directions we need, if we will ask for help.
There is much that we can do on our own thoroughly studying the literature, establishing firm contact with our Higher Power. When we hit a snag, however, or are unsure of how to handle a difficult situation, we need to promptly seek the assistance our group provides. In order to receive help, we usually need to ask for it.
The illusion that we knew how to manage our lives and did not have to follow anyone else's directions was one of the causes of our difficulties and with life in general. Admitting that by ourselves we are powerless enables us to ask for the directions we need.
I ask for Your directions Lord.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
I have to liken this to when I'm driving. If I get lost while driving, I HAAATE asking for directions and therefore will waste a few hours trying to figure out the way rather than stopping and asking a local (or someone who knows the way). Stubborn? I don't know, I choose to call it self-reliance. J/K
Thanks for the reminder, we can waste so much time trying to do it ourselves rather than asking for help.
I liken this to my life. It took me two years just to step foot in a meeting. I read everything I could get my hands on relating to AA, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, substance abuse and alcoholism and the related psychology, biographies of well known drunks- the works.
Truth be told I still haven't gotten a sponsor. I'm totally into checking it out and sticking with meetings and continuing on the path I'm on in baby steps. Also I'm still deciding exactly how I want to go about the next five-ten years and the rest of my life, still deciding whether sponsorship and going hardcore on the twelve steps is for me, and within that conundrum whether I actually can come clean about a couple things that would effect my life rather adversely if I did actually come completely clean and had to be 100% forthright and honest with everyone.
So maybe what I'm waiting for is to run into a person that's willing to be a sponsor and can understand doing somethings that you don't 100% agree with in order to achieve an end that is satisfactory. But this should really be a seperate thread.
And I dont mean to grumble but one of my favorite smilies seems to be absent.
Anyhow- I totally relate to this one. Thanks Quetzal!
The Big Book tells me to ask for many things from God. Direct my thinking... when in doubt, inspiration, an intuitive thought, or a decision. When agitated, serenity to accept the things I cannot change... The difficulty I have had is accepting and believeing that I recieve these things that I ask for from God. The Big Book has an answer for that, it says to ask God to take away my difficulties so that victory over them will bear witness... I listened to a tape by the guy who wrote Doctor, Addict, and he said that the answer to all of our problems lie within the 12 steps. I believe this. I have come to realize that God does really care enough to respond quickly to things that I ask for and that the Big Book offers specific advice regarding how to establish my conscious contact with God
