Traditions are the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information. These travel from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice. They are also long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.
“Above all take it one day at a time.” – Bill W. page 11 of How It Works
When we speak of Principals, we speak of things that come first or are the highest in rank. These are words associated with a high degree of importance and value. They are considered to be foremost in our life. Each of the Twelve Steps have Principals assigned to them.
One of the most wonderful things about what I do as a person committed to personal recovery is working with others along the way. One of the most important things I convey to everyone is the importance of a firm foundation. If one is to build anything a foundation is required. It has been said “If the foundations are destroyed what can one do.” I’ve also heard “a house divided against itself cannot stand.“ So not only does the foundation need to be firm but an indicator of its firmness is it singleness of purpose. To paraphrase the Gandhi, Life is an indivisible whole and it must lack internal conflict.
Like any decision we make, certain steps are going to be required to accomplish that decision. Very rarely does anything worthwhile happen through osmosis. The 12 steps of recovery are exactly that.
One of the most beautiful things about the plan of recovery are the promises that are made. They are made to give us hope. They are exclusively for those who decide to apply the plan of recovery to their life. I was so encouraged when I came into the program of Alcoholics Anonymous because I was told “that if I worked the plan of recovery as it was outlined, I could expect these things to occur.“ They were 100% correct. I hope you have found this to be true for you.
Step Twelve is filled with calls to action. These are three of them.
When a piece of iron is repeatedly rubbed against another it will naturally become sharper. The more time this iron spends being rubbed, the sharper the object will be. The same principle applies in our lives. We will always seek the level we are on or ascribe to be.
Step Eleven is the 2nd of the daily maintenance steps in the plan of recovery. Without this step, it is near impossible to gain the spiritual insight needed to live a full life and be of maximum help to others.
Recovery is the goal and the process. To be recovered should be the goal of every person who enters recovery.
The most exciting thing about Step Ten is that it involves an introspective look into ourselves as we would consider our day. Built into the step itself is the spot-check, the end of day checkup and periodic checkup.
Throughout our life we are given many chances to be something and we chose to be nothing. I used to be a wandering generality, but now I’m a meaningful specific. After all these years, I have come to believe that the life that continually try to choose me, I finally chose back.