I pray that I may have sympathy for those in temptation. When we are moved with compassion, we should go to the one in need and bind up his wounds as best we can. But wherever our sympathy goes, our responsibility goes too. Pity is useless because it does not have a remedy for the need. Having sympathy and compassion for all who are in temptation, a condition which we are sometimes in, we have a responsibility towards them. But when our conscious minds are fully conditioned against drinking, we can stay sober and our subconscious minds do not often bother us.Īm I still conditioning my conscious mind? During the period of our drinking days, our subconscious minds have been thoroughly conditioned by our alcoholic way of thinking and it is doubtful that they ever become entirely free of such thoughts during our lifetime. For instance, some of us dream about being drunk when we are asleep, even after several years of sobriety in A.A. It is a question whether or not our subconscious minds ever become entirely free from alcoholic thoughts as long as we live. The thoughts that come before having a slip are often largely subconscious. So I try to remember daily that I have a whole program of recovery based on all Twelve of the “suggested” Steps.

He pointed out that it was “suggested” I practice the Twelve Steps, if I wanted to save my life. I remember my sponsor’s answer when I told him that the Steps were “suggested.” He replied that they are “suggested” in the same way that, if you were to jump out of a airplane with a parachute, it is “suggested” that you pull the ripcord to save your life. A.A.’s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the Twelve Steps in our program.” Our Twelfth Step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps, we have each found something called a spiritual awakening.

Daily reflections aa may 1