Someone is sane, if they are rational. Sanity is soundness of mind. When I was under the influence of alcohol, I was hardly rational and I definitely didn’t have a sound mind.
And here I am sober, but I think that soundness of mind and rationality slips away on occasions. That’s exactly when I find my character defects taking over.
But the insanity I suffered from, when I came here, was involved with my drinking alcohol. The very fact that I kept on drinking was the problem. But I had to drink. I couldn’t stop. I lacked the power to not drink. Will power had vanished in my alcoholism.
Fortunately for me (luck had nothing to do with it), I found this program. When I discovered this program, I was introduced to the solution. For me, it was the Second Step. Came to believe that a power greater than myself could restore me to sanity. And I found that power and the rest of the Steps.
I was talking to a friend of mine today about the influence our character defects had on us and the solution. That’s when I remembered what my sponsor told me, when I would find myself drifting from the practice of these Steps in my life. He told me that I needed to go back to those early Steps. He said that I should review the first three Steps. If I would do that I would find that I had a firm foundation on which I could place my feet and then I could move forward from there.
I still do that from time to time. Either to read the BB or the 12&12 for a study and review, or to stop and consider where I am with these Steps. It always works, when I work them.
Anyway, as I sat outside today, I thought about this kind of review, which always restores me back to sane thinking. I know that if I want to stay sober, this kind of practice of discipline is necessary. And I do want to stay sober.