Emotional balance. Now there’s something to be desired. In the Tenth Step in the 12&12 this is part of the acid test. Staying sober, keeping in emotional balance, and living to good purpose under all conditions.
Ah, but that emotional balance; not being swayed by my emotions and walking this path to sobriety without wavering. I know that’s one of the purposes of this Tenth Step. Actually all the Steps bring us to this point. But it’s the completion of the Ninth Step where we have stopped fighting everyone and everything. And it’s the point where all the promises come into play. They’re the beginning of emotional balance in my life.
But it’s the Tenth where we maintain this state. And it’s by the process of review of my day that this is made possible. To tell the truth to myself, this is not always my favorite action I have to take. There is sometimes an argument within myself about what I have done or not and what is my part in correcting my character defects.
I started thinking about this today, when the Serenity Prayer popped into my mind. What it is that I can do and what is it that is only God’s part in controlling my character defects. My responsibility? Talk about a need for wisdom.
My enemies are selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. That’s what the BB tells me to look for. So many exams are filled with them. It tells me that if I had been more aware of Six and Seven, there would be less stress.
Anyway, this all started with the Serenity Prayer thought, which led to my review of the Tenth. It’s all about sobriety and the Tenth is always the test of my desire to stay sober.