Where does sanity come in and what is the insanity we alcoholics need to tend in order to stay sober?
I was thinking about this today, especially after we all talked about the role of the 2nd Step in our daily lives. In my experience it is one of those Steps so important in my daily life. It’s not one and done. Not for me anyway.
I fully realize and agree that the immediate need for the alcoholic to be restored to sanity from the insanity of the alcoholic drinking alcoholically. And that is what happened for me, just like the BB tells us in the 9th and 10th Steps. It tells us that we’ve stopped fighting everyone and everything, including alcohol. For by this time, it says, sanity will have returned. And that was my experience and the experience of about every alcoholic I know, who has worked these Steps and are still sober.
What about the insanity, which plagues us on a daily basis? The insanity resulting from our unmanageable lives and our character defects? That is something, which for me means that the 2nd Step is alive and well everyday. Going back and renewing my faith in a higher power and relying on Him for my being restored to sanity.
What kind of sanity? Well, for one thing, I need to have help to stop being “right” on everything in my life and alienating others in my life. My arrogance, my self centered thinking and behavior. My inclination to control and direct what everyone around me does to do my will. My penchant to anger and resentment. And a host of other things, which could pop up without warning. For instance, my tendency to allow my emotions to do my thinking for me.
In other words, once again fighting everyone and everything.
Anyway, I think that’s a form of insanity, which requires me to begin my day with the 2nd Step…and the 3rd and apply the rest of the principles of the successive Steps as needed. So far, I’ve benefited by such a process in remaining sober. To be able to live a sober life, where I’m no longer fighting everyone and everything, including alcohol.