I was reading about this and talking about this with others. Honesty.
I was interested in what Bill W. and Dr. Bob thought about the importance of honesty in getting sober and staying sober. Of course the first thing we have to be honest about is not just getting sober, but what we might not want others to know. And what’s that? One thing to go through the action to get sober, which illustrates our “courage”. What we don’t want others to know is what we all felt deep within ourselves. Our pain. Our despair and self pity, anxiety and depression. Plus feeling sorry for ourselves. Our anger that we have to give up drinking alcohol. And our fear.
That’s what we need to share with others. Telling the truth about our getting sober. What we had to go through. The truth is that a lot of us come into these rooms and never want others to know what we had to go through within ourselves. But that’s the truth.
What we don’t know is that’s exactly what others went through also. They know, but they’re hoping we will not hold back and share these thoughts and feelings. Why, because, when we don’t, it’s this kind of thing that often leads us back out the door and into the next drink.
And because we might not tell the truth, we set ourselves up to never be honest. And that is truly dangerous to alcoholics like ourselves. Honesty itself is a virtue, but most of us are going to be imperfect. That’s like the BB says, that we’re imperfect. Human beings and not saints. We’re striving to be spiritual but still have our faults, which will be with us until the end.
However, as I was talking to a few today, I can say that over time we do get better in all of these things. Again, not perfect, but better. And that’s what makes us easier and happier in living this spiritual way of life. Sober.
Anyway it once again reminds me of what I was told I must do. I must stay sober a day at a time. My dependency and faith in my Higher Power, the group of alcoholics, who help me, and of course this program itself, is the basis of all of this. Of course along with my being honest. And that’s exercising my gratitude. At least part of it.
Thanks.