“Don’t Let’s Ask for the Moon … ” – Step 4

The Moon shrouded by clouds w/ Now Voyager quote

“In the past, we believed desperation would give us the strength to survive.  …  As recovering addicts, we come to know gratitude.” (The Basic Text, p. 97)

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In what way have you been the star of your life’s journey, lately?

OR

What helps you see the stars instead of crying for the moon?

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Baby, I’m a Star – Prince LIVE (13:01)

Bette Davis in Now Voyager (1:46)

Classical Music – Visual Feast Hz Meditation LP (1:00:00)


English Analysis

Today’s SFZ explores longing, gratitude, and the danger of wanting too much. In Language of the Heart, the inferiority complex feeds a childlike desire for the impossible. Alfred Adler, who wrote Understanding Human Nature, described how inferiority can fuel ambition. Yet, it can also lead to endless craving. Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks echoes this, showing how oppressed people often desire approval from those who reject them.

The Now Voyager line, “Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars,” calls us to recognize what we have. It urges us to replace endless wanting with acceptance. This mirrors the shift in The Basic Text, where desperation once drove survival, but gratitude now guides recovery. Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, says we find purpose when we accept our limits and our gifts.

This SFZ is a warning. If we seek the moon, we miss the stars. If we cling to our inferiority, we feed illusions. True recovery, as the Basic Text states, comes when we stand grounded in reality. Gratitude is radical. It says, “I am enough. This is enough.” The galaxy at our feet sparkles brighter than the unreachable moon.

If Adler, Fanon, and Frankl sat together, they might agree: seeking approval is endless, but meaning comes when we cherish the gifts we hold now.


Translations of the SFZ quotes

No pidamos la luna… – Paso 4

El complejo de inferioridad –
“Este sentimiento muy real de inferioridad se magnifica por su sensibilidad infantil y este estado de cosas genera en él ese deseo insaciable y anormal de aprobación y éxito a los ojos del mundo. Sigue siendo un niño, llora por la luna. ¡Y la luna, parece, no lo quiere!” (El Lenguaje del Corazón, p. 102)

Con gratitud tomamos la galaxia de regalos a nuestros pies –
“En el pasado, creíamos que la desesperación nos daría fuerza para sobrevivir. Ahora aceptamos responsabilidad por nuestros problemas y vemos que somos igualmente responsables por nuestras soluciones. Como adictos en recuperación, llegamos a conocer la gratitud.” (El Texto Básico, p. 97)

“Oh Jerry, no pidamos la luna. Tenemos las estrellas.” (Now, Voyager protagonizada por Bette Davis)


Análisis traducido

Las citas exploran el anhelo, la gratitud y el peligro de querer demasiado. En El Lenguaje del Corazón, el complejo de inferioridad alimenta un deseo infantil de lo imposible. Alfred Adler, en Comprender la Naturaleza Humana, describe cómo la inferioridad puede impulsar ambición pero también deseo interminable. Piel Negra, Máscaras Blancas de Fanon muestra cómo los oprimidos buscan aprobación de quienes los rechazan.

La frase de Now, Voyager —“No pidamos la luna. Tenemos las estrellas.”— nos llama a reconocer lo que poseemos. Nos invita a reemplazar el deseo infinito con aceptación. Esto refleja el cambio en El Texto Básico, donde la desesperación antes guiaba la supervivencia, pero ahora la gratitud dirige la recuperación. Viktor Frankl, en El Hombre en Busca de Sentido, dice que hallamos propósito cuando aceptamos nuestros límites y dones.

Estas citas nos advierten. Si buscamos la luna, perdemos las estrellas. Si alimentamos nuestra inferioridad, vivimos ilusiones. La recuperación real surge cuando nos mantenemos en la realidad. La gratitud es radical. Declara: “Soy suficiente. Esto es suficiente.” La galaxia a nuestros pies brilla más que la luna inalcanzable.

Si Adler, Fanon y Frankl conversaran, coincidirían: buscar aprobación es infinito, pero el sentido nace al valorar lo que ya tenemos.

¿Qué te ayuda a ver las estrellas en lugar de llorar por la luna?

Zonr post to reach for the star

Comments

13 responses to ““Don’t Let’s Ask for the Moon … ” – Step 4”

  1. Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱 Avatar
    Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱

    Sometimes I’m so desperate all I can find is gratitude. This, too, is enough. I think that there’s an implied end to the sentence when it comes to Fanon’s conclusion in that passage. “This is enough to-“

  2. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    One day at a time. That is how I am the star of my life’s journey. Patience, perseverance and consistency. Recognizing that the light I am nurturing and growing, is my own. I damaged myself when using and now I am repairing that damage, building upon my foundation to create something new, something better.

    Thank you for sharing my recovery, I am grateful.

  3. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    I appreciate what I have now I’m not reaching for anything unattainable it’s kind of like progress not perfection I’m not setting my goals so high that I can’t reach them my higher power created and owns the moon and the stars, I’ll be happy with just a nice beautiful sunset on the horizon

  4. Kevin M Avatar
    Kevin M

    This is a long process and it can be arduous. I realized after a year of sobriety that, while I had so many goals I wanted to achieve in that time, really what that year amounted to was, at best (and most manageable to me), that I might stay sober a day at a time and attend a meeting each day, that I would go to work, and try to stay on top of the very few obligations my abilities permitted then. That was the most I could do. In the last 10 months since I hit a year of sobriety, I’ve come to understand how it is the very basic precept a day at a time might transmute into other areas of my life–my general health and wellness, my relationships, being of service, taking on new work obligations, and in my practice as an artist and writer. This discipline, and the benefits reaped from a daily practice toward my health and well-being and oriented toward being of service to others (having learned what I have in sobriety), is where I’ve taken ownership of my life. It has shown me that life is expansive, has great depth. My conception of time in that (as a remark of the moon and stars) is what has astounded me. It scores back to just 24 hours, doing what I can. I have appreciated more recently the benefits I’ve seen for my psychic well-being, in helping others in the program. This is why I volunteer at the AT Center now and secretary two meetings. I have the time (in multiple senses). It is a phenomenal exchange. It’s really lovely. Further that these things I’ve started to do have encouraged a new understanding of how I might mount a practice as a working artist and writer. I for years thought I did not have the discipline. I have learned “discipline” really is patience. I learned patience and care in trusting in the AA process.

  5. oscar medina Avatar
    oscar medina

    no to be honest with u i have never been a star in my eyes. i would have liked to believe that i was but havent.my life would have tabetter if this would have happend but its never to late right/ocken a turn the

  6. oscar medina Avatar
    oscar medina

    no to be honest with u i have never been a star in my eyes. i would have liked to believe that i was but havent.my life would have tabetter if this would have happend but its never to late right/ocken a turn the

  7. simon yebio Avatar
    simon yebio

    buy taking ownership of my birthday for the first time in my life. it might not make sense to anyone else, however it makes perfect sense to me….

  8. Bohdi Baba Avatar

    While swimming yesterday I wondered at the mechanics of the human body and how grateful I was to enjoy this peaceful mind-body experience just a few feet from my door.

  9. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    Now that I have taken ownership of my alcoholism I have more tools in my arsenal to combat my ego and my negative self-talk. My life is getting better and I generally feel better because I’m able to make this switch more quickly from being in a negative place to a positive on.

  10. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    Hey! This morning I got to witness the miracle of Birth. My granddaughter, Amara Luciana was born at home in a small swimming pool. Se was born “in the caul.” The midwives were fantastic, knowledgeable, and willing to tell us everything as we went along. I have witnessed the transition out of the body – now I have witnessed this miracle. Thank you, Higher Power for giving us the stars…and the moon.

    1. JB jr. Avatar
      JB jr.

      That sounds so beautiful, Margo. Congrats. I’ve been marveling at the Space Shuttle traveling down Exposition Blvd. and the guy sky diving 23 miles above the earth. These achievements make my own goals feel more possible. Apparently, the sky’s are not necessarily the limit for the heights we can reach if we try.

  11. JB jr. Avatar
    JB jr.

    I so love the sentiment, “I would die for you” from Prince. Clearly, there’s a Jesus reference but even us mere mortals can aspire to toward that kinda of selflessness with out having to pay the ultimate price.

  12. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    This is the one of the best gifts of the 12-Steps. When I do my 4th Step, I will beat myself over the head endlessly unless I have a wonderful acceptance of Steps 1, 2, and 3. When I am firmly convinced that my Higher Power loves me, has always loved me, and will always love me, UNCONDITIONALLY, I can begin to forgive myself and love myself, warts and all. My 4th Step cannot work to build my self-esteem unless I know, as sure as the sun comes up every morning and sets every evening, that I am loved. I think of myself as being rocked lovingly in the bosom of my Higher Power. Now, That’s what it’s all about!

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