SPIRITUAL HARMONY & HAPPINESS – “Incorporating the spiritual principles we learned in the first nine steps into our lives has made it possible to live in harmony with ourselves and others. Self-examination … and owning up to our wrongs are critical elements of conducting our lives on a spiritual basis.” (It Works, How & Why,p. 69)
“If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.”
– Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881) Russian novelist – author of Crime & Punishment
“I am not a quit-
ter. I will fight until
I drop. It is just a mat-
ter of having some faith
in the fact that as long
as you are able to draw
breath in the universe,
you have a chance.”
Cicely Tyson (1924 – ) African-American actor on personal power
AND THIS IS WHAT AWAITS – “The spiritual void we felt at the beginning of our recovery has been filled with gratitude, unconditional love, and a desire to be of service to God [or one’s H.P.*] and others. Undeniably, we have experienced a spiritual awakening.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 85)
“TIL YOU USE ME UP” – “We simply realize there is a force for spiritual growth that can help us become more tolerant, patient, and useful in helping others. Many of us have said, ‘Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how to live.’ ” (The Basic Text, p. 26)
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
– Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) India’s preeminent political and spiritual leader
“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.”
– Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790) U.S. Revolutionary Leader
“Anger in a home is like rottenness in fruit.”
Talmud Sotah 3 (200 CE) central text of Rabbinic Judaism
DISCOVERING OUR INNER BEAUTY – “The most important results of the Ninth Step will be found within ourselves. This step teaches us a great deal about humility, love, selflessness, and forgiveness. We begin to heal from our addiction and no longer live with as many regrets.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 67)
PRAY FOR PEACE –
“Whenever we
confront a difficulty
that we do not think we
can handle, we ask God
[or our Higher Power] to
do for us what we can
not do for ourselves.”
(The Basic Text,
p. 83)