When It Really, Really is the Best Policy and Why – Step 6

Moonlight illuminates dried honesty plant petals w/ sfz title

“Honesty is
the first chap-
ter of the book
of wisdom.”

– Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826) 3rd US President

~~~

 – Sign up to Zonr for Today’s Full SFZ

What honest admission have you felt the need to make, lately?

OR

Why does telling the truth about ourselves help us feel free?

~~~

Surrender – Billy Talent (4:07)

Story of “The Jaywalker” from the Big Book (1:30)

Inner Truth and Honest Admission Guided Meditation (6:31)

English Analysis

Today’s Zonr post presents honesty as both a challenge and a foundation for recovery. In It Works, How & Why, honesty feels unnatural at first. This insight highlights the tension between fear and truth. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote in Being and Nothingness that self-deception hides freedom. Likewise, denial shields us but blocks transformation.

The section from The Big Book offers a practical test. It suggests action over theory, proving truth through lived experience. William James, in The Varieties of Religious Experience, argued that genuine faith rests on action. This echoes the Big Book’s view that repeated effort reveals inner truth. Trying to stop drinking becomes both diagnosis and revelation.

Thomas Jefferson adds a timeless reminder. In calling honesty “the first chapter of the book of wisdom,” he links truth to growth. Jefferson believed knowledge builds on clear self-examination. In recovery, admitting weakness is the key to strength. The quote connects political philosophy to personal healing.

Taken together, these voices show honesty as more than morality. Honesty functions as a tool for freedom and survival. When truth feels risky, it also creates hope. Recovery invites a person to replace denial with courage. The union of Jefferson, Sartre, and James deepens this theme. They affirm that truth creates not only sobriety but also wisdom.


Traducción al Español

Citas de SFZ

CONSUELO EN UNA ADMISIÒN HONESTA
“Cuando comenzamos
a practicar estos
principios, pueden
parecernos muy
antinaturales. Incluso
aunque admitamos
nuestra adicción, todavía
podemos preguntarnos
si este programa
realmente funcionará.”
(It Works, How & Why,
p. 7)

VIVIR EN LA NEGACIÓN PUEDE PONERSE A PRUEBA FÁCILMENTE
“No nos gusta
declarar a nadie
como alcohólico, pero
puedes diagnosticarse
rápidamente… Intenta
beber y detenerte
bruscamente. Inténtalo
más de una vez. No
tardará en decidirse,
si eres honesto contigo
mismo al respecto.”
(The Big Book,
pp. 31–32)

“La honestidad es el primer capítulo del libro de la sabiduría.”
– Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), 3er Presidente de los EE. UU.


Análisis

El pasaje presenta la honestidad como desafío y fundamento de la recuperación. En It Works, How & Why, la honestidad parece antinatural al principio. Esta idea revela la tensión entre miedo y verdad. Jean-Paul Sartre escribió en Being and Nothingness que el autoengaño esconde la libertad. Asimismo, la negación protege, pero bloquea la transformación.

La sección de The Big Book ofrece una prueba práctica. Sugiere la acción sobre la teoría, demostrando la verdad mediante la experiencia vivida. William James, en The Varieties of Religious Experience, afirmó que la fe auténtica se basa en la acción. Esto refleja la visión del Big Book de que el esfuerzo repetido revela la verdad interior.

Thomas Jefferson aporta un recordatorio eterno. Al llamar a la honestidad “el primer capítulo del libro de la sabiduría,” conecta verdad con crecimiento. Jefferson creía que el conocimiento se construye sobre una autoevaluación clara. En la recuperación, admitir debilidad es la clave de la fortaleza. La cita une la filosofía política con la sanación personal.

En conjunto, estas voces muestran la honestidad como algo más que moral. La honestidad funciona como herramienta de libertad y supervivencia. Cuando la verdad parece riesgosa, también crea esperanza. La recuperación invita a reemplazar la negación con coraje. La unión de Jefferson, Sartre y James profundiza este tema. Ellos afirman que la verdad crea no solo sobriedad, sino también sabiduría.

Pregunta: ¿Por qué decir la verdad sobre nosotros mismos nos ayuda a sentirnos libres?


Zonr logo on fear

Comments

7 responses to “When It Really, Really is the Best Policy and Why – Step 6”

  1. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

    I think when we share, and release how we’re doing, also what’s going on with us, it alerts people around us about what we may be struggling with for instance. There’s strength as long as it’s appropriate when we humble us before others, and/or our HP on what’s going on in our lives that we want freedom from for instance.

  2. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    When we are honest, I think it helps to change our internal perception. Like, I’ve been too prideful in the past to admit I was making mistakes or acting poorly and my problems only got worse. It can feel really stressful at first, but at least I made great strides in my own life when I was honest, especially to myself (which can be the most difficult to do)

  3. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    For me the the truth refers to the teachings of Jesus. And by practicing it to the best of my ability, I can achieve true freedom, freedom from bondage of self. Even though I will always fall short I know where the light is and I run to it

  4. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    Rigorous honesty. For me it is that simple. When I am rigorously honest with myself the clouds lift and the best parts of me flourish. When I am in addiction I am lying, first to myself and certainly to everyone else.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

  5. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I still wonder if I’m really an alcoholic sometimes. I know I have some of the characteristics. But I don’t really want to try drinking again necessarily and I’ve grown a lot in AA. I feel like I still need to just call myself one and continue working the program even if I don’t believe it all the time.

  6. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    My Al-Anon sponsor advises me to read AA literature and to substitute the word “think” every time I see the word “drink.” If ever I am in doubt about my need for recovery, this simple exercise shows me that I have a problem with thinking.

    1. JB jr. Avatar
      JB jr.

      Its really a matter of looking for the similarities for me.

      All the 12 step literature from different programs generally have a message I can identify with if I am honest with myself and look for the core meaning beneath.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.