“… understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986) Indian spiritual author on our fears
“For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.” St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) Numidian Philosopher
WE ARE FAMILY, SVAHA –
“[In the past] we
may have placed spe
cial requirements on our
friends, coworkers, or family
members.” ” … we’ve learned
that people can differ with us
on important matters and
still be loving, support
ive friends.” (Over
eaters Anon. , p. 134)
“Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” – Mark Twain (1835 – 1910) U.S., novelist/satirist on survival
WE AVOID MOTTLED POTHOLES THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED – “[O]ur best thinking and self-will are what brought us to a state of despair and incomprehensible demoralization.” “[B]ecause we had never really taken any action towards realizing our goals, we got loaded and searched for an unfeeling, uncaring oblivion.” (Life w/ Hope, p. 32)
“The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.” – William Hazlitt (1778 – 1830) English
humanist / writer
THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL CAN TAKE MANY FORMS – “When we tried to control ourselves, we wound up demoralized. Even when we succeeded, it wasn’t enough to make us happy. We hid from our pain by eating … .” (Overeaters Anon., p. 5)
IT MIGHT TAKE UP TO 10 YEARS JUST TO MASTER THE BASIC PROGRAM –
“When our lives
seem to be falling apart,
we reapply ourselves to
the basics of the … program.
We stay in close contact with
our sponsor, work the steps,
and go to meetings. We sur-
render again, knowing that
victory lies in the ad-
mission of defeat.”
(It Works, How &
Why, p. 10)
HOW POWERLESSNESS MAKES ROOM FOR GRACE -“We are not cured … . What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” (The Big Book, p. 85)
“In his state of complete powerlessness the individual perceives the time he has left to live as a brief reprieve.”
– Theodor Adorno (1903 – 1969) German philosopher
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING … IS THAT THEY WORK” –
“Our program is
a set of principles
written so simply that
we can follow them in our
daily lives. The most im
portant thing about
them is that they
work.” (The Basic
Text, p. 9)