From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
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... effort.
BB p.26,
There Is A Solution
2.
... effort could
this be accomplished, then all ...
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
But once these men had hit upon a cure, once it became apparent that only
by their united effort could
this be accomplished, then all of them would
feel bound to devote themselves solely to the relief of cancer.
3.
... effort is
considerable, we physicians must admit ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
Though the aggregate of
recoveries resulting from psychiatric effort is considerable, we physicians must admit we have made little impression upon the problem as a whole.
4.
... effort is
involved in avoiding excesses which ...
12&12 p.66,
Step Six
5.
... effort is
less peace and less brotherhood ...
12&12 p.37,
Step Three
6.
... effort is
made "to practice these principles ...
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
Our basic troubles are
the same as everyone else's, but when an honest
effort is made "to practice these principles in all our affairs," well-grounded A.A.'s seem to have the ability, by
God's grace, to take these troubles in stride and turn them into demonstrations of faith.
7.
... effort necessary
being that required to follow ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
On the other hand -- and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand -- once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules.
8.
... effort on
our part.
BB p.85,
Into Action
We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part.
9.
... effort, the
well-understood fact that in God's ...
12&12 p.124,
Step Twelve
Service, gladly rendered, obligations
squarely met, troubles well accepted or solved with God's help, the knowledge that at home or in
the world outside we are
partners in a common
effort, the well-understood fact that in God's sight all human beings are important, the proof that
love freely given surely brings a full return, the certainty that
we are no longer isolated and alone in self-constructed prisons, the surety that we
need no longer be square pegs in round holes but can fit and belong in God's scheme of things -- these are
the permanent and legitimate satisfactions of right
living for which no amount of pomp and circumstance, no heap of material possessions, could possibly be substitutes.
10.
... effort to
bring the man's family into ...
BB p.159,
A Vision For You
They experienced a few
distressing failures, but in those cases they made an effort to bring the man's family into a spiritual way of living, thus relieving much worry and suffering.
11.
... effort to
discover the truth about the ...
BB p.64,
How It Works
12.
... effort to
discover what these liabilities in ...
12&12 p.42,
Step Four
Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us
have been, and are.
13.
... effort to
do this, there can be ...
12&12 p.43,
Step Four
Without a willing and persistent effort to do
this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for us.
14.
... effort to
face, and to be rid ...
BB p.64,
How It Works
Though our decision was
a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous
effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.
15.
... effort to
harvest food or construct shelter, ...
12&12 p.42,
Step Four
If men and women didn't exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to harvest food or construct shelter, there would be no survival.
16.
... effort to
live on self-will and run ...
BB p.76,
Into Action
We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our
effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves.
17.
... effort to
reach solid ground.
BB p.107,
To Wives
As animals on a treadmill, we have patiently and wearily climbed, falling back in exhaustion after each futile effort to reach solid ground.
18.
... effort, unless
I could assure him, which ...
BB xxxi(xxix),
The Doctor's Opinion
Following his physical rehabilitation, he had a talk with me in which he frankly stated he thought the treatment a
waste of effort, unless I could assure him,
which no one ever had, that in the future he
would have the "will power"
to resist the impulse to
drink.
19.
... effort which
we are going to describe.
BB p.19,
There Is A Solution
Passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
The A.A. Preamble, copyright ©
The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., is reprinted with permission.
Permission to reprint does not in any way imply affiliation with or
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