From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
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... himself.
12&12 p.24,
Step One
No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme,
doesn't care for this prospect -- unless he has
to do these things in order
to stay alive himself.
2.
... himself?
12&12 p.25,
Step Two
3.
... Himself.
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
4.
... himself.
12&12 p.33,
Step Two
Yet no alcoholic, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior,
whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim "soundness of mind" for himself.
5.
... himself.
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
6.
... himself.
12&12 p.49,
Step Four
7.
... himself.
12&12 p.101,
Step Eleven
8.
... himself.
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
In a very real sense he has been transformed, because he
has laid hold of a source of strength which,
in one way or another, he had hitherto
denied himself.
9.
... Himself.
12&12 p.116,
Step Twelve
When we developed still
more, we discovered the
best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself.
10.
... himself.
12&12 p.152,
Tradition Five
He interrupted to scoff at this and asserted
he'd fix his wife, his partner, and his alcoholism by himself.
11.
... himself.
BB p.9,
Bill's Story
He wasn't himself.
12.
... himself.
BB p.11,
Bill's Story
But my friend sat before me, and he made the point-blank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself.
13.
... himself.
BB p.40,
More About Alcoholism
He was interested and conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but he was a long
way from admitting that he
could do nothing about it himself.
14.
... himself.
BB p.48,
We Agnostics
15.
... himself.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
In our personal stories
you will find a wide variation in the way each teller approaches and conceives of the Power
which is greater than himself.
16.
... himself.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
17.
... himself.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
18.
... himself.
BB p.55,
We Agnostics
For faith in a Power greater than ourselves,
and miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as old as man himself.
19.
... himself.
BB p.73,
Into Action
20.
... himself.
BB p.81,
Into Action
21.
... himself.
BB p.91,
Working With Others
Tell him enough about your
drinking habits, symptoms, and experiences to encourage him to speak of
himself.
22.
... himself.
BB p.92,
Working With Others
23.
... himself.
BB p.96,
Working With Others
24.
... himself.
BB p.111,
To Wives
25.
... himself.
BB p.112,
To Wives
If this kind of approach
does not catch your husband's interest, it may
be best to drop the subject, but after a friendly talk your husband will usually revive the topic himself.
26.
... himself.
BB p.113,
To Wives
27.
... himself.
BB p.126,
The Family Afterward
28.
... himself.
BB p.129,
The Family Afterward
29.
... himself.
BB p.131,
The Family Afterward
30.
... himself.
BB p.144,
To Employers
31.
... himself.
BB p.152,
A Vision For You
He fools himself.
32.
... himself.
BB p.158,
A Vision For You
33.
... himself.
BB p.567(569),
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
34.
... himself.
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
They help others with similar problems ... In
this atmosphere the alcoholic often overcomes his excessive
concentration upon
himself.
35.
... himself.
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
Prior to his journey to Akron, the broker had worked hard with many alcoholics on the theory that only an alcoholic could help an alcoholic, but he had succeeded only in keeping
sober himself.
36.
... himself, a
spiritual life which does not ...
BB p.129,
The Family Afterward
He will perceive that his
spiritual growth is lopsided, that for an average man like himself, a spiritual life which does
not include his family obligations may not be so perfect after all.
37.
... himself about
values.
BB p.64,
How It Works
38.
... himself alone.
BB p.567(569),
Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
He finally realizes
that he has undergone a profound alteration in
his reaction to life; that
such a change could hardly have been brought
about by himself alone.
39.
... himself an
alcoholic, much less accept a ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
40.
... himself and
feel he has spiritual justification ...
BB p.129,
The Family Afterward
Instead of treating the
family as he should, he may retreat further into himself and feel he has spiritual justification for so doing.
41.
... himself, and
in the light of his ...
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
All by himself, and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs
to develop the quality
of willingness.
42.
... himself and
it will affect others favorably, ...
BB p.125,
The Family Afterward
A man may criticize or laugh at himself and it will affect others favorably, but criticism or ridicule coming from another often produces the contrary effect.
43.
... himself and
that he live by spiritual ...
BB p.93,
Working With Others
The main thing is that he be
willing to believe in a
Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles.
44.
... himself --
and that is the very acme ...
12&12 p.149,
Tradition Four
Even the chief architect, standing in
the ruins of his dream,
could laugh at himself -- and
that is the very acme of humility.
45.
... himself, and
then pulls the structure down ...
BB p.21,
There Is A Solution
He uses his gifts to build up a bright outlook for his family and himself, and then pulls the structure down on his head by a senseless series of sprees.
46.
... himself and
with his fellows.
12&12 p.76,
Step Seven
47.
... himself as
an alcoholic.
BB p.36,
More About Alcoholism
48.
... himself beyond
human aid, and unless locked ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
When this sort of thinking
is fully established
in an individual with alcoholic tendencies,
he has probably placed
himself beyond human aid, and unless locked up, may die or go permanently insane.
49.
... himself both
family and friends.
12&12 p.43,
Step Four
Going to the extreme, he
can become a miser, or even a recluse who denies himself both family and friends.
50.
... himself by
alcohol, but He did give ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
He did not design man to destroy himself by alcohol, but He did give man instincts to help him to stay alive.
51.
... himself, can
generally win the entire confidence ...
BB p.18,
There Is A Solution
But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly
armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours.
52.
... himself did
to damage her and his ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
The alcoholic, realizing what his wife has
endured, and now fully understanding how
much he himself did to damage her and his children, nearly always takes up his marriage responsibilities with a willingness to repair
what he can and to accept what he can't.
53.
... himself, do
not wear out your welcome.
BB p.95,
Working With Others
54.
... himself drunk
half a dozen times in ...
BB p.35,
More About Alcoholism
55.
... himself easily
able to control his desire ...
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.
56.
... himself except
by helping others.
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
The Episcopal magazine, The Living Church, observes editorially: "The basis
of the technique of Alcoholics Anonymous
is the truly Christian
principle that a man
cannot help himself except by helping others.
57.
... himself for
a few years in spite ...
BB p.37,
More About Alcoholism
58.
... himself for
once; maybe he'll learn a ...
12&12 p.144,
Tradition Three
59.
... himself from
his lethargy and assert his ...
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
In a vague way their families and friends sense that these drinkers
are abnormal, but everybody hopefully awaits the day when the sufferer will rouse himself from his lethargy and assert his power of will.
60.
... himself from
the alcoholic pit.
BB p.79,
Into Action
Therefore, we are not to be the hasty and foolish martyr who would needlessly sacrifice
others to save himself from the alcoholic pit.
61.
... himself had
become our best advocate.
12&12 p.24,
Step One
62.
... himself, have
recovered.
BB p.113,
To Wives
63.
... himself he
came to the hospital to ...
BB p.39,
More About Alcoholism
64.
... himself he
could not, for his drinking ...
BB p.130,
The Family Afterward
Even when he wanted to assert himself he could not,
for his drinking placed
him constantly in the wrong.
65.
... himself he
may succeed for a time, ...
BB p.101,
Working With Others
If the alcoholic tries
to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion then ever.
66.
... himself he
must carry his message to ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
67.
... himself, he
must sometimes feel his own ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
Faced with this problem,
if a doctor is honest with
himself, he must sometimes feel his own inadequacy.
68.
... himself, his
sobriety -- if any -- will be ...
12&12 p.21,
Step One
69.
... himself in
a strange place, discredited and ...
BB p.154,
A Vision For You
70.
... himself in
his woodshed.
BB p.137,
To Employers
71.
... himself in
his work with other alcoholics, ...
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Learning to depend upon a higher power and absorb himself in his work with other alcoholics, he remains sober day by day.
72.
... Himself in
our group conscience.
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
"For our group purpose
there is but one ultimate
authority -- a loving
God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.
73.
... Himself in
our group conscience.
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Two (Long)
Two -- For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a
loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.
74.
... Himself in
our group conscience.
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Two -- For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a
loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.
75.
... Himself in
our group conscience.
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
2. For our group purpose
there is but one ultimate
authority -- a loving
God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.
76.
... himself in
possession of a degree of ...
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
He finds himself in possession of a degree of
honesty, tolerance, unselfishness, peace of
mind, and love of which he had
thought himself quite incapable.
77.
... himself in
the care of a celebrated ...
BB p.26,
There Is A Solution
Then he had gone to Europe,
placing himself in the care of a celebrated physician (the psychiatrist, Dr. Jung) who prescribed for
him.
78.
... Himself in
the group conscience.
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
These practical folk then
read Tradition Two, and learn that the sole authority in A.A. is a loving God as He may express Himself in the group conscience.
79.
... himself in
the light of past associations, ...
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
This should be an entirely personal affair which each one decides for himself in the light of past associations, or his present choice.
80.
... himself in
the most casual way, "It ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
The alcoholic may say to
himself in the most casual
way, "It won't burn me this time, so here's how!"
81.
... himself instead
as "a member of Alcoholics ...
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
When writing or speaking publicly about
alcoholism, we urge each of our Fellowship to
omit his personal name, designating himself instead as "a member of Alcoholics Anonymous."
82.
... himself just
what A.A. was all about.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
Consequently, many groups began to hold meetings which were open to interested friends and the public, so
that the average citizen
could see for himself just what A.A. was all about.
83.
... himself lost
to the comfort of any ...
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
84.
... himself, "Maybe
those A.A.'s were right. ..."
12&12 p.23,
Step One
85.
... himself more.
BB p.61,
How It Works
86.
... himself no
satisfactory explanation for his fall.
BB p.26,
There Is A Solution
87.
... himself on
the head with a hammer ...
BB p.23,
There Is A Solution
They sound like the philosophy of the man who,
having a headache, beats
himself on the head with a hammer so that he can't feel
the ache.
88.
... himself open
to the chance of making ...
12&12 p.60,
Step Five
Surely, then, a novice ought not lay himself open to the chance of making foolish, perhaps tragic, blunders in this fashion.
89.
... himself or
herself.
BB p.122,
The Family Afterward
The alcoholic, his wife,
his children, his "in-laws", each one is likely to have fixed ideas about the family's attitude towards himself or herself.
90.
... himself or
you.
BB p.142,
To Employers
91.
... himself quite
incapable.
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
He finds himself in possession of a degree of
honesty, tolerance, unselfishness, peace of
mind, and love of which he had
thought himself quite incapable.
92.
... himself ready
to receive it.
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
What he has received is a free gift, and yet usually, at least in some small part, he has made himself ready to receive it.
93.
... himself surprisingly
well received, and learned that ...
BB p.156,
A Vision For You
94.
... himself, that
his humble admission of powerlessness ...
12&12 p.73,
Step Seven
Every newcomer in Alcoholics Anonymous
is told, and soon realizes for himself, that
his humble admission of
powerlessness over alcohol is his first step toward liberation from its paralyzing grip.
95.
... himself there.
BB p.127,
The Family Afterward
96.
... himself this
question: "Is it possible that ...
BB p.56,
We Agnostics
But later, alone in his room, he asked himself this question: "Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong?"
97.
... himself to
his chosen field rather than ...
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
Every doctor concerned would at times wish he could devote himself to his chosen field rather than work only with the group.
98.
... himself to
his Maker -- then he knew.
BB p.57,
We Agnostics
99.
... Himself to
us!
BB p.57,
We Agnostics
100.
... himself under
lock and key or hire ...
BB p.26,
There Is A Solution
In the doctor's judgment
he was utterly hopeless; he could never regain his position in society and he would have to place himself under lock and key or hire a bodyguard if he expected
to live long.
101.
... himself up
in an asylum, hoping to ...
BB p.38,
More About Alcoholism
102.
... himself, we
surely have no monopoly.
BB xxi,
Foreword to Second Edition
103.
... himself when
he had the extraordinary experience, ...
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend
found himself when he had the
extraordinary experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man.
104.
... himself whether
he wants to go on.
BB p.95,
Working With Others
105.
... himself whether
he was an alcoholic and ...
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
Why did we leave it to each newcomer to decide himself whether he was an alcoholic and whether he
should join us?
106.
... himself which
will place you even more ...
12&12 p.62,
Step Five
Before long, your listener may well tell a story or two about himself which will place you even more at ease.
107.
... himself with,
and bring recovery to, the ...
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends upon his learning, eloquence, or on any special individual skills.
108.
... himself with
more liquor.
BB p.32,
More About Alcoholism
109.
... himself, would
be pleased.
BB p.61,
How It Works
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
endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
Copyright © 2005-2012, Recovery Press LLC; All Rights Reserved.