From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
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to display the full page from the Big Book1.
... way.
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
2.
... way.
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
3.
... way.
12&12 p.85,
Step Nine
4.
... way.
12&12 p.88,
Step Ten
5.
... way.
12&12 p.101,
Step Eleven
Aided by such instruction and example
as we can find, it is essentially an individual adventure,
something which each one of us works out in his own way.
6.
... way.
12&12 p.102,
Step Eleven
7.
... way.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
8.
... way.
12&12 p.133,
Tradition Two
These are the growing group's hierarchy of service -- self-appointed, of course, because there is no other way.
9.
... way.
12&12 p.160,
Tradition Seven
10.
... way.
BB p.3,
Bill's Story
11.
... way.
BB p.12,
Bill's Story
12.
... way.
BB p.47,
We Agnostics
As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is
willing to believe, we
emphatically assure
him that he is on his way.
13.
... way.
BB p.58,
How It Works
14.
... way.
BB p.58,
How It Works
15.
... way.
BB p.60,
How It Works
Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the
rest of the players in his
own way.
16.
... way.
BB p.67,
How It Works
17.
... way.
BB p.121,
To Wives
18.
... way.
BB p.123,
The Family Afterward
19.
... way."
BB p.136,
To Employers
He left us a note saying you were the best boss he ever had, and that you
were not to blame in any way."
20.
... way; 25%
sobered up after some relapses, ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Of alcoholics who came
to A.A. and really tried, 50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with A.A. showed improvement.
21.
... way, all
A.A.'s have "become entirely ready" ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
So in a very complete and
literal way, all A.A.'s have "become entirely ready" to have God remove the mania for alcohol from their
lives.
22.
... way, and
after the third or fourth, ...
BB p.24,
There Is A Solution
How often have some of us begun to drink in this nonchalant way, and after the third or fourth, pounded on the bar and said to ourselves, "For God's sake, how did I ever get started again?"
23.
... way," and
Fear says, "You dare not ...
12&12 p.49,
Step Four
24.
... way, and
I had taken it.
BB p.5,
Bill's Story
25.
... way, and
I was in bed about ...
BB p.175,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Finally my father had to
send a doctor out from my home town who managed to get me back there in some way, and I was in bed about two months before I could venture out of the house.
26.
... way as
to implicate A.A., express any ...
12&12 p.192,
Tradition Ten (Long)
Ten -- No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues
-- particularly those
of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
27.
... way as
to implicate A.A., express any ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
10. No A.A.
group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial
issues -- particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
28.
... way before
some trivial reason for having ...
BB p.42,
More About Alcoholism
They had said that though I
did raise a defense, it
would one day give way before some trivial reason for having a drink.
29.
... way by
consideration of questions such as ...
12&12 p.50,
Step Four
Looking back over his life, he can readily get under way by consideration of questions such as these:
30.
... way by
which faith can be acquired.
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
31.
... way can
certainly understand and sympathize.
12&12 p.96,
Step Eleven
32.
... way depends
upon his learning, eloquence, or ...
12&12 p.151,
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.
33.
... way each
teller approaches and conceives of ...
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.
34.
... way for
many of us, we found ...
BB p.127,
The Family Afterward
35.
... way for
the patient to accept any ...
BB p.569(571),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, psychiatrist:
"As a psychiatrist, I have thought a great deal about the relationship of my specialty to A.A. and I have
come to the conclusion
that our particular function can very often lie in preparing the way for the patient to accept any sort of treatment or outside help.
36.
... way from
a shattering domestic or financial ...
12&12 p.103,
Step Eleven
We have seen A.A.'s ask with much earnestness and faith for
God's explicit guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or
financial crisis to correcting a minor personal fault, like tardiness.
37.
... way from
admitting that he could do ...
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.
38.
... way from
making good to the wife ...
BB p.82,
Into Action
But he is yet a long way from making good to the wife or parents whom for years he has
so shockingly treated.
39.
... way, had
constantly thrown us into unworkable ...
12&12 p.115,
Step Twelve
Our demand for emotional security, for
our own way, had constantly thrown us into
unworkable relations with other people.
40.
... way he
established his relationship with God.
BB p.29,
There Is A Solution
Each individual, in the
personal stories, describes in his own language and from his own point of view the way he established his relationship with God.
41.
... way he
told how two men had ...
BB p.9,
Bill's Story
In a matter of fact way he told how two men had appeared in court, persuading the judge to suspend his commitment.
42.
... way he
was slyly carrying tales.
BB p.145,
To Employers
43.
... way His
wonders to perform."
12&12 p.105,
Step Eleven
He will also report that out of every season of grief or suffering, when
the hand of God seemed heavy or even unjust, new lessons for living were learned, new resources of courage were uncovered,
and that finally, inescapably, the conviction came that God does "move in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."
44.
... way home
from here.
BB p.157,
A Vision For You
45.
... way home
from the hospital.
BB p.110,
To Wives
46.
... way I
felt hungry so I stopped ...
BB p.36,
More About Alcoholism
47.
... way it
is supposed to be at ...
BB p.417(449),
Acceptance
When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some
fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.
48.
... way it
lives and grows.
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
They outline the means by
which A.A. maintains its unity and relates itself to the world about it, the way it lives and grows.
49.
... way, "It
won't burn me this time, ...
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!"
50.
... way no
other human sickness can.
BB p.18,
There Is A Solution
An illness of this sort --
and we have come to believe
it an illness -- involves those about us in a
way no other human sickness can.
51.
... way of
a solution.
BB p.91,
Working With Others
52.
... way of
doing, suddenly hands us a ...
12&12 p.113,
Step Twelve
Then perhaps life, as it
has a way of doing, suddenly hands us a great big lump that we can't begin to swallow, let alone digest.
53.
... way of
entirely getting rid of self ...
BB p.62,
How It Works
54.
... way of
faith and the way of ...
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
55.
... way of
good sense and loving kindness ...
BB p.82,
Into Action
It may be that both will decide that the way of good sense and loving kindness is to let by-gones be by-gones.
56.
... way of
life.
12&12 p.70,
Step Seven
57.
... way of
life.
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
We have sometimes seen families broken apart by misunderstanding, tensions, or actual infidelity, who are reunited by the A.A. way of life.
58.
... way of
life.
BB p.16,
Bill's Story
59.
... Way of
life.
BB p.63,
How It Works
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
60.
... way of
life.
BB p.97,
Working With Others
61.
... way of
life.
BB p.99,
Working With Others
62.
... way of
life.
BB p.153,
A Vision For You
63.
... way of
life.
BB p.160,
A Vision For You
In addition to these casual get-togethers, it became customary to set apart one night a week for a meeting to be attended by
anyone or everyone interested in a spiritual way of life.
64.
... way of
life and have begun, by ...
12&12 p.85,
Step Nine
As soon as we begin to feel confident in our new way of life and have begun, by our behavior and example, to
convince those about us
that we are indeed changing for the better, it
is usually safe to talk in complete frankness with those who
have been seriously affected, even those who may be only a little
or not at all aware of what we have done to them.
65.
... way of
life can bring the much-desired ...
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
66.
... way of
life, can expel the obsession ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
A.A.'s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual
in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole.
67.
... way of
life for him.
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
68.
... way of
life, had secured a position, ...
BB p.79,
Into Action
69.
... way of
life he really wants to ...
12&12 p.130,
Tradition One
At first he goes along because he must, but later he discovers a way of life he really wants to live.
70.
... way of
life that is incredibly more ...
BB p.8,
Bill's Story
I was to know happiness,
peace, and usefulness,
in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes.
71.
... way of
life their road will be ...
BB p.114,
To Wives
72.
... way of
life to his employer and ...
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
As he gained confidence, he felt it right to explain his new way of life to his employer and business associates.
73.
... way of
life will emerge when they ...
BB p.117,
To Wives
74.
... way of
life with everyone?
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
75.
... way of
living.
BB p.124,
The Family Afterward
76.
... way of
living and thinking.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
They flatly declare that
since they have come to believe in a Power greater than themselves,
to take a certain attitude toward that Power, and to do certain simple things, there has been
a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking.
77.
... way of
living and thinking.
BB p.134,
The Family Afterward
This may hang on for months,
long after their mother has accepted dad's new way of living and thinking.
78.
... way of
living as we cleaned up ...
BB p.84,
Into Action
79.
... way of
living has its advantages for ...
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
80.
... way of
living infinitely more satisfying and, ...
BB p.43,
More About Alcoholism
I have since been brought into a way of living infinitely more satisfying and, I hope, more useful than the life I lived before.
81.
... way of
living, thus relieving much worry ...
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.
82.
... way of
living to practical use, day ...
12&12 p.88,
Step Ten
But when we approach Step
Ten we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use, day by day, in fair weather or foul.
83.
... way of
living which answered all my ...
BB p.13,
Bill's Story
My friend promised when
these things were done I
would enter upon a new relationship with my
Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all
my problems.
84.
... way of
many another pleasant rationalization.
12&12 p.69,
Step Six
85.
... way of
mauling with equal severity both ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
Even the suggestion of
such a thing never fails to whip up a hurricane, and we have discovered that hurricanes have a way of mauling with equal severity both the just and the unjust.
86.
... way of
my usefulness to you and ...
BB p.76,
Into Action
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in
the way of my usefulness
to you and my fellows.
87.
... way of
no faith.
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
88.
... way of
patience, tolerance, kindliness and love.
BB p.83,
Into Action
So we clean house with the
family, asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness
and love.
89.
... way of
proving it, we believe that ...
BB p.32,
More About Alcoholism
Though there is no way of proving it, we believe that early in our drinking careers most of
us could have stopped drinking.
90.
... way of
saying that we were gaining ...
12&12 p.48,
Step Four
For we had started to get perspective on ourselves, which is another way of saying that we were gaining
in humility.
91.
... way of
stating the best possible attitude ...
12&12 p.65,
Step Six
So Step Six -- "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character" --
is A.A.'s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job.
92.
... way of
strength.
BB p.68,
How It Works
93.
... way of
thinking.
12&12 p.57,
Step Five
Either we were shy, and dared not draw near others, or we were apt to be noisy good fellows craving attention and companionship, but never getting it -- at least to our way of thinking.
94.
... way of
thinking lost out because God ...
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
More often, though, we had met up with some major calamity, and to our way of
thinking lost out because God deserted us.
95.
... way of
treating you to a glimpse ...
BB p.153,
A Vision For You
Perhaps the best way of treating you to a glimpse of your future will be to describe the growth of the fellowship
among us.
96.
... way of
weakness.
BB p.68,
How It Works
97.
... way off
the track.
BB p.68,
How It Works
98.
... way or
another, he had hitherto denied ...
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.
99.
... way or
another, we discovered that faith ...
BB p.54,
We Agnostics
100.
... way, or
prefers some other spiritual approach, ...
BB p.95,
Working With Others
If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him
to follow his own conscience.
101.
... way our
insecurity grows and festers.
12&12 p.53,
Step Four
102.
... way out.
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
Under these compulsions of self-preservation, duty, and
love, it is not strange
that our Society has concluded that it has but one
high mission -- to carry the A.A. message to those who don't know there's a way out.
103.
... way out.
BB p.147,
To Employers
104.
... way out.
BB p.153,
A Vision For You
They will approach still other sick ones and fellowships of Alcoholics Anonymous
may spring up in each city and hamlet, havens for those who must find a way out.
105.
... way out,
for he had earnestly tried ...
BB p.155,
A Vision For You
He had a desperate desire to stop, but saw no way out, for he had earnestly tried many avenues of escape.
106.
... way out
on which we can absolutely ...
BB p.17,
There Is A Solution
We have a way out on which we
can absolutely agree,
and upon which we can join in
brotherly and harmonious action.
107.
... way over
there on the hillside; there ...
BB p.10,
Bill's Story
I could almost hear the sound of the preacher's voice as I sat, on still Sundays, way over there on the hillside; there was that proffered temperance
pledge I never signed; my grandfather's
good natured contempt of some church folk and their doings; his insistence that the spheres really had their music; but his denial of the
preacher's right to tell him how he must listen; his fearlessness as he spoke
of these things just before he died; these recollections welled
up from the past.
108.
... way spiritually,
and is therefore entitled to ...
12&12 p.63,
Step Six
He goes on to explain that
any person capable of enough willingness and honesty
to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults -- without any reservations whatever -- has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be
called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator.
109.
... way street.
BB p.81,
Into Action
110.
... way that
we have been wild, should ...
BB p.81,
Into Action
111.
... way, the
most ruthless creditor will sometimes ...
BB p.78,
Into Action
112.
... way, the
worse matters got.
BB p.66,
How It Works
113.
... way their
families and friends sense that ...
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.
114.
... way, then
anger, jealousy, and revenge are ...
12&12 p.44,
Step Four
If the pursuit of wealth
tramples upon people who happen to be in
the way, then anger, jealousy, and revenge are
likely to be aroused.
115.
... way these
disturbed us, they, like ourselves, ...
BB p.67,
How It Works
Though we did not like their
symptoms and the way these
disturbed us, they, like
ourselves, were sick too.
116.
... way they
will let him know it.
BB p.134,
The Family Afterward
117.
... way this
restraint paid off was startling.
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
118.
... way through.
BB p.83,
Into Action
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development,
we will be amazed before we are half way through.
119.
... way through
the lives of others.
BB p.82,
Into Action
120.
... way to
a faith that works."
12&12 p.34,
Step Three
121.
... way to
do so.
BB p.110,
To Wives
122.
... way to
happy and effective living for ...
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
123.
... way to
recovery.
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
124.
... way to
stop his drinking and abuse ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
Especially when he has before him a way to stop his drinking and abuse if he really wants to pay the price.
125.
... way to
the depot.
BB p.179,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
126.
... way to
the hotel.
BB p.179,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
127.
... way to
understand and help them.
12&12 p.93,
Step Ten
With those we dislike we
can begin to practice justice and courtesy, perhaps going out of our way to understand and help them.
128.
... way toward
us.
12&12 p.115,
Step Twelve
129.
... way up
and out, and who wish ...
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
We have been talking about problems because we are problem people who have found a way up and out, and who wish to share our knowledge of that way with
all who can use it.
130.
... way we
are going there is little ...
BB p.19,
There Is A Solution
If we keep on the way we are
going there is little doubt that much good will result, but the surface of
the problem would hardly
be scratched.
131.
... way we
can actually take satisfaction from ...
12&12 p.67,
Step Six
In a perverse way we can
actually take satisfaction from the fact that many people annoy us, for it brings a comfortable feeling of superiority.
132.
... way we
have just outlined.
BB p.88,
Into Action
133.
... way, we
indulged ourselves in fantasies of ...
12&12 p.92,
Step Ten
When temporary good fortune came our way, we indulged ourselves in fantasies
of still greater victories over people and circumstances.
134.
... way, we
might call it the result ...
12&12 p.80,
Step Eight
To define the word "harm" in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual
damage to people.
135.
... way --
we think so.
BB p.68,
How It Works
136.
... way we
tried to shape a sane ...
BB p.69,
How It Works
137.
... way what
the trouble is; we have ...
BB p.72,
Into Action
We have admitted certain defects; we have ascertained in a rough
way what the trouble is; we
have put our finger on the weak items in our personal inventory.
138.
... way what
we used to be like, ...
BB p.58,
How It Works
Our stories disclose in
a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now.
139.
... way which
is indeed miraculous.
BB p.25,
There Is A Solution
The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that
our Creator has entered
into our hearts and lives
in a way which is indeed miraculous.
140.
... way --
which usually consists of the general ...
12&12 p.55,
Step Five
We search for an easier
way -- which usually consists of the general
and fairly painless admission that when drinking we were sometimes bad actors.
141.
... way will
be glad to help; they ...
BB p.75,
Into Action
142.
... way with
all who can use it.
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
We have been talking about problems because we are problem people who have found a way up and out, and who wish to share our knowledge of that way with
all who can use it.
143.
... way with
us.
12&12 p.29,
Step Two
144.
... way with
you.
BB p.44,
We Agnostics
145.
... way without
our cooperation.
12&12 p.65,
Step Six
146.
... way you
can set them on the ...
BB p.100,
Working With Others
147.
... way you
fellows put this spiritual stuff ...
BB p.159,
A Vision For You
148.
... way you
please.
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
They even had to coin a couple of sentences which
still go into half the letters they write: "Of course, you are at
perfect liberty to handle this matter any way you please.
149.
... way you
were."
BB p.14,
Bill's Story
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.