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gravity · 10-24-2008, 09:58 PM

I am currently in a 12 step commitment group and we are on step 1. This is my second time formally going through the steps.

When I first met my sponsor (first day sober), I told him my story…the obsession that always took me to the first drink, my inability to stop drinking once I started; my mental/physical health, family, and career all in jeopardy. I knew without a doubt that I was powerless over alcohol. He told me that my life was obviously unmanageable (I agreed) and we moved on to step 2.

On my first progression through the steps, I believe that I overcomplicated the process - confused myself, some second-guessing. I want to keep it simple this time.

I think I know what an unmanageable life is but what is a manageable life? At its core, I believe that it is about being responsible (e.g. For my spiritual, physical, mental, & emotional fitness; as a husband & father; as an employee; as a friend; as an AA member; as a human being). I know that I have my place in the world and I have to manage my responsibilities to the best of my ability. Everything else is not mine to manage.

I am curious about how others view the second part of step 1. Am I reading too much into it? Is it simply just a reference to how we were in the past? Any comments appreciated.

10-24-2008, 09:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
gravity where the light is Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,709	"our lives had become unmanageable" - Is life now manageable? I am currently in a 12 step commitment group and we are on step 1. This is my second time formally going through the steps. When I first met my sponsor (first day sober), I told him my story…the obsession that always took me to the first drink, my inability to stop drinking once I started; my mental/physical health, family, and career all in jeopardy. I knew without a doubt that I was powerless over alcohol. He told me that my life was obviously unmanageable (I agreed) and we moved on to step 2. On my first progression through the steps, I believe that I overcomplicated the process - confused myself, some second-guessing. I want to keep it simple this time. I think I know what an unmanageable life is but what is a manageable life? At its core, I believe that it is about being responsible (e.g. For my spiritual, physical, mental, & emotional fitness; as a husband & father; as an employee; as a friend; as an AA member; as a human being). I know that I have my place in the world and I have to manage my responsibilities to the best of my ability. Everything else is not mine to manage. I am curious about how others view the second part of step 1. Am I reading too much into it? Is it simply just a reference to how we were in the past? Any comments appreciated.