Self centeredness vs God consciousness - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

**nandm** · 12-31-2007, 02:10 PM

Big Book page 86, sentance 16

Quote:

Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.

Our restoration to sanity is the result of the replacement of selfishness and self centeredness with God consciousness. Rather than leap immediately into planning how to arrange our affairs to suit ourselves, we pray for direction from God. God's will rather than self-seeking, is the focus of our thoughts. Should we ignore these clear cut directions, our thinking will be self-directed. Remembering how well self-directed thinking has worked for us in the past, we can be motivated to follow this method of re-directing the focus of our thoughts.

bballdad · 12-31-2007, 08:56 PM

I try and base my foundatation on step 11 from this simple reading from pages 86-88...it works,it really does!

undrunken · 12-31-2007, 09:06 PM

Thank you, NandM. I have prayed to understand God's will, but not so much for Him to direct my thoughts away from self-seeking motives. Missing this point has caused me a lot of frustration. Tomorrow is a new year.

JustOneMan · 12-31-2007, 10:50 PM

Great thought.

kevin 311 · 01-01-2008, 04:04 AM

To me, that seems to be the core theme of the book -- self-centeredness is the main problem for the alcoholic and the people and world "outside".

Whether it's low self-image or inflated self-image, isolation or always wanting MOAR!!! -- it's self-image or self-regard that is seen to be the problem, always looking in the mirror, "what can I do for me?"

I'm not sure God* necessarily has a will in all or even any situations, and I'm wary of people who claim to know God's will.

But I have no problem with the idea of asking God to direct my thoughts and actions, or to help cultivate me in beneficial ways, however things work at the unknowable depths.

I think probably the best we can do is get out of our heads and into the rest of the world, remember that we are all in It and of It together equally, try to be aware of our surroundings and the current situation just as it is, and try to be helpful.

Thinking of other people reconnects and heals.

(blah blah blah -- now to keep putting that into daily practice ... )

*of course using God as a kind of pronoun for the Indefinable.

barb dwyer · 01-02-2008, 06:30 AM

kinda easy 'check up' to understand.

ask.
get answer.
does answer center on the Self -
or is it focused on others?

HP direction .. never EVER .. brings harm.

Sheryl85 · 01-02-2008, 09:42 PM

When I begin my days in that manner it sure does help. When I step back into "self" everything goes to heck.

kevin 311 · 01-02-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

kinda easy 'check up' to understand.

ask.
get answer.
does answer center on the Self -
or is it focused on others?

HP direction .. never EVER .. brings harm.

thanks barb -- I think you're one of the people who will help me to keep it simple

12-31-2007, 08:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
bballdad Is my work solid so far? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,155	I try and base my foundatation on step 11 from this simple reading from pages 86-88...it works,it really does! __________________ give freely of what you find and join us

01-02-2008, 06:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
barb dwyer same planet...different world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: butte mt Posts: 7,142 Blog Entries: 3	kinda easy 'check up' to understand. ask. get answer. does answer center on the Self - or is it focused on others? HP direction .. never EVER .. brings harm. __________________ When I changed the way I looked at things, the things I looked at changed.

01-02-2008, 09:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 585	When I begin my days in that manner it sure does help. When I step back into "self" everything goes to heck. __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

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12-31-2007, 09:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
undrunken Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 130	Thank you, NandM. I have prayed to understand God's will, but not so much for Him to direct my thoughts away from self-seeking motives. Missing this point has caused me a lot of frustration. Tomorrow is a new year.

12-31-2007, 10:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
JustOneMan Guest Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Merry New England Posts: 49	Great thought.

01-01-2008, 04:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
kevin 311 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 119	To me, that seems to be the core theme of the book -- self-centeredness is the main problem for the alcoholic and the people and world "outside". Whether it's low self-image or inflated self-image, isolation or always wanting MOAR!!! -- it's self-image or self-regard that is seen to be the problem, always looking in the mirror, "what can I do for me?" I'm not sure God* necessarily has a will in all or even any situations, and I'm wary of people who claim to know God's will. But I have no problem with the idea of asking God to direct my thoughts and actions, or to help cultivate me in beneficial ways, however things work at the unknowable depths. I think probably the best we can do is get out of our heads and into the rest of the world, remember that we are all in It and of It together equally, try to be aware of our surroundings and the current situation just as it is, and try to be helpful. Thinking of other people reconnects and heals. (blah blah blah -- now to keep putting that into daily practice ... ) *of course using God as a kind of pronoun for the Indefinable.

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