Principles before personality's.

[Dean62]

When I hear this at AA meetings I always think we are being reminded it's about the message not the messenger. But what about the message?

What are the principles of AA?

It is my understanding they are spiritual principles. Not religious but spiritual. So what are our spiritual principals?

For me LOVE, HONESTY, and ACCEPTANCE are at the top of my list of spiritual principles. Please add to the list so we can be reminded what we stand for, what keeps us sober.

[ANGELINA243]

Patience, kindness, tolerance, love is our code--or at least should be if you are currently working the program.

[Sugah]

The way it's been taught to me, there are 36 spiritual principles, described in the 12 Steps, the 12 Traditions, and the 12 Concepts. At the root of each of them is humility, something that we alcoholics in our inherent selfishness and self-centeredness need to learn.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[serenityqueen]

Principals Before Personalities

Listen to the Message. . . Not the Messenger.

We may not like the person, their personality . . . don't let this get in the way of not listening to what they have to say. You may let your opinions of them get in the way of hearing something very wise and powerful.

That's my understanding.

God Bless
Judy

[CarolD]

For me....if I daily practice The Golden Rule
I following the correct path....

My Highest Power is leading me.
AA is my method of recovering from alcoholism.

[Cathy31]

Being of maximum benefit to God (carrying out his plan for me, I know what this is, or I get to know what this is through increasing my conscious contact with Him - an ongoing process) and helpfulness to others.

That's my purpose.

[Barto]

I think it boils down to Faith, Love, & Service.

[AW2486]

I heard something really cool that a speaker recently said there was a principal behind every step..

Step 1 - Honesty
Step 2 - Hope
Step 3 - Faith
Step 4 - Courage
Step 5 - Integrity
Step 6 - Willingness
Step 7 - Humility
Step 8 - Love
Step 9 - Justice
Step 10 - Perseverance
Step 11 - Spirituality
Step 12 - Service

[Carol87]

I posted this sometime back in another group ...

************************************************** *

Found in another group ... Disclaimer: ... I don't know the basis or accuracy ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Principles of the Twelve Steps

1. Honesty
2. Hope
3. Faith
4. Courage
5. Integrity
6. Willingness
7. Humility
8. Brotherly Love
9. Self Discipline
10. Perseverance
11. Ever Presence of God
12. Service to Fellowman,


Principles of the Twelve Traditions

1. Unity
2. Direction
3. Recovery
4. Understanding
5. Sharing
6. Simplicity
7. Independence
8. Selflessness
9. Service
10. Survival
11. Self Reliance
12. Humility


Principles of the Twelve Concepts

1. Responsibility
2. Reliance
3. Trust
4. Participation
5. Democracy
6. Accountability
7. Balance
8. Consistency
9. Vision
10. Clarity
11. Respect
12. Spirituality

[Sugah]

Thanks, Carol! I had seen this list, but I didn't have a copy of it.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[laurie6781]

You beat me to it Carol, thank you.

I have that printed out and on my refrig as a daily reminder.

Those have worked for me now for many many ODAATs.

Love and hugs,

[Zanthos]

Originally Posted by AW2486

Step 1 - Honesty
Step 2 - Hope
Step 3 - Faith
Step 4 - Courage
Step 5 - Integrity
Step 6 - Willingness
Step 7 - Humility
Step 8 - Love
Step 9 - Justice
Step 10 - Perseverance
Step 11 - Spirituality
Step 12 - Service

We have a sign in our meeting room which lists this correspondence between Steps and Principles. I find it very useful and a very important guide.

I also find it useful to consider those characteristics that have long been recognized as spiritual weaknesses vs. spiritual strengths.

Vice/Virtue
Lust/Chastity
Gluttony/Temperance
Greed/Charity
Sloth/Diligence
Wrath/Kindness
Envy/Patience
Pride/Humility

Also, in some programs of spirituality, sadness (melancholy/apathy/ joylessness) is considered a "sin" or character defect. And so we practice gratitude.

[Tazman53]

Wow!!!! Thank you all, I will be printing these out, they all make sense!!!!

[navysteve]

Just my thoughts, principles before personalities related to the founding members fear that celebrities in AA would make public their membership to try and spread the word of AA, if they drank again it was feared they would discredit AA. That is all this tradition and the phrase originally referrs to in my opinion. AA is simply a microcosm of society as a whole, we have people who we like more than others, principles before personalities levels the playing field. Just because one is a skilled orator does not make their program superior. Principles before personalities is about ( dare I say it?) taking inventories...

Principles before personalities in regard to getting on with people in meetings etc. is not what I believe this tradition was referring to, but it has evolved into that.

[Tommyh]

What are the principles of AA?

the steps,in cpt 5
the principles we have set down are guides to progress

[JDSOBER]

Letting Go means we gain new freedom
we cease fighting everything and everyone
We surrender to win
a few paraoxes to our principles

[RufusACanal]

Nothing can or will be accomplished if I do not stay sober, One day at a time.


Sobriety First.

[Tommyh]

hi JD
welcome

[CarolD]

JDSOBER...
Welcome to SR and our Alcoholism 12 Step Forum

[nandm]

JDsober, Welcome to SR!:ghug2

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by Dean62

It is my understanding they are spiritual principles. Not religious but spiritual. So what are our spiritual principals?

I once asked my sponsor what the principles were that we were supposed to “practice these principles in all our affairs” described in step 12. He suggested that I go through the Big Book and make a list of any words that I thought might be a “principle”.

I started with honesty, open-mindedness and willingness. I then added any positive attitudes, qualities and virtues that I came across. When I was all the way through the Big Book I opened the 12 & 12 book and found a few more. My list ended up totaling 36 principles. I asked my sponsor if he had a list and he handed me a list with 105 entries.

I added his 105 principles to my 36 and exclaimed, 141 principles, “What an order, I can’t go through with it!” He suggested that I go through the new list and eliminate and duplicate entries and words, which were synonyms for previous words. When I started whittling the list of words I noticed that there were some principles, which were fundamental principles and encompassed lesser principles within them.

When I was all finished with my revised list, much to my surprise, I found that I only had three fundamental principles left. They were humility, serenity and benevolence. I said to my sponsor; “Just three principles, I can handle that”.

I then began to focus my daily program on trying to be a little more humble, a little more serine and a little more benevolent. The bad news was that these three principles covered a whole lot of territory. The good news was I did not have to practice them all perfectly (we claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection).

This new daily program of mine worked so well for me that I began to feel as if I had been placed in a position of neutrality – safe and secure, just as it was described in the 10th step promise found on page 85 of the Big Book. I then began to see that steps 10, 11 and 12 (growth and maintenance steps) corresponded perfectly with my daily program.

[ananda]

By working the steps I discovered what my principles are. Those are what I apply to my life today.

Principles before personalities has meant to me that I need to listen to the principles and expereince that a person is describing rather than reacting to the personality they have.

[Cathy31]

AA is such a great program. Boy we are lucky. Or I should rather speak for myself - I AM SO LUCKY!!

Cathy31
x

[gravity]

My dear mother is an Ojibway (Native Canadian) Elder. The 7 Teachings are the principals (I consider them to be Truths) that I am trying to live by. I'm not even going to guess when these teaching originated (my Elders would likely say Time Immemorial). In my opinion, all of these teachings are reflected in AA. Like many things, it's great to study and discuss them but living them is the key (I'm a work in progress, always will be ):

The Seven Teachings of the Ojibway

LOVE (Zaagidwin):
The Anishinaabeg were to always act in LOVE. To love the Great Spirit the same way he loved his people, because it was the love of the Great Spirit that gave life. Children are to be loved, for children are a gift from the Great Spirit.

RESPECT (Mnaadendiwin):
To RESPECT all life in Mother Earth. To show real respect was to give of themselves for the benefit of all life. To respect the Elders and the Leaders who upheld the sacred laws of the Great Spirit.

COURAGE (Aakdehewin):
To have COURAGE to always do that was morally right. To be proud of being Anishinaabeg and never to deny the way of life the Great Spirit gave to them.

HONESTY (Gwekwaadziwin):
To be HONEST to themselves. To live in the spirit of how they were created. Never to lie or gossip about one another.

WIDSOM (Nbwaakaawin):
To live in WISDOM and that is knowing the gifts the Great Spirit gave to everyone. To use these gifts to build a family and community filled with caring, sharing, kindness, respect, and love for one another. When we know and use our gifts we become an instrument of the Great Spirit, helping to bring peace to the world.

HUMILITY (Ddaadendizwin):
Always to act in HUMILITY. One was to always think about their family, their fellow man, and their community before they thought of themselves. To know humility is to know that there is a Great Spirit and he is the creator of all life, and therefore he directs all life.

TRUTH (Debwewin):
Always to seek the TRUTH. The truth lies in spirit. Prayer was to be done everyday at sunrise to give thanksgiving to the Great Spirit for the gift of life. All gifts and each ceremony were given by the Great Spirit to the Anishinaabeg to help them find truth, the true meaning of their life, and existence. Living truth is living the seven great laws.

[Tazman53]

Awesome teachings!