Big Book Quote

[newby1961]

"I can do the same thing with an AA meeting. The more I focus my mind on its defects - late start, long drunk-a-logs, cigarette smoke - the worse the meeting becomes. But when I try try to see what I can add to the meeting, rather than what I can get out of it, and when I focus my mind on what is good about it, rather than what's wrong with it, the meeting keeps getting better and better. When I focus on what's good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what's bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases."

~Alcoholics Anonymous 1st Edition - 3rd Edition Dr Alcoholic, Addict pg 451
c Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, INC.

[sparklegal]

Whenever I complained about a meeting - the people, the topic, the structure, my sponsor always said, "Have you ever thought about what you could bring to the party?". In other words, she suggested I get out myself and begin to focus on how to help others.

[newby1961]

Thats a good one I will have to remember that. lol

[RobC420]

The last two sentences of this quote seem like common sense, but I never did those things when I was using. I guess I was just more in to focusing on the problem and having excuses not to focus on any answers.

BTW, this comes from the "Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict" story from the 1st-3rd edition. Then it was "Acceptance Was the Answer" in the 4th edition. I recently read an old Grapevine from September 2001 (just before the 4th edition came out) and they were talking about the unveiling of the 4th edition. In the Grapevine it was said that this story had been renamed "The Doctor Prescribes Acceptance" for the 4th edition. I guess the person in Grapevine didn't know what they was talkin about or it was a last minute change to make it "Acceptance Was The Answer" or something?

[newby1961]

Yeah if you read under the quote I have the copy right from it being 3rd Edition and the Chapter and page.