For me, my own very best thinking (and reading) got me in the mess I was living in. The denial of the ASs, thinking my behavior was ok, the person I had become.
A sponsor knows me better than anyone else - and loves me anyway - guides me through the steps, always has solutions to problems that I never thought of. In short, an incredible gift and blessing in my life.
Why else do I have a sponsor - because that's how the program of Alanon works. I never followed directions before - I was special, too smart, too scared, blah, blah, blah. And I desperately wanted what I saw longtime Alanoners had - peace and serenity no matter what the alcoholic/addict was doing. I was told "if you want what we have, you do what we do".
And besides I expected the ASs in my life to get a sponsor, work the program, and so I was told to do the same. And it made them feel like we were all trying to do recovery - me included.
Give it a try.
Love in recovery,
Dottie Lou