newby1961

"Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble ? Does this mean we are going to get drunk ? Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things , we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience."

~ Alcoholics Anonymous 1st Edition How it Works pg 70
c Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, INC.

pipparina

I fell short so many times and have not drank. Why? I think because I righted my wrongs when possible, or realized what I was going and stopped going down the wrong path.

While outside help was enormous in getting me sober (AA, meetings, fellowship, the steps), when it came down to it, it has always been my relationship with my HP. And even when I fell short there, thankfully God kept on me.

tomsteve

"These are facts out of our experience."

for some reason, when the word "fact" is used by alcoholics who went further down the scale than me, i believe it for me,too.

Gottalife

To me this is part of the meaning of being recovered. The freedom to make mistakes and learn from them, not drink over them.

CaiHong

How do you know when you are in the wrong?
a serious question
CaiHong

Fernaceman

It's all about strengthening my understanding and ultimately my relationship with God.

pipparina

Sometimes it is obvious, Cai. Other times it is more subtle. I've learned to hear the inner voice, or conscience. I will feel unsettled. Then I know something is wrong.

tomsteve

step 10

newby1961

Good answers all. Step 10 for sure if it is being done on a daily basis. But like pip said about feeling unsettled, I know the longer I am sober I tend to rely on my gut a lot more. I know deep down the difference between right & wrong. If I really am having to question it, I find it is really wrong, because when it is a right thing I am not in such turmoil over it. Boy that was kinda confusing trying to write that out.
Have a blessed day all.