newby1961

All or Nothing?

Acceptance and faith are capable of producing 100 per cent sobriety. In fact, they usually do; and they must, else we could have no life at all. But the moment we carry these attitudes into our emotional problems, we find that only relative results are possible. Nobody can, for example, become completely free from fear, anger, and pride.
Hence, in this life we shall attain nothing like perfect humility and love. So we shall have to settle, respecting most of our problems, for a very gradual progress, punctuated sometimes by very heavy setbacks. Our oldtime attitude of "all or nothing" will have to be abandoned.

GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962

jennikate

So perfect for what's been going on in my mind lately. Just completed the 7th step and was worried about the possibility of the removal of all my character defects. Seemed impossible. Bill's thoughts seem to echo that and release me from my very dangerous "black or white" thinking.

paul99

I was an all or nothing guy, that's for sure. Moderation was something that was foreign to me. I had to be a pig about things or emotions or people, or I stayed far away. Working the program and learning to get out of my own way, has shown me that the all-or-nothing doesn't work. I have to be patient and see progress as it happens - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

Fernaceman

This is a slow and sometimes painful process for me. Accepting my imperfections and accepting the fact that progress will be slow at times. Very good learning experience.