Into Action Cyclopedia
Home Group – An Alcoholics Anonymous group that a recovering alcoholic attends on a regular and committed basis. This is a powerful component in the process of recovery, as it has the elements of accountability, loyalty, and participation, and it offers possibilities for deep and meaningful relationships with others in recovery.
Sponsor – A recovered alcoholic/addict armed with the facts about oneself that had a spiritual awakening as a result of doing the work and is able to provide clear cut directions for one to actually recover.
12 Steps – The outlined plan of action through clear cut directions for an alcoholic to recover based on 12 working steps that lead to one achieving the spiritual awakening and being able to not only stay clean and sober, but actually be free and happy. They are the original recipe of Dr Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous that helped Bill W write the Big Book back in 1937 “Trust God, Clean House and Help Others.”
Surrender – Surrender is the initial admission that the alcoholic cannot continue drinking, nor can he or she stop without help. It is the only sensible thing to do when a challenge is finally acknowledged as insurmountable, especially when an attractive alternative is made available. Surrender implies a willingness to submit to direction and to try to find and make use of a Higher Power in one’s life.
Amends – Repairing damage done in the past. Most alcoholics leave a wake of harm in their pursuit of relief in a bottle — broken relationships, money owed, dishonesty, laws broken — the list could go on. Making these past errors right is a crucial step in finding freedom not only from alcohol but also from guilt, remorse, and regret about the past.
Principles – A principle is defined as “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” In recovery, a set of principles reflects the sober alcoholic’s willingness to live an ethical and useful life, with the principles as guidelines for reflection and action.
Service – Service is a concept in recovery that covers a wide range of actions, from helping set up chairs for a meeting to making coffee, cleaning up afterward, participating in trusted positions within a group, sponsoring others, driving newcomers to meetings, taking commitments to carry the message to hospitals and institutions — there are many ways to be of service, and they all contribute not only to Alcoholics Anonymous but also (and primarily) to one’s own sobriety.
The Original Recipe – Written in 1937: Trust God, Clean House and Help Others are the essentials. This format is based on the search of the spiritual connection with one’s God or Higher Power in studying and practicing the 12 steps as they are laid out in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Resentment – There is much discussion of resentment in AA meetings, as the Big Book refers to resentment as “the number one offender” in keeping the alcoholic locked in the cycle of self-centered fear and dependence on alcohol. Resentment is simply the continuing feeling of anger, hatred. or other negative emotions in response to real or imagined wrong done. Finding freedom from resentment is a critical part of the recovery process.
Cured – There’s no cure for alcoholism and drug addiction. We will never be able to drug or drink socially. Those individuals that can are not alcoholics or drug addicts. Abstinence is a way of life and is life saving for us.
Recovered – We do recover from the hopeless state of mind and body. Once the obsession and desire to drink islifted we can look the world in the eye, but we still must continue with our work to maintain spiritual connection and sanity. We must live in steps 10, 11 and 12 on a daily basis.
Obsession/desire – An overwhelming thirst for drink or a drug that no human power can stop, the non existence of self will at those points are the facts of allergy every alcoholic has. To get that obsession lifted is the ultimate goal of the step work.
Home group – One select group of AA where an individual feels supported, can visit and make friends and and be able to find a sponsor or protégé who they dedicate weekly time to as vital part of his her recovery process.
Mental blank spot – A peculiar mental twist where an individual suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction justifies his/her irrational thinking before picking up first drink or a drug, minimization and rationalization is involved at all times. The person does not even think about it and just goes on and picks up like there never are any consequences. One first picked up the phenomenon of craving –the allergy comes over (please see obsession) the only way to stop that from happening is enlarging on the spiritual life, study and practice of the twelve steps as they are laid in the Big Book.
The AA Principles and Virtues – Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Brotherly Love, Justice, Perseverance, Spirituality, and Service