Let's remember that alcoholics are not the only ones bedeviled by sick emotions. Moreover, it is usually a fact that our behavior when drinking has aggravated the defects of others. We've repeatedly strained the patience of our best friends to a snapping point, and have brought out the very worst in those who didn't think much of us to begin with. In many instances we are really dealing with fellow sufferers, people whose woes we have increased. If we are now about to ask forgiveness for ourselves, why shouldn't we start out by forgiving them, one and all? - The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions pg 78 How awesome that they addressed this in the 12x12 and the Big Book!?! (aka the book Alcoholics Anonymous, our foundational text) This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them ...
The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered. In the strength of my flesh, or in my self-will, nothing I endeavored to do endured. I would have a burst of temporary momentum only to be met back with the same ol self defeating pattern. This not only with my drinking but with all things I set forth to accomplish because it was all done from the tap root of self/ego. So even if I could obtain my intended goal, it was never enough and I always felt empty and needed more or something else-never satisfied or content. Even if I "got the job" or the position or the guy, I would be only temporarily satisfied and then get overwhelmed because I didn't set my intentions into being of service to God, let alone set practical boundaries or respect my limitations because I didn't have any. Nothing grounded this live wire so continued to spin out like a charged down...