Self-honesty.
The deception of others is nearly always rooted in the deception of ourselves.
When we were honest with another person,
It confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God.
From As Bill Sees It,
Page 17.
When I was drinking,
I deceived myself about reality,
Rewriting it to what I wanted it to be.
Deceiving others is a character defect,
Even if it is just stretching the truth a bit or cleaning up my motives so others would think well of me.
My higher power can remove this character defect,
But first I have to help myself become willing to receive that help by not practicing deception.
I need to remember each day that deceiving myself about myself is setting myself up for failure or disappointment in life and in Alcoholics Anonymous.
A close,
Honest relationship with a higher power is the only solid foundation I've found for honesty with self and with others.
24 hours a day,
April 18th.
AA thought for the day.
As I look back over my drinking career,
Have I learned that you take out of life what you put into it?
When I put drinking into my life,
Did I take out a lot of bad things?
Hospitals with the DTs,
Jails for drunken driving,
Loss of job,
Loss of home and family?
When I put drinking into my life,
Was almost everything I took out bad?
Meditation for the day.
I should strive for a friendliness and helpfulness that will affect all who come near to me.
I should try to see something to love in them.
I should welcome them,
Bestow little courtesies and understandings on them and help them if they ask for help.
I must send no one away without a word of cheer,
A feeling that I really care about them.
God may have put the impulse in some despairing one's mind to come to me.
I must not fail God by repulsing that person.
They may not want to communicate with me unless they're sure of a warm welcome.
Prayer for the day.
I pray that I may warmly welcome all who come to me for help.
I pray that I may make them feel that I really care.
