Progress in Alcoholics Anonymous
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Every March, I write about addiction and recovery because my wonderful son Jonathan suffered from alcohol and drug addiction for many years before he took his life on March 5, 2010. Please read my blog post #JonathanChangeTheWorld to learn more about Jonathan and the hopes and dreams he had for himself and the world. Jonathan often attended AA meetings throughout his life, and I attended with him a few times. I have great admiration for the AA program! Now, you can locate online the closest AA meeting place to your home or join an AA group online. It’s never been easier to join friends and live a life of complete sobriety and freedom!
Please read this summary of the following article, “Progress Not Perfection.”
What Does “Progress Not Perfection” Actually Look Like In AA?
“Progress Not Perfection”
The Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book” states the following: “We claim spiritual progress, not spiritual perfection. In AA, “progress not perfection” refers to a person’s courage, willingness, and commitment to the process of growth in recovery from alcohol addiction.
The Role of a Higher Power
AA offers participants guidance in fortifying a relationship with their higher power. According to AA, the practice of building a spiritual connection to God can strengthen a person’s commitment to sobriety.
“Progress” in Alcoholics Anonymous
The community of mutual support offered by AA offers a unique resource in managing the effects of alcohol addiction. Sharing in meetings, obtaining a sponsor, and expressing yourself with others can help you recognize what you need to recover from addiction.
Accepting Vulnerability
By acknowledging the presence of vulnerability to addiction, participants in AA can do as Step 3 suggests by turning their ‘will’ and ‘lives’ over to their higher power as they embark upon the 12 Steps.
12 Steps to Progress
The AA program encourages you to develop an approach to maintaining sobriety that works for you. Despite the vast differences in people’s lives and individual journeys in recovery, the 12 Steps can offer a framework to help you maintain sobriety.
Unlearning “Perfection” in Recovery
The demanding, rigid standards” that characterize dysfunctional perfectionism can dominate your life and lead to negative consequences, such as avoidant behavior. This desire to become perfect can create a paradox where your attempts to be perfect undermine your intended progress.