We were talking about the excuse that come in many forms.

When anything gets in the way of our connection to A.A. / H.P. / the work.

“Just so busy” is a step 3 problem. We have taken our will back and we need to turn it over again. We need to get in contact with H.P. to turn it back over.

It is easy to say, read step 3, or do the 3rd step prayer.

The problem with the solution is: how do we act our way into right thinking? How do we walk a sponsee up to the action?

4 solution statements:

  1. What could it hurt, if you do this work?
  2. Try this experiment and collect the data.
  3. It worked for me and you want what I have.
  4. Because I said so.

Life happens. Sponsees get “busy” then “Oh $H!+ I messed up” remorse and now what?

How do we help them out of the cycle?

Example

In our meeting 2021/09/11 we talked about our current problem of ” just too busy to meditate” which is a variation on the theme above.

In sober living they help us to develop the habit of putting our keys under the bed. Hey, while you are down on your knees… why not pray? This is hooking something we do as part of life to something that works in A.A. when we work it.

What in every day do we do that is meditative? What do we do alone? What is good for us? We came up with: brushing our teeth. Every time we brush our teeth we will consider meditating.

Brushing your teeth is typically done at least once or twice per day. We can’t talk when we do it. We are alone? People will not interrupt it? The door is closed? It is a chance to reset. Oh and you might do it randomly at other times: after meals, drinks, snacks, or because it is Tuesday.

Meditations can be as short as a clearing the head, pausing, and inviting our H.P. into this day or moment. They can be 5-20 minutes of dark room, binaural, and with a candle.

Teeth brushing gives us the chance to reflect on self-care, why not extend that to our mental state?

Just clearing the head for 5 minutes helps the next few hours to be better.

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

3rd step prayer


God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!