Theo Nash
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. The primary goal of AA is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety, and it provides a self-supporting infrastructure in which alcoholics assist others in their goal of quitting drinking. The Big Book, which contains the AA program, has been around since 1939 and has saved the lives of more than 3,000,000 people worldwide. The book contains promises, known as the AA Promises, which describe the change in attitude that will occur within the alcoholic. These promises are found in Chapter 6, Into Action, on pages 83-84. While there is no formal list of promises, members refer to a passage in this chapter as The Promises. The Promises describe the hope, possibility, and inevitable goodness that will result from working the Twelve Steps and participating in the AA community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith |
| Year of founding | 1935 |
| Book | Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism, also known as the Big Book |
| Primary goal | To help alcoholics achieve sobriety |
| Self-supporting infrastructure | Alcoholics assist others in their goal of quitting drinking |
| Anonymity | Allows members to remain anonymous and choose how, when, and to whom they reveal their alcoholism |
| Number of lives saved | Over 3,000,000 people worldwide |
| Promises | We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness; We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it; We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace; No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others; That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear; We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows; Self-seeking will slip away; Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change; Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us; We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us |
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What You'll Learn
The Promises of AA's Big Book
The Promises are two-fold: firstly, the person working the program will gain a spiritual foundation and a new outlook on life; secondly, the dread and negativity associated with alcoholism will be undone. The Promises are dependent on working the Twelve Steps, which may initially feel uncomfortable or foreign. However, the only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. By staying sober and trying one's best, one is already on the path to fulfilling the Promises.
The Promises can be found in Chapter 6, "Into Action," on pages 83-84 of the Big Book. This chapter includes the following passage, which is often referred to as "The Promises":
> "If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us."
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The Promises are twofold
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. The primary goal of AA is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety, and it provides a self-supporting infrastructure in which alcoholics assist others in their goal of quitting drinking. The "Anonymous" component of Alcoholics Anonymous is intended to shield AA members from external stigma or judgment, allowing members to remain anonymous and giving them the freedom to choose how, when, and to whom they reveal their alcoholism.
The Big Book and its Promises are central to the AA program. The Promises are found in Chapter 6, "Into Action," on pages 83-84 of the Big Book. The Promises mostly describe the change in attitude that will occur within the alcoholic, "sometimes quickly, and sometimes slowly." They may take time, but they "will always materialize if we work for them."
So, the Promises are twofold: the person who works a good program will gain a spiritual foundation and a whole new outlook on life, and the dread and negativity of alcoholism will be undone. The recovering alcoholic attends AA meetings and is mentored by other members of the fellowship who have practiced the Twelve Steps and applied the AA principles to their lives.
The Promises of AA were meant to showcase the hope, possibility, and inevitable goodness that will arise from working the Twelve Steps, partaking in the AA community, and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. They exist at each stage of the 12-step program, and as AA members know, these promises are achievable. The Big Book promises the newcomer a new manner of living and a happier relationship with life. This is, of course, dependent on working the Twelve Steps, which may at first feel intimidating, foreign, or uncomfortable.
The Promises written into the Big Book describe precisely what one can expect by applying the principles learned from the 12-Step process. The AA Program, as outlined in the Big Book, has been around since 1939 and has saved the lives of more than 3,000,000 people worldwide.
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The Twelve Steps
- Admit that you are powerless over alcohol and that your life has become unmanageable.
- Believe that a Power greater than yourself (a "Higher Power") can restore you to sanity.
- Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of God as you understand Him.
- Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.
- Admit to God, to yourself, and to another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.
- Be entirely ready to have God remove all these character defects.
- Humbly ask Him to remove your shortcomings.
- Make a list of all persons you have harmed and be willing to make amends to them all.
- Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continue to take personal inventory and promptly admit when you are wrong.
- Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for you and the power to carry that out.
- Have a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, and try to carry this message to alcoholics, practicing these principles in all your affairs.
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The Promises fulfilled
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. The primary goal of AA is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety, and it provides a self-supporting infrastructure in which alcoholics assist others in their goal of quitting drinking.
The Promises of AA, found in Chapter 6 ("Into Action") on pages 83-84 of the Big Book, are meant to showcase the hope, possibility, and inevitable goodness that will arise from working the Twelve Steps, partaking in the AA community, and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. The Promises are twofold: the person who works a good program will gain a spiritual foundation and a whole new outlook on life, and the dread and negativity of alcoholism will be undone.
The Promises are powerful because they offer validation, hope, and motivation for people working in a recovery program. They provide benefits that a life of drinking cannot offer, such as the promise of peace and serenity, which can entice people who want a more fulfilling life away from drinking. The Promises also assure the alcoholic of the outcome of their recovery: a new manner of living and a happier relationship to life.
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The Promises and God
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. The primary goal of AA is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety, and it provides a self-supporting infrastructure in which alcoholics assist others in their goal of quitting drinking. The "Big Book" and its "Promises" are central to the program.
The Promises of the Big Book describe the change in attitude that will occur within the alcoholic, "sometimes quickly, and sometimes slowly." They may take time, but they "will always materialize if we work for them." A person working a good program to recover from alcoholism will undoubtedly experience an internal shift that produces a new level of peace and well-being. The Promises are two-fold: the person who works a good program will gain a spiritual foundation and a whole new outlook on life, and the dread and negativity of alcoholism will be undone.
The Promises of AA can be found in chapter 6, "Into Action," on pages 83-84 of the Big Book. As laid out in chapter 6 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholics who stay sober and work the Twelve Steps will see these Promises come true:
> "If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us."
The Promises written into the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous describe precisely what you can expect by applying the principles learned from the 12-Step process. The AA Program, as outlined in the Big Book, has been around since 1939 and has saved the lives of more than 3,000,000 people worldwide.
The Promises exist at each stage of the 12-step program, and some are implied but are still very real. For example, the promise of an alternative states that when the alcoholic reaches a point when they admit defeat, they are seeking the promise of something better. Another promise is that of a rise from rock bottom, the ultimate low for an individual, after which the only way is up.
The Promises also emphasize the importance of God in the recovery process. They suggest that all we need to do is reach out to God, and God will respond by helping us. This is a crucial aspect of the program, as it provides hope and reassurance for those struggling with alcoholism.
In conclusion, the Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous, found in the Big Book, offer a detailed and instructive guide for individuals seeking to recover from alcoholism. They provide hope, showcase the possibility of change, and emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and a positive outlook. By following the Twelve Steps and seeking the support of the AA community, individuals can transform their lives and find a new sense of freedom and happiness.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio.
The promises in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as the AA Promises, describe the change in attitude that an alcoholic will experience, which may happen quickly or slowly. The promises are twofold: the person working the program will gain a spiritual foundation and a new outlook on life, and the negativity of alcoholism will be undone.
The promises of Alcoholics Anonymous can be found in Chapter 6, "Into Action", on pages 83-84 of the Big Book.
