Promising

“The more hopeless he feels, the better. He will be more likely to follow your suggestions.” (Chapter 7, Big Book)

“Here was a prospect all right but, by the description, none too promising. The use of spiritual principles in such cases was not so well understood as it is now.” (Chapter 7, Big Book)

When I joined AA, and for a while thereafter, I was not doing well. So many people around me seemed to be thriving. Meanwhile, I was mad and usually in a state of high distress.

This turned out to be an excellent prerequisite for progress, because this forced me to work the Steps.