“That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.” (Page 60, Big Book)
“The tyrant alcohol wielded a double-edged sword over us: first we were smitten by an insane urge that condemned us to go on drinking, and then by an allergy of the body that ensured we would ultimately destroy ourselves in the process.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step One)
“Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go!”
Hi—the mental obsession hijacks me into the first drink.
Ho—the physical craving takes me hostage and keeps me drinking.
It’s off to work we go—I’m now working for my alcoholism.
Except it’s got me thinking I’m doing this for myself.
Powerless over alcohol = powerlessness over the mental obsession and the physical craving.
Powerlessness means something has power over me.
Unmanageability means that that something, not me, is doing the managing.
What’s your experience?