“We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery.” (Page 30, Big Book)
“Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.” (Page 60, Big Book)
Three ideas: (a), (b), and (c). Each is one idea. (a) is one idea not two. Alcoholism = powerlessness → unmanageability.
Unmanageability is not a characteristic of my life: the term refers to a lack of ability on my part: to manage.
What is to manage? To direct operations.
Alcoholism entails being unable to direct the operations of one’s life.
Why?
Because I’m not calling the shots; alcoholism is.
I do not drink because of … [insert motivation]. I do not drink on … [insert trigger]. I do not drink in order to … [insert purpose]. Those statements are made by someone in control, in a management function, directing operations.
I drink because I am compelled. The compulsion has the agency. The compulsion is in control. The compulsion is in a management function. The compulsion is directing operations. The compulsion is in charge, and I am not: I am not able to manage my life, because it is managing my life in my stead.