Beware of the SERVICE TRAP in Alcoholics Anonymous
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This is a video about a common pitfall seen in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. I believe it's important to be sure to not substitute service work for step work.
00:00 AA Service Trap
You can keep yourself so busy that you don't feel a damn thing! Thinking you're getting better when you're not
You can make gallons of coffee in meetings it ain't going to give you that spiritual shift needed to be recovered
By damn they sure do drink copious amounts of coffee at AA meetings!! They love to pick someone to make it. They imply it’s part of recovery
😭😂 this comment lol.
I have to do " service " in my own day to day life.I don't need anyone breathing down my neck to prove that I am worthy.I am trying to recover and not play silly games!!!.
Thank you for the video. I feel like working the steps, having a good home group and sponsor you won’t fall into this trap. I look at service work as another tool in my toolbox. The 12 steps are meant to be suggestive and I’ve only ever seen service work presented in that way. I feel like the desire to do service work is a byproduct of working your program. In my own experience it is vital as a way for me to get out of my own head. 😅
Bingo
This is an excellent point and I love the distinction. I've seen a lot of poeple experience relief from engaing in activities but not complete the 12 steps, only to have the whole thing fall apart. This happened to me on my first unsuccessful attemps in the program.
Your in a trap if you keep identifying yourself as an alcoholic.
There is actually some truth to that. I follow
I literally just said that to someone, I think it's demoralising identifying as an "alcoholic" and if we don't say hi My name is X and I'm an alcoholic we're judged!
@And.Still.I.Rise. there is a lot... it's easy to poke holes in this program.
It's good for me in a lot of ways though, it's nice to meet and spend time with people that are trying to do good for themselves
I'm a recovered alcoholic
I'm a recovered alcoholic
Service has no bearing on sobriety. I was conned into making coffee for 200 people on a Saturday night. It made me not want to go. I quit the service gig and was able to spend more time at the actual meeting. I've been sober for 33 years and can't remember the last time I was at a meeting. I do not consider myself an alcoholic and certainly don't want that to be the be all and end all of my self identification.
Service helps.. it didn’t help you .. doesn’t mean it doesn’t help anyone else
I think it was Dr Bob who said, "There are two or three things that flashed into my mind on which it would be fitting to lay a little emphasis. One is the simplicity of our program. Let's not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that are interesting to the scientific mind, but have very little to do with our actual A.A. work. Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words “love” and “service.” We understand what love is, and we understand what service is. So let's bear those two things in mind."
Love and service, it's not a trap just a way of life.
I certainly understand your comment and don't dispute it. The issue I tried to address is the trap of coming in and going full bore into "service" work without addressing all the underlying issues and engaging in the Trust God and Clean House parts.
@@BostonJon Someone should absolutely clean there own as far as a full set of steps before going into service ... I get that u mean it's a diversion trap for a newcomer who hasn't done any work personally.
Beautifully put. This guy is dangerous 🤯
I always joke that I was a GSR rep when I had enough sobriety to qualify for the position but not enough to know better. Others are more suited than I am. I am better at other forms of service.
I'm a recovered alcoholic, and was never a heavy drinker Make as much coffee in service ain't going to get you spiritually well, keep coming back no what is says is these are the steps we took
No wonder many people leave this cult which is a religious programme
Nothing religious about it. If you were at a religious AA meeting then they were not running it like Dr. Bob and Bill W designed.
People need to do there homework before making uninformed and ignorant comments about a program that helps to save lives. The 12 step program is the antithesis of a cult. It’s the farthest thing from it.
what's with all the coffee making and the smoking at the door? I am allergic to both.
Coffee and sugar are drugs too ! Yet they constantly promote it all
Love your channel: you always say "I'm xxx I'm an Alcoholic."...please move on....AA can be cultish....I appreciate your helpful information on your videos.
Agreed it is a cult
Service is only 1 of 3 legacy. Service recovery and unity, should in my opinion always be equal. Tks and have a good day. Its not perfect but it is what it is.
Three legs of the AA triangle.
The saying 'service keeps you sober' is used where i am . It makes me cringe as, like you say, it can cover up other things that need to be done
Spot on 😊
Well stated.
Service is for the benefit of others.. you’re not out drinking and driving .. your making coffee or setting up chairs… it’s not about sobriety it’s about recovery from the obsession to drink and if they are clean and sober .. God bless them .. the steps are suggested …
NA is almost completely service. I say thats another difference between the 2 fellowships. NA is almost more concerned with its own self preservation and AA wants you to be of service to make the whole world better. Personally I don't recommend service work until a sponsee can convince me that they have a working understanding of the traditions and even after that I tell them to pray about it.😅
Trust God, Clean House and help others. In that order. God, work All 12 steps, then give away what’s been freely given to you.
I don't see service as having much downside and I have never seen any one skip step work because they took a commitment. I think the primary reason for taking a commitment is to lessen the chance of reducing attendance which is the number ONE thing most people do before they relapse. I don't have statistics but I would guess 80% of those who relapse do so after first reducing the number of meetings or they simply stop going. Being involved will cause someone to get to know other members which will increase the chance of finding a sponsor and working the steps which in the end is how we recover. I see no reason to make a video warning people about being of service.
Service is one of the three pillars of the program. If it wasn't for people offering to do service there would be NO AA
Thank you for this message. SPOT ON!!
Most of the fellows in AA are not Alcoholics
Oh yes, helping people is a trap. Good luck on your journey …⚓️
Doing the steps are also a trap.....keeping someone busy diverts from the base underlying issues.....
I feel they've taken God out of everything, I had a girl tell me the elements were her higher power... It wasn't until I locked onto God, the biblical God I actually have 17 months sobriety.. yes I did the steps, but they pulled so much from the Bible , I think the BB is a great start, but child's play compared to the Bible
At my 3rd aa meeting I was told I should be a service by an old timer who seemed at the time picking on me and quite animated. I didn't go back for 18 months. I went to aa on and off 6 months. I fell out of aa for a few months now been going consistently 3x aweek or more 3 months. I have a homegroup and sponsor. But 80% of my 3 year sobriety is out of aa. My wife's sober with me but she wasn't much of a drinker. She's 3.5 years. I would be 3.5 but I relapsed xmas day 2020. I do like going to aa I don't have a specific job I just help where I can. Also I don't share about the steps or program as I've gone back to step 3 working on 4 again soon. When I left aa my second time my sponsor who I thought was a friend lol cut me off didn't want to know me if I weren't in aa and the homegroup straight away deleted me of the the fb page. All goods.
All part of recovery. Sticking around allows you to develop a thick skin. My surest immunity is helping the next drunk. What would push you to have to look for recognition at this level? It's only through experience that we reach that point of working things out. Imagine if knowledge or someone telling you that you must stop drinking, worked? We would have to meet in stadiums. Stop taking yourself so seriously and take care of your own sobriety. This is not that platform.
Take what you need and leave the rest.
Those words are pure gold.
I personally ♡♡♡♡ AA!
Just b nice but don't let anyone tell you what to do or leave the cult
🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼🤓👍🏼💯🤩✅