P
People, Places
and Things:
Prior
to recovery, we depended upon people, places and things to make us
happy or to change our lives. In recovery, we take that responsibility
away from external events and place it on ourselves. The Twelve and
Twelve says, 'It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed,
no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us.'
Periodic:
An
alcoholic who stays sober for a period of time, loses control, goes on
a spree, and then repeats the cycle.
Pink Cloud:
The
temporary sensation of euphoria and well-being that is characteristic
to those who are new to AA and sobriety. For most, the pink cloud
eventually dissipates. This heralds the time to get down to business
and start seriously working the Steps.
Power Greater
than Ourselves:
See
'Higher Power.'
Powerlessness:
See
'Lack of Power.'
Prayer and
Meditation:
AA's
Eleventh Step calls for 'prayer and meditation to improve our conscious
contact with God as we understood Him.' One common distinction between
prayer and meditation is this: Prayer is speaking to God whereas
meditation is listening for His answer.
Preamble:
See
'AA Preamble.'
Primary Purpose:
See
'AA's Primary Purpose.'
Principles
Before Personalities:
This
phrase comes from the Twelfth Tradition, 'Anonymity is the spiritual
foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles
before personalities.' It is the principles of the program, not its
personalities, that guide recovery and keep us sober. We rely on the
Twelve Steps and their principles rather than on one individual or
group of individuals. Individuals, regardless of how charismatic, are
only human. Our ultimate reliance is on our Higher Power.
Program, the:
This
phrase refers to AA's Twelve Step program of recovery and, more
generally, to AA itself.
Progress Not
Perfection:
This
is a paraphrase of a sentence in chapter 5 of the Big Book, 'We claim
spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.' When we try to do
things perfectly, we are attempting to do the impossible. The tendency
toward perfectionism is merely a reflection of our alcoholic
grandiosity.
Progressive
Disease:
See
'Alcoholism as a Progressive Disease'.
Promises, the:
See
'Twelve Promises.' |