This includes things I might read in magazines or newspapers. It is a real relief to know that today I have no desire to spread gossip or listen to it. Gossip is the enemy of the growth we desire. At the same time, let’s tune out gossip that seems to occur spontaneously. Let’s beware of any tendency to say things that induce others to gossip. Spiritual growth takes place within us, and it needs an environment completely free of an ill will. There is no way we can continue to have spiritual growth if we practice gossip, even as passive listeners. The harm of gossip lies in what we do to ourselves when we engage in it. This is done in seemingly innocent ways, sometimes just by mentioning the name of a person to another who may have strong opinions to express. We might also “shake the tree” if we believe another person has some gossip to share with us. It’s possible we still keep our ears open for any juicy gossip that could fall our way. Some of us who pride ourselves in refraining from gossip may still have a problem with it. How true! If there were no listeners, there would never be any gossip. There is a saying that “listening to gossip is gossip”. The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails. as a whole, it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way. ![]() But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in A.A. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for better. I pray that my will may be directed toward doing His will. I pray that my life may become centered in God more than in self. As the life of the spirit grows, natural wants become less important. How often, when little I know it, God goes before me to prepare the way, to soften a heart, or to overrule a resentment. I must try never to doubt or worry, but follow where the life of the spirit leads. The life that down the ages has kept God’s children through peril, adversity, and sorrow. Within me is the life of life, so that I can never perish. Once I am “born of the spirit,” that is my life’s breath. I know that power is there because it never fails to help me. And I pray to God every morning for the strength to stay sober today. I think of that power as the grace of God. ![]() Therefore I believe there must be a Higher Power which helps me. It’s been proved that we alcoholics can’t get sober by our willpower. First the Twelve Steps taught me to become my own best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach out and love others. It was through staying sober, having a good sponsor and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to build up my low self-esteem. When I did my personal inventory I found that I had unhealthy relationships with most people in my life- my friends and family, for example. We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or dependence. We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others. Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us.
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