Sober Living Quotes

"I have come to believe that hard times are not just meaningless suffering and that something good might turn up at any moment. That's a big change for someone who used to come to in the morning feeling sentenced to another day of life. When I wake up today, there are lots of possibilities. I can hardly wait to see what's going to happen next."

– Anonymous

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest"

– Confucius

"There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty."

– Anonymous

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."

– Galileo Galilei

"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance."

– Saint Augustine

"...one of the primary differences between alcoholics and nonalcoholics is that nonalcoholics change their behavior to meet their goals and alcoholics change their goals to meet their behaviors."

– Anonymous

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

– Albert Einstein

"We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves."

– Thomas Aquinas

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."

– Denis Waitley

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

– Reinhold Niebuhr

"I've been benefited from a dictionary definition I found that reads: "Rationalization is giving a socially acceptable reason for socially unacceptable behavior, and socially unacceptable behavior is a form of insanity."

– Anonymous

"Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion."

– Pythagoras

"The main reason I go to AA meetings is because I’m stark-raving sober."

– John S.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

– Buddha

"From experience, I've realized that I cannot go back and make a brand-new start. But through A.A., I can start from now and make a brand-new end."

– Anonymous

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

– Albert Einstein

"We feel the way we feel because we think the way we think. If we don’t like the way we feel then we must change the way we think."

– Anonymous

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."

– Buddha

"To be vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action.."

– Anonymous

"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times."

– Martin Luther

"That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

– Albert Einstein

"Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men."

– Confucius

"To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."

– Confucius

"When I stopped living in the problem and began living in the answer, the problem went away."

– Anonymous

"To this day, I am amazed at how many of my problems - most of which had nothing to do with drinking, I believed - have become manageable or have simply disappeared since I quit drinking."

– Anonymous

"We should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping. As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone."

– Anonymous

"We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we make our own misery."

– Anonymous

"In all these strivings, so many of them well-intentioned, our crippling handicap had been our lack of humility. We had lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material satisfactions were not the purpose of living."

– Anonymous

"Definition of an alcoholic is an egomaniac with an inferiority complex."

– Anonymous

"We feel the way we feel because we think the way we think. If we want to change the way we feel we must change the way we think."

– Wilbur

Recovery Prayer and Meditation

You, oh Lord, abide for ever and will not for ever be angry with us, for You have taken pity on us who are earth and ashes; and so it was pleasing in Your sight to give new form to my deformity. You goaded me within to make me chafe impatiently until You should grow clear to my spiritual sight. At the unseen touch of Your medicine my swelling subsided, while under the stinging eye-salve of curative pain the fretful darkened vision of my spirit began to improve day by day.

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O Great Spirit, Whose voice we hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear us! We are small and weak. We need your strength and wisdom. Let us walk in beauty, and make our eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make our hands respect the things you have made and our ears sharp to hear your voice. Make us wise so that we may understand the things you have taught our people. Let us learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. We seek strength, not to be greater than our brother, but to fight our greatest enemy,... ourselves. Make us always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades as the fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame.

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GOD, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living ONE DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen

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MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

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I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for help, that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

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Dear Lord, I humbly come before you this day to ask that you give me one more day of wholeness. Free me of all cravings, addictive and dysfunctional behavior. Show me how I can serve you this day instead of serving false idols and obsessions. Fill me with your strength, that I may have hope. Guide me, that I may walk in your path and not mine. Cast out all darkness within me and replace it with light, that I may shine before others who need a helping hand.

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Dear Lord, I am powerless over my addictions dysfunctions. Grant me today, the ability to turn my troubles, my will and my life over to your loving care. I trust in you to completely restore my brokenness into wholeness, insanity to saneness willfulness into willingness and fear into courage. Lighten my load and free me from all bondage that I may walk through this day in freedom and in peace.

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Almighty God I thank you for the many blessings you have given me this day. I thank you for my sobriety, and the program of alcoholics anonymous. I pray for all the alcoholics that are still suffering. Please give them the grace of recovery. Lord God, release me from the bondage of myself and the flesh. Remove from me any defect of character and shortcoming that stands in the way of my service to You. Give me the blessings I need in order to serve You best. Give me the knowledge of Your will for me, and give me the power to carry out Your will in all I say and do today. Let Your will be done in my life today. Amen.

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Oh how tortuous were those paths! Woe betides the soul which supposes it will find something better if it forsakes You! Toss and turn as we may, now on our back, now side, now belly… our bed is hard at every point, for you alone are our rest. But lo! Here You are; You rescue us from our wretched meanderings and establish us on our way; You console us and bid us “Run: I will carry you, I will lead you, and I will bring you home”

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I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who removes sleep from my eyes and slumber from my eyelids. And may it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to accustom us to your Torah, and to make us cleave to Your commandments. Do not bring us into sin, nor into transgression or iniquity, nor into temptation or scorn; and may the evil inclination not have m astery over us. Keep us far from an evil person and an evil companion. Make us cleave to the good inclination and good deeds; and compel our inclination to be subservient to You. Grant this day and every day, grace, kindness and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who behold us; and bestow bountiful kindness upon us. Blessed are You L-rd, who bestows bountiful kindness upon His people. Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.

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Master of the universe! I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or vexed me, or sinned against me, either physically or financially, against my honor or anything else that is mine, whether accidentally on intentionally, inadvertently or deliberately, by speech or by deed, in this incarnation or in any other – any Israelite; may no man be punished on my account. May it be Your will, L-rd my G-d and G-d of my fathers, that I shall sin no more nor repeat my sins, neither shall I again anger You nor do what is wrong in Your eyes. The sins I have committed, erase in Your abounding mercies, but not through suffering or severe illnesses. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer. Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.

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Dear Lord, I admit that I am powerless over alcohol. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it. Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my alcoholism. Amen.

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Heavenly Father, I know in my heart that only You can restore me to sanity. I humbly ask that You remove all twisted thought and addictive behavior from me this day. Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind. Amen.

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God, I offer myself to Thee to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of life, May I do Thy will always! Amen.

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Dear God, It is I who have made my life a mess. I have done it, but I cannot undo it. My mistakes are mine, and I will begin a searching and fearless moral inventory. I will write down my wrongs, but I will also include that which is good. I pray for the strength to complete the task. Amen.

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Almighty God, my inventory has shown me who I am, I admit to my wrongs, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me, in this step, for without this step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this. Amen.

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Dear God, I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental health. Thy will be done. Amen.

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Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do your bidding. Amen.

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Heavenly Father, I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my actions, and begin to clear my past mistakes. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. Amen.

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God, I pray for the right attitude to make my right my wrongs to others, being ever mindful not to harm others in the process. I ask for Your guidance in making direct, and indirect amends. Most important, I will continue to make amends by staying abstinent, helping others, and growing in spiritual fitness. Amen.

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Dear God, I pray that I may continue: To grow in understanding and effectiveness; To take daily spot check inventories of myself; To correct mistakes when I make them; To take responsibility for my actions; To be ever aware of my negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors; To keep my willfulness in check; To always remember I need Your help; To keep love and tolerance of others as my code; And to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, my Higher Power. Amen.

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Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled, as to console, To be understood, as to understand, To be loved, as to love, For It is in giving, that we receive, It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned, It is in dying, that we are born in to eternal life. Amen.

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Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold. The help I have received I shall pass on and give to others, both in and out of the Fellowship. For this opportunity I am grateful. I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day on the road of spiritual progress. I pray for the inner strength and wisdom to practice the principles of this way of life in all I do and say. I need You, my friends, and the Program every hour of every day. This is a better way to live. Amen.

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