Blog post by: Alumni Relations Specialist

It says in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, that when we hold onto resentments, we will drink again. That’s the simplified version. Here is the direct quote from the Big Book.

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.” P. 66

The 4^th step shows us who we are. When we look at our own behaviors, we can better understand others. When we can forgive ourselves, then we can also forgive others. It levels the playing field. We no longer play the victim, but we can take control of our own behaviors and reaction. We will be closer to our Spirit of the Universe because we will finally truly know love.