Selfishness is my worst character defect. I have spent a lot of time analyzing and trying to correct my behavior. Although selfishness will never go away, it can be occasionally managed, infrequently mastered, and with God’s Grace the negative effects can be minimized or eliminated. I try to remember that it is God’s idea of perfection we are trying to achieve in AA, not some contrived egotistical self aggrandizing vision.

I hear said around the tables, “You can’t keep it unless you give it away.” This has been really helpful for attaining long term sobriety. If I go to AA expecting to be center of attention I experience a big let down. The steps, tradition, and concepts all strive to minimize the individual and elevate God and the fellowship. If I am too obviously self centered there is likely to be a wise guy to tell me exactly where I stand on the totem pole. The best results come from AA when I strive to contribute to the fellowship rather than seek what I can take away from it.

“Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”