Step Eleven: what is, is

“We ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.” (86, ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’)

These three items are broader in scope than they appear to be at first sight.

Turned into instructions, they can become:

Do not regret that anything is other than it is.

Do not imagine that anything is other than it is.

Do not wish that anything be other than it is.

Do not overlay the universe with (a) alternative, self-centered plans that have been thwarted in the past or whose fulfillment is to be sought in the future or (b) opinions, judgments, interpretations, beliefs, etc.

Or, simpler: what was, was; what is, is; what will be, will be. Only then, say: “God, what shall we do today?”

References:

http://first164.blogspot.com/search/label/Step%20Eleven

This is from an amazing site which I highly recommend: first164blogspot. Many of his worksheets have been used in our workshop. I can’t say enough good things about this site!