The [Musts] ... "Not Suggestions" ... "Not Maybes" ... Essential for Recovery, found in the 4th Editions Basic Text of our Big Book, Contained in the Twelve Steps, from The Doctors Opinion Page XXV, Thru the End of Step 12 on Page 103...

Step 1
The Doctor's Opinion Page xxvi:
  ...The physician who, at our request, gave us this letter, has been kind enough to enlarge upon his views in another statement which follows. In this statement he confirms what we who have suffered alcoholic torture [must] believe-that the body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind. It did not satisfy us to be told that we could not control our drinking just because we were maladjusted to life, that we were in full flight from reality, or were outright mental defectives. These things were true to some extent, in fact, to a considerable extent with some of us. But we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. In our belief, any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete...

Bill's Story Page 14:
  ...Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I [must] turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace and serenity as I had never known...

There Is A Solution Page 20:
  ..."I can take it or leave it alone. Why can't he?" "Why don't you drink like a gentleman or quit?" "That fellow can't handle his liquor." "Why don't you try beer and wine?" "Lay off the hard stuff." "His will power [must] be weak." "He could stop if he wanted to." "She's such a sweet girl, I should think he'd stop for her sake." "The doctor told him that if he ever drank again it would kill him, but there he is all lit up again."...

There Is A Solution Page 29:
  ...Our hope is that many alcoholic men and women, desperately in need, will see these pages, and we believe that it is only by fully disclosing ourselves and our problems that they will be persuaded to say, "Yes, I am one of them too; I [must] have this thing."...

More About Alcoholism Page 33:
  ...We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever. If we are planning to stop drinking, there [must] be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol...

More About Alcoholism Page 43:
  ...Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense [must] come from a Higher Power...

Step 2
We Agnostics Page 44:
  ...To be doomed to an alcoholic death or live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face. But it isn't so difficult. About half our original fellowship were of exactly that type. At first some of us tried to avoid the issue, hoping against hope we were not true alcoholics. But after a while we had to face the fact that we [must] find a spiritual basis of life - or else. Perhaps it is going to be that way with you. But cheer up, something like half of us thought we were atheists or agnostics. Our experience shows that you need not be disconcerted...

Step 3
How It Works Page 62:
  ...So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics [must] be rid of this selfishness. We [must], or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to...

Step 4
How It Works Page 66:
  ...We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. How could we escape? We saw that these resentments [must] be mastered, but how? We could not wish them away any more than alcohol. This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick...

How It Works Page 69:
  ...Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we [must] be willing to grow toward it. We [must] be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about still more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat sex as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter. The right answer will come, if we want it. God alone can judge our sex situation...

Step 5
Into Action Pages 73-74:
  ...We [must] be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world. Rightly and naturally, we think well before we choose the person or persons with whom to take this intimate and confidential step. Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which requires confession [must], and of course, will want to go to the properly appointed authority whose duty it is to receive it. Though we have no religious connection, we may still do well to talk with someone ordained by an established religion...

  ...The rule is we [must] be hard on ourself, but always considerate of others. Notwithstanding the great necessity for discussing ourselves with someone, it may be one is so situated that there is no suitable person available. If that is so, this step may be postponed, only, however, if we hold ourselves in complete readiness to go through with it at the first opportunity...

Into Action Page 75:
  ...But we [must] not use this as a mere excuse to postpone. When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are prepared for a long talk. We explain to our partner what we are about to do and why we have to do it. He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand...

Steps 6 and 7
Into Action Page 76:
  ...Two very, 'very important' Paragraphs...

Step 8
Into Action Page 78:
  ...Nor are we afraid of disclosing our alcoholism on the theory it may cause financial harm. Approached in this way, the most ruthless creditor will sometimes surprise us. Arranging the best deal we can we let these people know we are sorry. Our drinking has made us slow to pay. We [must] lose our fear of creditors no matter how far we have to go, for we are liable to drink if we are afraid to face them...

Into Action Page 79:
  ...Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be. We may lose our position or reputation or face jail, but we are willing. We have to be. We [must] not shrink at anything. Usually, however, other people are involved. Therefore, we are not to be the hasty and foolish martyr who would needlessly sacrifice others to save himself from the alcoholic pit...

Step 9
Into Action Page 80:
  ...Before taking drastic action which might implicate other people we secure their consent. If we have obtained permission, have consulted with others, asked God to help and the drastic step is indicated we [must] not shrink...

Into Action Page 82:
  ...Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is to keep sober. Certainly he [must] keep sober, for there will be no home if he doesn't. But he is yet a long way from making good to the wife or parents whom for years he has so shockingly treated...

Into Action Page 83:
  ...Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead. We [must] take the lead. A remorseful mumbling that we are sorry won't fill the bill at all. We ought to sit down with the family and frankly analyze the past as we now see it, being very careful not to criticize them. Their defects may be glaring, but the chances are that our own actions are partly responsible. So we clean house with the family, asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love...

  ...The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Unless ones family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them. We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters. They will change in time. Our behavior will convince them more than our words. We [must] remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone...

Step 10
Into Action Page 85:
  ...We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we [must] carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. Much has already been said...

  ...If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we [must] go further and that means more action. Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer...

Step 11
Into Action Page 86:
  ...Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we [must] be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others...

Step 12
Working With Others Page 89:
  ...Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you [must] not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives...

Working With Others Page 93:
  ...But he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have not worked and why yours seem to work so well. He may be an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. To be vital, faith [must] be accompanied by self sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action...

Working With Others Page 95:
  ...If he is sincerely interested and wants to see you again, ask him to read this book in the interval. After doing that, he [must] decide for himself whether he wants to go on. He should not be pushed or prodded by you, his wife, or his friends. If he is to find God, the desire must come from within. If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience...

Working With Others Pages 98-99:
  ...Argument and fault-finding are to be avoided like the plague. In many homes this is a difficult thing to do, but it [must] be done if any results are to be expected. If persisted in for a few months, the effect on a man's family is sure to be great. The most incompatible people discover they have a basis upon which they can meet. Little by little the family may see their own defects and admit them. These can then be discussed in an atmosphere of helpfulness and friendliness...

  ...Of course, we all fall much below this standard many times. But we [must] try to repair the damage immediately lest we pay the penalty by a spree...

Working With Others Page 100:
  ...Both you and the new man [must] walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress. If you persist, remarkable things will happen. When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God's hands were better than anything we could have planned. Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!...

Working With Others Page 103:
After all, our problems were of our own making.
"Bottles were only a symbol."
Besides, we have stopped fighting anybody or anything. We have to ! ! !

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