Think, Think, Think???

Don’t Think, Do It! A Recovery Perspective

My mother had many two-sided sayings. For each one, there was a mirror image. “Haste makes waste” leaned against “a stitch in time saves nine.” And “mind the pennies and the dollars will look after themselves” was contrasted with “get the big things right and everything else will fall into place.”

When I came to the Program, I found the same mirror imaging. My sponsor told me, “Don’t make any big changes in the first year,” contrasted with “stop drinking, do the Steps and change your whole life.” Or, “Honesty is an absolute requirement for sobriety,” against, “Well, if you don’t believe it, fake it till you make it.” And, don’t trust your own judgement; remember, “your best thinking got you here,” compared with “coming to AA is a great idea,” celebrating at least some pre-Program thinking.

The AA slogans are like the aphorisms noted above, they have an obverse. On the reverse side of an “Easy Does It” poster, we would have “But Get It Done.” The obverse of “One Day at a Time” would be “For the Rest Of Your Life.” “First Things First” must be understood against the oft-given action list of “Put the Plug in The Jug, Go to Meetings and Get a Sponsor,” all simultaneously.

But my favourite might be “Think, Think, Think.” The obverse would be, “Don’t Think, Don’t Think, Don’t Think.” If there was an AA Olympics, rationalization would be one of the sports, and I might be in line for a gold medal. My sponsor’s advice, “Andy, if you have thought about any aspect of the Program for more than 15 seconds, there is a good chance you have screwed it up,” stands in stark and true contrast to the thrice-repeated Thinking advice.

My sponsor’s caution about overthinking was a great point. For him, acting trumped thinking. He had an inclination for action over thought. He dragged me out on my first Twelve Step call within ten days of my first meeting. When I prevaricated over a Fourth Step Inventory, he gave me some rude and clear instructions — to stop thinking and start writing. When I dithered over prayer and meditation, he echoed the running shoe ads saying, “just do it,” and walked away.

That inclination to action is good. The activities of the Steps trigger spiritual growth more than any amount of pondering. When I am put upon and the world is against me, helping someone is the cure. Writing a gratitude list is an elixir when I am down in the dumps. The simple act of picking up my phone and dialling a number always brightens my day, even when I get voicemail.

Is the obverse of the slogans more important than the slogans themselves? Perhaps. Then again, maybe not.

But I have thought about these matters for more than 15 seconds. There is a good chance I have screwed it up.