August 17 - Principles vs Personalities

Principles Before Personalities


How many times in meetings do we hear the chanting of “principles before personalities” when someone reads the Twelve Traditions. If you ask the chanters what they think that phrase actually means, chances are you’ll get the wrong answer. Many people think it means that there are many “personalities” in AA and that we need to practice the principles of AA when we attend meetings by constantly reminding ourselves that other people are sick too and that we need to overlook their shortcomings so that their behavior does not adversely affect our own recovery. Although there may be some truth in that statement, it’s basically an ego-feeder. I cannot be responsible for how other members behave, how they act, what they say, what they do. The only behavior I can be responsible for is my own. I need to make sure that my behavior does not infringe upon or interfere with “your” recovery. So I need to use the principles of AA, primarily the principle of humility, to protect you from me and not the other way around.