AA daily reflections meditation helps people in the Alcoholics Anonymous program focus on their recovery goals and set their intentions for living a sober life. These reflections vary from day to day, helping people focus on different aspects of their recovery.

By incorporating these daily reflections into their routine, people can reap the benefits of daily meditation. These meditations don’t take a big part of the day, but can produce benefits that can last a lifetime for people recovering from alcohol addiction.

What is AA Daily Reflections Meditation?

AA daily reflections meditation includes daily passages taken from the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book”. [1] The passages are separated into a year’s worth of readings, one for each day. “AA Daily Reflections” is a supplement to the “Big Book”. Each passage focuses on a specific topic and makes it easy to understand.

The daily passage also includes reflections from AA members. These reflections talk about how the “Big Book” excerpt impacted their lives and its importance. This down-to-earth language makes AA reflections an approachable way for the AA community to connect.

Why is Daily Reflection Important in AA, and How is it Practiced?

Daily reflection is important in everyday life, but especially for those in AA.

Benefits of Daily Reflection in AA

Research shows that reflection helps to strengthen pathways in the brain.  [2] This is vital for learning and gaining new habits. For people in an alcohol addiction program, learning new habits that involve substances is key.

This is just one of the many benefits of self-reflection. Other benefits include: [3]

Improved Emotional Regulation

By reflecting daily, people can better understand their emotions and learn to manage them more effectively.

Helps with Problem-Solving Skills

When you take the time to reflect, you can consider your problems and make thoughtful decisions. This not only allows you to move forward, but also enables you to better understand the impact of past decisions.

Enhances Self-Awareness

Taking the time for reflection allows you to gain more self-awareness. You can change the way you think and feel so that it aligns more closely with your values.

Increases Empathy

When you start reflecting, it can help you become more empathetic towards others and build stronger relationships.

Prioritizes Personal Growth

Reflecting on various topics helps you identify areas where you can grow. When you know your weaknesses and strengths, you can use them to become a better person and work towards your recovery.

Retain More Information

Since the daily reflections take ideas from the “Big Book” and break them down into more manageable parts, you can better retain what you’re reading. This allows you to internalize it better and promotes long-term sobriety.

Can Provide a Spiritual Element

Many people who follow AA are urged to call upon a higher power, whatever that may look like. This does not need to have a religious connection, but for many, it does carry a spiritual meaning. Some people ask God for help, while others look to a different power. AA daily reflections meditation gives people the time they need to look deeper into themselves, meditate, and pray if they wish.

Redirects Mental Energy

Each daily reflection can help redirect mental energy by focusing on positive elements. It can help to redirect the focus from non-productive thoughts to those that support the recovery process.

Practicing Daily Reflections

Practicing daily reflections can benefit both those who are just starting their recovery and those who have been in recovery for a longer period. Since the reflections address every aspect of recovery, they can be applied to everyone recovering from addiction.

Each reflection shares a theme that people who are going through the 12-step program are familiar with. As you practice each daily reflection, consider this:

• Find a quiet space for your daily reflections.
• Give yourself time and space to focus.
• Allow yourself time to truly focus on what’s going on in your life.
• Truly take in all of the content that you receive.
• Consider how each reflection applies to you.

Remember, the reflections also contain thoughts from AA members who are going through the twelve steps and addiction recovery. They know what it’s like to take it one day at a time.

Examples of AA Daily Reflections Meditation

If you or a loved one is new to AA, daily recovery readings can provide the additional support needed to reflect on what is going on and live a sober life.

Here are several examples of AA daily reflections:

A Clean Sweep

“. . . and third, having thus cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know.”

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

As I faced the Eighth Step, everything that was required for successful completion of the previous seven Steps came together: courage, honesty, sincerity, willingness, and thoroughness. I could not muster the strength required for this task at the beginning, which is why this Step reads “Became willing…”

I needed to develop the courage to begin, the honesty to see where I was wrong, a sincere desire to set things right, thoroughness in making a list, and the willingness to take the risks required for true humility. With the help of my Higher Power in developing these virtues, I completed this Step and continued to move forward in my quest for spiritual growth.” [4]

Repairing the Damage

“We attempt to sweep away the debris that has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we don’t have the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember, it was agreed at the beginning that we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.”

~ ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

Making a list of people I had harmed was not particularly difficult. They had shown up in my Fourth Step inventory: people towards whom I had resentments, real or imagined, and whom I had hurt by acts of retaliation. For my recovery to be thorough, I believed it was not important for those who had legitimately harmed me to make amends to me. What is important in my relationship with God is that I stand before Him, knowing I have done what I can to repair the damage I have done.” [5]

Didn’t We Hurt Anybody

“Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves.”

~ TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 79

This Step seemed so simple. I identified several people whom I had harmed, but they were no longer available. Still, I was uneasy about the Step and avoided conversations dealing with it. In time, I learned to investigate those Steps and areas of my life which made me uncomfortable. My search revealed my parents, who had been deeply hurt by my isolation from them; my employer, who worried about my absences, my memory lapses, my temper; and the friends I had shunned, without explanation. As I faced the reality of the harm I had done, Step Eight took on new meaning. I am no longer uncomfortable, and I feel clean and light.” [6]

Learn More About AA Daily Reflections Meditation

There is more information about The Big Book and how meditation for the day can help during recovery. Seeking this information can give you a better understanding of how the process works.