“We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”
“We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.” — Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) · Chapter 5 · How It WorksWhere it comes from
From Chapter 5, in the lines that follow directly after the Twelve Steps are listed for the first time.
Today’s reflectionThe Steps are ideals, and the book says so in the same breath it lists them. Perfectionism is just self-centeredness in a nicer outfit — and it’s relapse fuel, because if the standard is flawless, one bad afternoon feels like proof you’ve failed entirely. You haven’t. Direction matters more than distance. Were you a little more honest today than yesterday? That counts. Fully.
Read the original passage · How It Works, 1939 →GrowthQuote from the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (public domain). Reflection original to houstonsober.com. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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CDC reports provisional drug overdose deaths by county of residence, not by city. Counts may be incomplete and can change as death records are finalized; counts from 1-9 are suppressed under NCHS confidentiality standards. CDC file published Apr 5, 2026.
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