Why Discipline Matters

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When I first started attending AA meetings, I thought that my problem was “just alcohol”. I understood that I had a drinking problem, but I thought that the rest of my life was ok. I still had a roof over my head, most of my bills were paid, and I had a decent job.

When I came to AA, I was practicing as a healthcare provider in my community. I asked for help in my profession, and they were very kind in providing help. I attended a Twelve-Step meeting of people in my profession, and they helped me find a detox and a rehab.

I did have an unusual situation when I left rehab. I was asked, as a condition of continuing employment in my profession, to sign a “recovery contract”. In order to continue practicing my profession, I had to agree to:

  • attend 90 meetings in 90 days

  • provide 2-3 urine screens weekly

  • see a therapist one on one

  • go to group therapy

  • see a monitor from my profession at least once a month

  • provide a written summary report of my recovery activity once a month

In order to maintain my professional license (and my career and my income) I had to agree to do all ofthose things for three years. I was really unhappy about having to do all of those things, but I didn’t really have a choice. My boss knew about my alcoholism, and signing the contract was the only way I could keep my job.

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I did all of the things required of my contract (and a lot more). I attended hundreds of meetings in those first three years, provided every urine screen, attended every therapy appointment, and showed up every place I was supposed to show up to.

When the contract was coming up to the end of its three year period, I could not wait to go to the first AA meeting that wasn’t required. I couldn’t wait to demonstrate to others, and myself, that I was serious about sobriety. I couldn’t wait for “the training wheels to come off”.

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I sometimes speak in paradoxes, and I am about to do so again.

I was not happy at all about having to sign that recovery contract. And I am so grateful that I did.

That recovery contract provided discipline in my life at a time that I sorely lacked discipline. That contract forced me to go places that i might not have gone on my own.

Discipline is defined as “orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior”. It was prescribed for me that I was supposed to show up certain places. Had that contract not been in place, I might not have survived.

If you’re thinking “wait—a contract? That sounds weird”, or “I totally disagree with the idea of a contract”, let me ask you the following questions. Suppose the pilot of your airplane is a recovering alcoholic. Do you want to know that that pilot is sober? Or are you willing to take a chance with your life? Suppose that the pediatric anesthesiologist for your child is in recovery, and is about to administer anesthesia to your child—do you want that anesthesiologist to be sober?

Of course you do. You may not think about it, but there are people who have healthcare jobs or transportation jobs who get sober and stay sober. And you and I have a right to know that, while they are practicing their professions, that they are sober.

That was the belief of the profession I was in when I got sober in 1990. I didn’t agree with them then, but I agree with them now.

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On page 88 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, it says “we alcoholics are undisciplined”. That is so true.

We really are. How do we get help for this? Right after, the book states “so we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined”, which refers to the steps discussed in the chapter Into Action

(steps 4-11).

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I realize that this essay may be provocative. Most people in recovery are in a situation where they ‘do things “on their own”. They are not in professions where they are required to sign contracts, and they don’t have discipline required of them.

At the same time, most people coming into the rooms of twelve step programs don’t get sober and stay sober.

I’d rather have had required discipline (and stay sober) than not have required discipline (and not stay sober).

With Love,

The Recovering Urchin

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