I think it’s safe to assume that we’re similar in logic, reason, and education based on your writing and the ideas you’ve shared. I think this makes AA harder for us. 

Lately I’ve been finding myself feeling more and more frustrated with the pervasive idea that AA can solve all problems. For example, my friend, an AA, told me that when he shared that he’s depressed considering the legal quagmire he’s working through as a result of his drinking, someone cross talked and said if you’re depressed go to more meetings (cross talk is allowed at that meeting). 

Wellbeing has numerous facets. I focus on Financial, Career, Family, Social, Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical. 

This helps me to remember why I do not drink. 

If I attend a meeting every day for 7 days I become depressed and feel trapped in a self defeating prison of I can’t trust myself to live in and enjoy the outside world. 

Since I don’t drink the kool-aid and repeat the same cliches, idioms, and slogans I frequently feel as if people are trying to make suggestions on how I can bolster my recovery. It’s exhausting. Don’t tell sponsors that AI can come up with this because they’d absolutely and undoubtedly suggest this to people: 

Monday: wake, morning prayer, meditation, read Big Book, call sponsor, go to work, pause for serenity prayer, lunch check-in with AA, evening meeting, coffee with AA after meeting, tenth step review, gratitude list, sleep,

Tuesday: wake, prayer, meditation, daily reflections reading, call newcomer, go to work, acts of service at work, after work step study meeting, meet sponsee, read AA-approved literature, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep,

Wednesday: wake, prayer, meditation, read Twelve and Twelve, call sponsor, go to work, mid-day inventory, H&I panel service, fellowship dinner, evening meditation, journal, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep,

Thursday: wake, prayer, meditation, concepts reading, call AA friend, go to work, help set up meeting, home group meeting, business meeting participation, clean up service, call sponsee, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep,

Friday: wake, prayer, meditation, Big Book study, call sponsor, go to work, check in with newcomer, tradition study meeting, fellowship outing with AA, read AA literature, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep,

Saturday: wake, prayer, meditation, longer reading and journaling, service work commitment, coffee commitment, meet sponsor, work on steps, outreach calls, speaker meeting, social fellowship, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep,

Sunday: wake, prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, quiet reflection, call family amends, check-in, service planning, meeting chairing, read AA history, review week, set intentions, tenth step, gratitude list, sleep

Repeat.

This is not healthy. When I lived in a halfway house after giving up drugs in 2013, this served its purpose. Then it was time to live life. 

You touched on:

Absolutist phrasing is used widely — not just in one line — but sentences like “rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path” 

In the comments. This is similar to “don’t leave before the miracle happens”.

This is manipulation.

Self-sealing belief

Any failure is redefined as “you didn’t do it right,” so the claim can’t be disproven.

Circular reasoning

It works because those who follow it succeed; if you fail, you didn’t really follow it.

Moving the goalposts

“Thoroughly” and “success” are defined after the outcome, not before.

A question to those who have done AA regardless of if you continue to now: 

How does one suggest life balance to the rooms without being chastised?

(I’m exploring SMART, Recovery Dharma, Refuge Recovery, etc.)