The Twelve Steps were designed specifically for people like us - as a shortcut to God. The Steps are very much like strong medicine that can heal us of the sickness of despair, frustration, and self-pity. Yet we're sometimes unwilling to use the Steps. Why? Perhaps because we have a deep-down desire for martyrdom. Consciously and intellectually, we think we want help on a gut level, though, some hidden sense of guilt makes us crave punishment more than relief from our ills.Can I try to be cheerful when everything seems to be leading me to despair? Do I realize that despair is very often a mask for self-pity.Today I Pray … May I pull out the secret guilt inside that makes me want to punish myself. May I probe my despair and discover whether it is really an imposter - self-pity with a mask on. Now that I know that the Twelve Steps can bring relief, may I please use them instead of wallowing in my discomforts.Today I Will Remember … The Twelve Steps are God's stairway.A Day at a Time ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3EOjuiH⁠⁠⁠G.A. A New Beginning ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3E9YgPC⁠⁠--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jamesh-acm/support