A Link Between Guilt And Pride

I’m an alcoholic. I know, for me, that I drank over guilt and, if I don’t continue to follow the principles I’ve learned, I’ll drink over guilt again. I’m certain there are others who are the same. I’m also certain, from current experiences, that many are somehow being misled into believing that pride in recovery is okay. Which is why I stay on this quest for writings about pride vs humility.

This is from “The Language of the Heart,” June, 1961 – “Humility For Today,” pg. 258.

Bill wrote:

“Today I think I can trace a clear linkage between my guilt and my pride. Both of them were certainly attention-getters. In pride I could say, ‘Look at me, I am wonderful.’ In guilt I would moan, ‘I’m awful.’ Therefore guilt is really the reverse side of the coin of pride. Guilt aims at self-destruction, and pride aims at the destruction of others.”

“This is why I see humility for today as that safe and secure stance midway between these violent emotional extremes. It is a quiet place where I can keep enough perspective, and enough balance, to take my next small step up the clearly marked road that points towards eternal values.”

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It’s not funny at all when I see this – “Guilt aims at self-destruction, and pride aims at the destruction of others” and I see exactly why talk of pride being okay upsets me so… especially within the rooms during meetings!