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The Dignity of the Daily Grind: Real-World Recovery on the Job

A vintage metal toolbox on a workbench representing the practical tools of the 12-step program for the worker. Part of the Unity for Recovery series.

Applying the tools of the Big Book on the job site.


In the "Back to Basics" tradition, we believe that recovery isn't just for meeting rooms—it’s for the real world. For the newcomer, the workplace can be a minefield of stress, resentment, and old habits. For the oldtimer, it can become a place of complacency. To stay sober, we need more than just a "wish" to stay dry; we need a specific set of tools that we can carry with us from the clock-in to the clock-out.


"Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help."

— Alcoholics Anonymous, Page 84

When the "daily grind" starts to wear us down, we don't have to wait for an evening meeting to find relief. The directions above are our mid-day "spot-check" inventory. If a co-worker's attitude triggers a resentment, or if fear about a deadline starts to bubble up, we apply the four steps of Page 84: Ask, Discuss, Amends, and Help. This is how we maintain our spiritual condition while earning a living.

By sticking to our Singleness of Purpose, we transform our job from a source of stress into a place of practice. We aren't there to run the company or fix our boss; we are there to be of service, to work honestly, and to stay sober. That is the true dignity of the daily grind.

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