An Overview of AA Daily Reflections, Applications, and Benefits

AA daily reflections are a publication from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) that represents excerpts from The Big Book, quotes from AA members, or is based on other internal resources. There are 366 reflections, one for each day of the year, including in a leap year. The purpose is to offer a new perspective on recovery and hear from those who have taken the same journey before.

The Foundation of All AA Daily Reflections

The foundations of AA’s daily reflections are primarily based on AA literature, including Daily Reflections: A Book of Reflections by AA Members For AA Members and concepts from The Big Book. The book of reflections is a collection of 366 stories from AA members that serves as a daily reading resource for taking a new life one day at a time and helping members recall essential principles.

The Big Book was written by the first 100 AA members, and each of the twelve steps in the AA program is based on their findings and experiences.[1] This is a key asset in AA culture that recounts the stories of the organization’s early founders and how the budding movement helped them achieve and maintain their sobriety. Each chapter focuses on a different concept key to successful recovery, rich with personal stories, losses, wins, and insights.

Today, both The Big Book and the AA daily reflections can be found directly on the AA website, though physical copies can be found at meetings and online. Studies show that mindfulness practices like daily reflection, prayer, and journaling can enhance cognitive control, improve how the brain processes rewards, reduce stress and reactivity, increase self-awareness, and prevent relapse.[2]

3 Official AA Daily Reflections

Every day, a new daily reflection is published online. Each one shares meaningful insights, hard truths, and inspirational ideas to help focus your mind on recovery and healing. Some official AA daily reflections include the following examples:[3]

Lest We Become Complacent

“It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.

“When I am in pain, it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the program. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in A.A.’s Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.”

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85 | AA Daily Reflections, October 01

The Heart Of True Sobriety

“We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.

Am I honest enough to accept myself as I am and let this be the “me” that I let others see? Do I have the willingness to go to any length, to do whatever is necessary to stay sober? Do I have the open-mindedness to hear what I have to hear, to think what I have to think, and to feel what I have to feel?

If my answer to these questions is “Yes,” I know enough about the spirituality of the program to stay sober. As I continue to work the Twelve Steps, I move on to the heart of true sobriety: serenity with myself, with others, and with God as I understand Him.”

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 568 | AA Daily Reflections, July 02

No More Struggle…

“And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone—even alcohol.

When A.A. found me, I thought I was in for a struggle, and that A.A. might provide the strength I needed to beat alcohol. Victorious in that fight, who knows what other battles I could win. I would need to be strong, though. All my previous experience with life proved that. Today, I do not have to struggle or exert my will.

If I take those Twelve Steps and let my Higher Power do the real work, my alcohol problem disappears all by itself. My living problems also cease to be struggles. I just have to ask whether acceptance—or change—is required. It is not my will, but His, that needs doing.”

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84 | AA Daily Reflections, March 22

How To Incorporate AA Daily Reflections Into Your Daily Routine

Incorporating AA daily reflections into your daily routine will look different for each individual, but some practical recommendations include:

• Set An Alarm: Set an alarm you can’t ignore and review the reflection at the same time every day, if possible. It doesn’t matter when, but choose a time when you’re consistently available on most days.

• Find A Quiet Space: Consider your car, a room, outside, or wherever you can find some peace and quiet. If you can’t find a quiet space, keep a pair of headphones with you and create a quiet space wherever you are.

• Read The AA Daily Reflection: The daily reflection will automatically populate with the selection for the date; however, you can also browse the full archive of all 366 reflections and choose one that is topically relevant for you.

• Journal Your Thoughts: Thoughtfully consider what you’ve read and process the ideas and themes therein with pen and paper. How does the reflection or story relate to your personal experience?

• Set A Goal For Yourself: Based on the daily reflection and your journaling, set a practical, meaningful goal related to the theme. Keep it achievable but also inspirational. It should be something you can actually do, but maybe it’s something you’ve never done before.

• Consistency is Key: To get the most out of AA daily reflections, take it day by day and build consistency. The more you absorb and learn, the more it will affect you in a positive way. Every day is a new day to start a new habit.

• Find An Accountability Partner: If you struggle with building habits or setting goals, connect with an accountability partner. This could be an AA mentor, a friend or family member, or just another peer attending AA with you.

How Can AA Daily Reflections Help In My Recovery Journey?

Incorporating the AA daily reflections into your daily routine can have a powerful impact on your addiction recovery. A key part of the twelve steps and twelve traditions is changing how you view your life, your past, your circumstances, and your potential. When you treat these reflections as your prayer for the day or a personal meditation, it becomes a way of life.

Live In Active Recovery With AA Daily Reflections

Recovery is a lifelong process. There are no vacations from sobriety, only dedication, self-will, and support from others and a Higher Power. Letting go of the past and our regrets and embracing an intentional, focused mindset is a critical component of successful recovery

Find your recovery community at AA meetings near you and embrace daily meditations to keep your mind and your heart focused on healing and recovery.