Slogans
Sometimes regarded as trite or even corny, slogans are a simple yet effective tool of the Al-Anon program. When we are confronted by a troubling thought or feeling, or we find ourselves in a challenging situation, we can bring to mind one or more slogans to aid us in adjusting our attitudes and behaviors. Slogans also serve as a sort of shorthand when we share in meetings or on program calls; and underlying these phrases are meaningful messages that, very much like well-aimed arrows, can pierce the heart of the matter. Al-Anon slogans include:
- Keep It Simple
- Live and Let Live
- How Important Is It?
- Progress Not Perfection
- Let Go and Let God
- One Day At A Time
There are twelve slogans in the latest edition of How Al-Anon Works, and sixteen slogans are currently listed on the www.al-anon.org website. You will be guided to this webpage by clicking on the Slogans button below.
Acronyms
A bit more clever to some, acronyms are another helpful Al-Anon tool to remind us that a simple word can generate an underlying meaning to guide our actions, our attitudes, and our choices.
Before speaking, stop and…
T.H.I.N.K.
IS IT: True? Helpful? Informative? Necessary? Kind?
D.E.T.A.C.H.
Don't Even Think About Changing Him/Her
E.G.O.
Edging Out God
F.E.A.R.
False Evidence Appearing Real
G.O.D.
Good Orderly Direction
H.A.L.T.
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
L.O.V.E.
Let Others Voluntarily Evolve
Q.T.I.P.
Quit Taking It Personally
N.U.T.S.
Not Using The Steps
P.A.U.S.E.
Postpone Action Until Serenity Emerges
S.H.A.M.E.
Should Have Already Mastered Everything
T.R.U.S.T.
Try Really Using Step Three
W.A.I.T.
Why Am I Talking/Texting/Typing?
Y.A.H.O.O.
You Always Have Other Options
Alliterations
Repetitive consonants can trip off the tongue with words that serve as markers along our path to recovery.
3A's
Awareness, Acceptance, Action
Once we become consciously Aware
of the truth of a situation, it is best to fully Accept
that this is how things are before taking Action.
3C's
We didn't Cause it, we can't Control it, and we can't Cure it.
This is one of the first things we learn to accept
in Al-Anon about the family disease of alcoholism.
5G's
Get off their backs,
Get out of their way,
Give them to God,
Get to a meeting, and
Get on with your life.
6M's
Managing, Monitoring,
Mothering, Meddling,
Manipulating, and Martyrdom
Other Sayings
Many of us bring a notebook or journal to Al-Anon meetings so we can collect other sayings to aid our recovery. Here are just a few:
Anger is just one letter short of danger.
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Do the next right thing.
Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.
Feelings are not facts.
Keep the focus on yourself.
Let go or be dragged.
Look back without staring.
More will be revealed.
“No” is a complete sentence.
Pause for poise.
Rejection is God’s protection.
The elevator is broken — use the Steps.
There are no mistakes, only lessons.
We are only as sick as our secrets.
We can’t trust God and worry at the same time.
What other people think of me is none of my business.
Your urgency is not my emergency.