We often hear there are no "musts" in the 12-steps, just suggestions.

 "No musts" true or false? After eliminating the duplicates, there are 7 “musts” in the first 164 pages of the Big Book:

1. ”We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world." This tells us that honesty is a requirement. 
2. "We must be rid of this selfishness." Sobriety calls for a departure from selfishness, a fundamental shift towards selflessness.
3. "We must be just as careful when we begin to achieve some measure of sobriety." Sobriety is a continuous effort; complacency is dangerous.
4. "We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid reflection." Dwelling on the past can hinder our progress.
5. “There must be no reservation of any kind." Half measures avail us nothing. We go all in. Again. Again and again. 
6. "We must find a spiritual basis of life – or else." Sobriety necessitates a spiritual awakening, a search for deeper meaning.
7. "We must remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone." The consequences of drinking alcoholically are severe, and we must never forget them.

These “musts” are a reminder that recovery is not just about quitting alcohol; it's about transforming one's life, finding purpose, and helping others on the same path.

John Scott Wren  11-11-23

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