One of our group members, Jack, has used this substitution of ‘thinking’ rather than ‘drinking’ as a great asset in his ongoing recovery . I also find this very, very helpful as I move to accept the obsessive thinking that leads to restless, irritable and discontent and then embrace steps 2 and 3 throughout the day. Try this substitution on for size and see if it helps you in your one day at a time sobriety journey- Bruce M.
Substitution of thinking rather than drinking on p.30 of AA Big Book
I am unwilling to admit that I am a real problem thinker. I do not like to think that I am bodily and mentally different from my fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that my thinking career is characterized by countless vain attempts to prove that I can think like other people. The idea that somehow, someday, I will control and enjoy my thinking, is my great obsession. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. I am pursuing it into the gates of insanity or death.
I am learning that I must fully concede to my innermost self that I am a real problem thinker. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that I am like other people or presently may be has to be smashed.
I am a man who has lost the ability to control my thinking. I know that no real problem thinker ever regains control. I have felt at times like I was regaining control but such intervals, usually brief, were inevitably followed by still less control which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. I am convinced to a man that thinkers of my type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period, I get worse never better. I am like a man who has lost his legs. I am not growing new ones. By every form of self deception and experimentation I try to prove myself exception to the rule and therefore a non problem thinker. If anyone is showing an inability to control and enjoy his thinking can do the right about face and think like a gentleman, my hat is off to him. Lord knows I’ve tried long and hard enough to think like other people.