Spotlight On Sobriety 02/22/2026
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Principles Behind The Steps #10
GaL-AA Executive Committee Reconfig.
Spotlight On Sobriety 02/22/2026
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Principles Behind The Steps - Step 10
Step Ten: Progress, Not Perfection
“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
Step Ten marks a shift in our recovery journey. Earlier steps asked us to look backward—to examine our past, make amends, and clear away the wreckage left behind by alcohol. With Step Ten, we begin to live sobriety in real time. It is no longer about what we did: it is about how we live today.
The Big Book tells us that by the time we reach this step, we have entered “the realm of the spirit” (Big Book, pp. 84–85). This does not mean life becomes effortless or conflict-free. Instead, it means we now have tools that help us remain emotionally balanced, spiritually grounded, and connected to others—even when life is uncomfortable.
A Daily Practice of Awareness
Step Ten is not a return to the searching inventories of Steps Four and Five. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions makes clear that this step is about maintenance, not excavation. We are no longer digging up every flaw or defect; rather, we are learning to notice when something feels off and to respond honestly and promptly (12&12, pp. 88–95).
Resentment, fear, dishonesty, and selfishness still arise—but now they serve as signals, not verdicts. Step Ten asks us to pause, reflect, and ask: What am I feeling? Why am I disturbed? What part am I playing? These questions are not meant to shame us, but to free us.
Over time, this daily inventory helps us live with greater emotional sobriety. We become less reactive and more thoughtful. We learn to respond rather than explode, withdraw, or spiral out of control.
Prompt Admission: Clearing the Channel
One word in Step Ten carries particular weight: promptly. The Big Book emphasizes that
when we are wrong, admitting it quickly prevents resentment from taking root and keeps us spiritually fit (Big Book, p. 84). Delayed honesty often turns into rationalization, justification, or quiet resentment—toward others and ourselves.
Prompt admission is not about public confession or self-punishment. Sometimes it means a simple apology. Sometimes it means acknowledging our behavior internally and adjusting course. Other times, it means reaching out to another person or a sponsor to talk it through.
What matters is not perfection, but willingness. Step Ten teaches us that accountability is not a burden—it is a form of freedom.
Step Ten and LGBTQ+ Lived Experience
For many LGBTQ+ alcoholics, Step Ten can feel especially significant. Many of us learned early in life to monitor ourselves closely—to scan rooms for danger, to soften our truth, or to protect ourselves through distance or defensiveness. These coping strategies may have once kept us safe, but in sobriety they can quietly undermine our relationships and peace of mind.
Step Ten helps us distinguish between self-protection and self-honesty.
It invites us to ask:
Am I reacting from old fear or present reality?
Am I assuming rejection where none was intended?
Am I withholding honesty to stay safe—or to avoid being vulnerable?
Within LGBTQ+ AA spaces, Step Ten also strengthens community. It encourages humility, accountability, and grace—especially when misunderstandings arise or emotions run high. Practiced consistently, it helps us show up as whole people rather than guarded ones.
Progress, Not Perfection
The Twelve & Twelve reminds us that Step Ten does not eliminate human error; instead, it reduces the damage caused by it. Over time, we find ourselves making fewer mistakes—not because we are flawless, but because we are more aware (12&12, p. 91).
This step reinforces a central AA principle: “Progress, not perfection”. We are allowed to be human. We are allowed to stumble. What changes is how quickly and honestly we respond when we do.
Many long-time AA members describe Step Ten as the step that makes recovery livable. It keeps small issues from becoming big ones. It allows growth without rigidity and responsibility without shame.
Living One Day at a Time
Step Ten is rarely dramatic. It does not announce itself loudly or demand grand gestures.
Instead, it shows up quietly—in how we speak to others, how we listen, and how we treat ourselves. It lives in small moments of honesty and humility, practiced daily.
For LGBTQ+ alcoholics, Step Ten affirms something deeply healing: We can live openly and responsibly at the same time. We can be imperfect and still be spiritually fit. We can grow without losing ourselves.
By continuing to take personal inventory and promptly admitting when we are wrong, we remain connected—to our Higher Power, to our communities, and to the daily gift of sobriety.
Steve N
Las Vegas, NV.
GaL-AA Executive Committee Reconfiguration
At its February 4, 2026 monthly meeting, the GaL‑AA Executive Committee approved a structural reconfiguration designed to clarify leadership roles, enhance continuity, increase accountability, and align our organization with widely recognized nonprofit best practices. Most importantly, this reconfiguration affirms that every Executive Committee member serves as an Advisor, working together as equal partners who support one another—not as intermediaries, but as partners in service, mentorship, and collaborative leadership.
Summary of the Reconfiguration
All existing Liaison positions will be discontinued and transitioned into Advisor positions.
All Advisor positions will be elected by the membership for a two‑year term beginning with the November 2026 election.
All appointed positions (other than temporary appointments to fill vacancies) have been eliminated.
Going forward, every Executive Committee position will be elected, creating a consistent, transparent, and member‑driven leadership structure.
While the Executive Committee has approved this recommendation, it requires a bylaws amendment. The proposed change will be presented to the membership for a vote at the November 2026 Annual Meeting. More information will be shared with our members as we get closer to November.
GaL‑AA Executive Committee
Link to existing bylaws: https://www.gal-aa.org/bylaws
Spotlight On Sobriety 02/22/2026
The Spotlight On Sobriety 02/22/2026 features personal stories, articles, and reflections submitted by members and friends of the fellowship. The views expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of Alcoholics Anonymous or GaL-AA.
Statement of Inclusion
GaL-AA exists to serve lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queers and others in Alcoholics Anonymous regardless of how they self-identify. GaL-AA embraces all members of the AA Fellowship.
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