The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains:
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Honesty can be as much of a challenge while working the program as it was in the beginning. Many of us struggled to admit with “rigor” the seriousness of our lack of power over our emotions when we started the twelve-step program and many of us still find ourselves challenged to admit our stumbles and even relapses along the way. But having discovered freedom, I aspire to “trudge the Road of Happy Destiny”, and so – today, I will continue – to be honest.
That’s a good challenge. I struggle with honesty in some areas, but I do wish I can be honest and not have to put up a pretense. I have experienced the freedom that comes with honesty, and I too will work on being honest on this road to recovery and thereafter.