As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do Gods will, was missing. 12 & 12, p.72

When I first came to A.A., I wanted to find some of the elusive quality called humility. I didnt realize I was looking for humility because I thought it would help me get what I wanted, and I would do anything for others if I thought God would somehow reward me for it. I try to remember now that the people I meet in the course of my day are as close to God as I am ever going to get while on this earth. I need to pray for knowledge of Gods will today, and see how my experience with hope and pain can help other people; if I can do that, I dont need to search for humility, it has found me.