The Acute Arrows of Accusation

The Acute Arrows of Accusation

Understanding the Jagged Weapon of Judgement

Personal reflections from a fellow traveler.  Not AA approved literature.  Shared in the spirit of Experience, Strength, and Hope.

In my life, judgment announces itself boldly.
It arrives sharp and certain—an accusation aimed with confidence and released without restraint. Unlike blunt force, it pierces. And once it lands, it leaves behind something jagged that tears again with every movement.

In recovery, I’ve learned that judgment cuts in two directions. When aimed outward, it separates us from others. When turned inward, it binds us to shame.  A person cannot heal while standing trial in their own mind.

For years I’ve scurried to the top of my high tower of moral superiority and fired arrows of accusation.  Not to repair—but to retaliate.  To prove I’m right and satisfy my own desires.

The Steps call us away from accusation and toward honesty. They do not excuse wrongdoing, but they refuse to weaponize it. Responsibility leads to freedom; self-indictment does not.

Grace enters when judgment is laid down. Not by ignoring truth, but by telling it without malice or condemnation. In that space, wounds close, arrows lose their edge, and humility replaces the need to accuse.

Recovery is not about proving innocence.
It is about choosing honesty over judgment—toward others, and toward ourselves.

I’m learning that this is a practice. Real change takes time, patience, and perseverance.  At times we will inevitably fail.  Remember that success is built on a mountain of failure.  Each one a steppingstone leading us ever upward.

Where in my life can I soften my accusations of others?