Emotional Sobriety, Humility, and Radical Response Ability – Video By Dr. Allen Berger

As many of you know, Dr. Berger is a leader in Emotional Sobriety. His book 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety is featured prominently in the Emotional Sobriety section of the gugogs.org website. He is a Gestalt therapist with over 50 years of sobriety. I found this video very helpful in setting a firm foundationContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety, Humility, and Radical Response Ability – Video By Dr. Allen Berger”

Emotional Sobriety, Spiritually Speaking – Practice These Principles By Ray A.

The relationship between spiritual recovery and emotional sobriety is probably a gray area for most of us. There may be three reasons for this, all intimately related.  One, we are not clear on what, practically speaking, a spiritual awakening is. The very idea of the spiritual being practical sounds like a contradiction in terms. Two,Continue reading “Emotional Sobriety, Spiritually Speaking – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”

A New-Found Providence – As Bill Sees It #328

When dealing with a prospect of agnostic or atheistic bent, you had better use everyday language to describe spiritual principles. There is no use arousing any prejudice he may have against certain theological terms and conceptions, about which he may already be confused. Don’t raise such issues, no matter what your own convictions are. ‹‹Continue reading “A New-Found Providence – As Bill Sees It #328”

Gratitude & More Fully Participating In Our Lives – Atlas Of The Heart – Brené Brown

If you go to p.107 of the Twelve & Twelve, Bill W makes this provocative claim: “Life is not be endured or mastered” Although he doesn’t attempt to answer the question of what life is; I’ve found the words “more fully participated in” an answer that seems consistent with what the NOW of life unceasinglyContinue reading “Gratitude & More Fully Participating In Our Lives – Atlas Of The Heart – Brené Brown”

Mashup – Seeking Emotional Stability Daily Reflection Aug 22nd & Being Is More Important Than Doing Aug 6th Reflection Henri Nouwen

Seeking Emotional Stability When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play GodContinue reading “Mashup – Seeking Emotional Stability Daily Reflection Aug 22nd & Being Is More Important Than Doing Aug 6th Reflection Henri Nouwen”

The Quest For Spirituality – Grapevine Article March 2000 By Earle M.

A good number of years ago, I found myself bewildered and uncertain about the meaning of spirituality and how one achieves it. After a rather frantic search, I fell upon an idea that presented a solution. I realized that by combining Step Twelve, Tradition Twelve, and the last sentence of the book Twelve Steps and TwelveContinue reading “The Quest For Spirituality – Grapevine Article March 2000 By Earle M.”

The Case Of The Inflated Ego – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Jacklyn S.

Only Step Seven–humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings–mentions humility specifically, yet all of the Steps seem to have an element of it. Some Steps require a big helping of humility to get going on the Step in the first place (for example, admitting we are powerless or that we are insane). Or, as aContinue reading “The Case Of The Inflated Ego – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Jacklyn S.”

Origins of ‘Progress Not Perfection’ & The Dangers of Absolutes & Perfectionism – Not God: A History of AA By Ernest Kurtz

In his outstanding book chronicling the history of AA entitled ‘Not God’, the author Ernst Kurtz emphasizes key differences between the philosophy of the Oxford Group and the reality of what has taken place in AA. The Oxford Group promoted the Four Absolutes – Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love. Our co-founder Bill W. was veryContinue reading “Origins of ‘Progress Not Perfection’ & The Dangers of Absolutes & Perfectionism – Not God: A History of AA By Ernest Kurtz”

The Building Of Character- As Bill Sees It #204

Since most of us are born with an abundance of natural desires, it isn’t strange that we often let these far exceed their intended purpose. When they drive us blindly, or we willfully demand that they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is the point at whichContinue reading “The Building Of Character- As Bill Sees It #204”

Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.

Step 4 is not only about what we did, but about what we are. It is not only about the wrongs we did to others, but about the wrongs that are in us. Though most of these are tied to things we did, some may also be significantly tied to things that others did. InContinue reading “Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”