When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than anything we could have planned. ************ My depression deepened unbearably, and finally it seemed to me as though I were at the very bottom of the pit. For the moment, the lastContinue reading “In God’s Hands – As Bill Sees It #2”
Category Archives: Alienation
Relational Sponsorship – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K
In the context of 12 Step recovery “relational sponsorship” is an ongoing recovery-based relationship that supports humility, accountability, and spiritual discernment through honest dialogue rather than authority or instruction. It’s a form a sponsorship that sometimes follows an initial introduction to the 12 Steps. It’s not written anywhere within the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)Continue reading “Relational Sponsorship – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K”
From Loneliness To Solitude – Daily Meditations January 4 -6 By Henri Nouven
Henri Nouven, in his classic book Reaching Out, has a powerful way of describing the new ‘response ability’ we can experience ‘with God’ as we encounter our loneliness. He outlines what he describes as this movement from loneliness to solitude. These three daily meditations along with their reflection questions may be a good way toContinue reading “From Loneliness To Solitude – Daily Meditations January 4 -6 By Henri Nouven”
If You Spot It You Got It – How We Distort Reality With The ‘Blind Spot’ Of Our Projections
This article is a good follow up to a post I entitled ‘Changing The Way We See’. The articles ‘Revolutionary! How Step 10 Suggests A Novel Response Ability When We’re Disturbed’ as well as ‘Make A U-Turn As We Seek To Understand Our Part(s) In A Disturbance’ are also quite relevant to this topic ofContinue reading “If You Spot It You Got It – How We Distort Reality With The ‘Blind Spot’ Of Our Projections”
Fear, Faith And The AA Perspective – 12 Step Philosophy Blog By Steve K.
I find this article quite helpful and complimentary to some key topics explored in the gugogs.org website such as emotional sobriety, toxic shame, and healing our jekyll/hyde divided self. I’d like to offer a few specific articles as complimentary resources/background to this excellent article by Steve K. Healthy Fear & Unhealthy Self Centered Fear SelfContinue reading “Fear, Faith And The AA Perspective – 12 Step Philosophy Blog By Steve K.”
Powerlessness; We Learn By Doing It Wrong March 23rd 2023 Daily Meditation By Richard Rohr
Father Richard describes the futility of trying to “fix” ourselves: The genius of Twelve Step programs is that they situate powerlessness and surrender right where they belong—at the beginning. They teach how sin or addiction are overcome not through willpower or by control, but much more by recognizing that we are powerless to overcome them. ForContinue reading “Powerlessness; We Learn By Doing It Wrong March 23rd 2023 Daily Meditation By Richard Rohr”
Remedy for a Lonely Holiday – Grapevine Article December 2025 By Chuck H.
With his wife away and daughter in the hospital, this newcomer’s Christmas was looking bleak. AA to the rescue. I’ve always wondered if our emotions and feelings are closer to the surface during the Christmas season than other times of the year. Is this because I’m reminded of the hope and joy that Christmas represents?Continue reading “Remedy for a Lonely Holiday – Grapevine Article December 2025 By Chuck H.”
People, Places, And Things – Grapevine Article June 1984 By S.C.
A look at the positive side of a familiar AA warning MANY BEGINNERS in my area are fond of saying, “I go to lots of meetings and I stay away from people, places, and things.” I’ve often felt like correcting the speaker by saying, “Surely, you don’t mean all people, places, and things.” I hold my tongueContinue reading “People, Places, And Things – Grapevine Article June 1984 By S.C.”
A Practice Of Thanksgiving – Daily Meditation November 27th By Richard Rohr
Gratitude is strongest, clearest, most robust, and radical when things are really hard. —Diana Butler Bass, Grateful During a time of crisis, historian and author Diana Butler Bass shares an experience of committing to a practice of gratitude: I did the only thing I could think of doing—simply saying “thanks” as I went through the day. IContinue reading “A Practice Of Thanksgiving – Daily Meditation November 27th By Richard Rohr”
Applying The St Francis Prayer To Our Inside Job Of Reconciliation & Healing By Allen Berger
As many of you know, Allen 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. Very recently Dr. Berger gave a very powerful talk about how to apply the St.Continue reading “Applying The St Francis Prayer To Our Inside Job Of Reconciliation & Healing By Allen Berger”