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. Before we do a deep dive into self acceptance with Dr. Berger’s article, it might be useful to identify signsContinue reading “Self Acceptance – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety by Dr. Allen Berger”
Category Archives: Awareness
Perception of Humility – As Bill Sees It #156
An improved perception of humility starts a revolutionary change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come straight out of painful ego-puncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running from pain and problems. Escape via the bottle was always our solution. Then, in A.A., weContinue reading “Perception of Humility – As Bill Sees It #156”
The Birth of Spiritual Confidence – Grapevine Article June 2005 by Dave C.
Steps to remove the desire to drink I arrived at the doors of AA in 1983 with a problem; I just wasn’t sure what the problem was. I thought I had a drinking problem. Then someone suggested that maybe my drinking problem really reflected a thinking problem. I was sure he was wrong; I justContinue reading “The Birth of Spiritual Confidence – Grapevine Article June 2005 by Dave C.”
Hidden Strength – Grapevine Article February 1997 by Donna G.
Solutions in Sobriety Getting through each sober day is an extra challenge for me. I was first diagnosed with an incurable arthritic condition when I was forty years old and sober a few years. At first the doctor told me that my case was mild, but over the years the physical pain and discomfort hasContinue reading “Hidden Strength – Grapevine Article February 1997 by Donna G.”
How Do I Respond To Failing – Each Day A New Beginning Feb 3rd
When we begin to take our failures non-seriously, it means we are ceasing to be afraid of them. It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves.–Katherine Mansfield Perfectionism and its control over our lives stands seriously in the way of our growth and well-being, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Life’s lessons comeContinue reading “How Do I Respond To Failing – Each Day A New Beginning Feb 3rd”
The Bedevilments – Big Book p.52-53
We had to ask ourselves why we shouldn’t apply to our human problems this same readiness to change our point of view. We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, weContinue reading “The Bedevilments – Big Book p.52-53”
Modern Man In Search of Soul – Bill W’s 2nd and final letter to Dr. Carl Jung from the AA book ‘Pass It On.
Bill W’s letter to Dr. Carl Jung crediting him for his contribution to AA and Dr. Jung’s very insightful response about his own inability to help an alcoholic (Roland H) recover but his recognition of the alcoholic ‘craving for alcohol as the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being forContinue reading “Modern Man In Search of Soul – Bill W’s 2nd and final letter to Dr. Carl Jung from the AA book ‘Pass It On.”
Clearing A Channel – As Bill Sees It #78
During the day, we can pause where situations must be met and decisions made, and renew the simple request “Thy will, not mine, be done.” If at these points our emotional disturbance happens to be great, we will more surely keep our balance provided we remember, and repeat to ourselves, a particular prayer or phraseContinue reading “Clearing A Channel – As Bill Sees It #78”
The Strange Mental Blank Spot – Grapevine Article by Louisa P.
An alcoholic does battle with the strange mental blank spot that separates her (and all alcoholics) from the rest of humanity Alcoholism is a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. That’s what we learn in AA. Alcoholism is merely a lack of self-discipline. That’s what most of the world thinks. Alcoholics can exert all the self-disciplineContinue reading “The Strange Mental Blank Spot – Grapevine Article by Louisa P.”
Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.
Early in my sobriety, my sponsor Linda told me that I was allowed to call and whine about a situation exactly once. After that, we were going to talk about solutions, not problems. She also gave me a time limit on feeling sorry for myself. I can’t remember if it was 10 minutes or 15Continue reading “Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.”