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”
Category Archives: Character
Walking Through The Pain – Just For Today November 17th
17 November It hurts like never before. You get out of bed after a sleepless night, talk to God, and still don’t feel any better. “It will pass,” a little voice tells you. “When?” you wonder, as you pace and mutter and get on with your day. You sob in your car and turn theContinue reading “Walking Through The Pain – Just For Today November 17th”
Make Use Of Mistakes, Failures, Losses And Sufferings – August 22nd Twenty-Four Hours a Day
A.A. Thought For The Day “Those who do not recover are people who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. TheirContinue reading “Make Use Of Mistakes, Failures, Losses And Sufferings – August 22nd Twenty-Four Hours a Day”
Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus
I love this short letter. It reminds me of this Grapevine article that uses the phrase ‘unsuspected inner resource’ as its title. That phrase is also used in Appendix 2 of the Big Book as a way of connecting us to a spiritual experience that may not meet our expectations of grandeur but is nonethelessContinue reading “Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus”
Frank Buchman and Alcoholics Anonymous – An Apology That Inspired A Million Amends By Jay Stinnett
When we read in the Big Book that “resentment is the number one offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else” (BB p.64) ; we may not have a real perspective on how fundamental the amends process has been to AA’s success in enabling us to stay sober one day at a time. You mightContinue reading “Frank Buchman and Alcoholics Anonymous – An Apology That Inspired A Million Amends By Jay Stinnett”
You’ll Go Where You Look – More Language Of Letting Go October 16th
There was only one tree in the landing area. Most of its leaves had been stripped away by the winter winds. I didn’t want to hit it, but that’s exactly what I did. My parachute opened up right over the student landing area, a blessing for someone as new and unsure as I. I flewContinue reading “You’ll Go Where You Look – More Language Of Letting Go October 16th”
Surrender, Vulnerability and Connection By Steve K.
The experience of surrender is the gateway to recovery from addiction. To paraphrase the first Step of the AA 12-Step program, at this moment we experience an acceptance that we lack control and that our life is unmanageable. Our ego surrenders its will through the pain and suffering of addiction. Our denial is broken, and we experienceContinue reading “Surrender, Vulnerability and Connection By Steve K.”
Amends Without Expectations – Just For Today October 6th
06 October The Eighth Step asks us to become willing to make amends to all persons we have harmed. As we approach this step, we may wonder what the outcome of our amends will be. Will we be forgiven? Relieved of any lingering guilt? Or will we be tarred and feathered by the persons we’veContinue reading “Amends Without Expectations – Just For Today October 6th”
The Gift Of Awareness – By Bonnie Weiss
The capacity of awareness is foundational in personal growth work—it’s the lens through which all meaningful change becomes possible. You can’t change what you can’t see. High-quality awareness—clear, non-judgmental noticing of your thoughts, feelings, patterns, and behaviors—creates space between stimulus and response. That space is where true choice lives. Much of our suffering comes fromContinue reading “The Gift Of Awareness – By Bonnie Weiss”
Cold Land Warm Hearts – Grapevine Article December 2023 By Keith J.
How would they find alcoholics to help in a small, remote Arctic town? One guy had a terrific solution Moving north to a remote community is something I never thought we would do. We heard depressing stories about the cold, dark winters and leaving everything and everyone behind, but God had an assignment for meContinue reading “Cold Land Warm Hearts – Grapevine Article December 2023 By Keith J.”