I found this 5 minute slice of a recent YouTube from Allen Berger very helpful. You can listen and follow the complete transcript of his short talk below. This past Wednesday we read the story ‘Acceptance Was The Answer’. Buried in that story is a very important idea that is not generally recognized as aContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety Growing Toward Our Fullest Potential – Audio May 2026 From Dr. Allen Berger”
Category Archives: Courage
Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.
A three-word phrase that he didn’t understand—until he spent some quality time in the program There are very few original thoughts in the rooms of AA, but this may be one. It was a cold November morning years ago now that I walked through the door of Dawn Patrol in Albuquerque. I wanted to beContinue reading “Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.”
Willingness To Rely On God – Extract 7th Step Chapter ‘Drop The Rock’
This extract from the book ‘Drop The Rock’ provides a practical application of the 7th Step Prayer from page 76 of the Big Book: “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which standsContinue reading “Willingness To Rely On God – Extract 7th Step Chapter ‘Drop The Rock’”
Spot-Checking – As Bill Sees It #132
A spot-check inventory taken in the midst of disturbances can be of very great help in quieting stormy emotions. Today’s spot check finds its chief application to situations which arise in each day’s march. The consideration of long-standing difficulties had better be postponed, when possible, to times deliberately set aside for that purpose. The quickContinue reading “Spot-Checking – As Bill Sees It #132”
Honest Self-Appraisal In The Steps – Spiritual Principle A Day May 11th
To say that honesty wasn’t a top priority may be an understatement. We gain a new awareness of honesty’s value once we clean up. With a clear head and a restored conscience, we find that dishonesty comes at a price. Regret is no joke, so we try to avoid it. Practicing honesty with ourselves canContinue reading “Honest Self-Appraisal In The Steps – Spiritual Principle A Day May 11th”
Accepting Change – The Language Of Letting Go April 19th By Melody Beattie
The winds of change blow through our lives, sometimes gently, sometimes like a tropical storm. Yes, we have resting places—time to adjust to another level of living, time to get our balance, time to enjoy the rewards. We have time to catch our breath. But change is inevitable and desirable. Sometimes, when the winds ofContinue reading “Accepting Change – The Language Of Letting Go April 19th By Melody Beattie”
Reasons We Need A Morning Practice – Recovery 2.0 By Tommy Rosen
The Uplift – Inspiration For People In Recovery When I’m asked by people if a Morning Practice would work for them, I always answer with an enthusiastic “YES”. How can I be so sure? There is over 5000 years of evidence that morning practice helps a person heal what has not been working, realize their excellence, andContinue reading “Reasons We Need A Morning Practice – Recovery 2.0 By Tommy Rosen”
Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.
My friend Big Adam shared this poem with me. His poem reminds me of this article from Henri Nouven about how hope so fundamentally differs from optimism. Nouven says “the person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands” and “hope is the trustContinue reading “Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.”
The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. 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. Recently we completed a 5 Saturday series on Emotional Sobriety. – Bruce M. As weContinue reading “The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”
Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma
I love the phrase ‘let the best in me lead the rest in me’ that Dr. Allen Berger came up with. This article can help us realize that within us there is an ‘unsuspected inner resource’ (BB p.567) where we experience a ‘place of neutrality’(BB p.85) and discover this ‘best in me’. It further helpsContinue reading “Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma”