Got A Pain In Your Feelings – Grapevine Article March 1950 By J.F.

Am I my own worst enemy? I’VE been in AA, and sober, for five years. But I still bruise easily–at times. Just when I think God is in heaven and the goose hangs high, something is said or done and–ouch!–I’ve got a pain in my feelings again! Ever have that happen to you, a painContinue reading “Got A Pain In Your Feelings – Grapevine Article March 1950 By J.F.”

Rationalizing Away Our Recovery – Just For Today March 6th p.68

“As a result of the Twelve Steps, I’m not able to hold on to old ways of deceiving myself.”  ❖ We all rationalize. Sometimes we know we are rationalizing, admit we are rationalizing, yet continue to behave according to our rationalizations! Recovery can become very painful when we decide that, for one reason or another,Continue reading “Rationalizing Away Our Recovery – Just For Today March 6th p.68”

Breach The Wall Of Ego – As Bill Sees It #74

People who are driven by pride of self unconsciously blind themselves to their liabilities. Newcomers of this sort scarcely need comforting. The problem is to help them discover a chink in the walls their ego has built, through which the light of reason can shine. ‹‹ ‹‹ ‹‹ ›› ›› ›› The attainment of greaterContinue reading “Breach The Wall Of Ego – As Bill Sees It #74”

Origin Of The Twelve Steps – Grapevine Article July 1953 By Bill W

This post on December 23rd 2024 is post #1000 on the gugogs.org website. Our first post took place as the pandemic began on April 26th 2020. Our Get Up, Get Out, Get Sober Group (GUGOGS) was attempting to figure out if and how we would function. The group evolved from a physical meeting to aContinue reading “Origin Of The Twelve Steps – Grapevine Article July 1953 By Bill W”

Daily Inventory – As Bill Sees It #296

Often, as we review each day, only the closest scrutiny will reveal what our true motives were. There are cases where our ancient enemy rationalization has stepped in and has justified conduct which was really wrong. The temptation here is to imagine that we had good motives and reasons when we really hadn’t. We “constructivelyContinue reading “Daily Inventory – As Bill Sees It #296”

When Conflict Mounts – As Bill Sees It #289

Sometimes I would be forced to look at situations where I was doing badly. Right away, the search for excuses would become frantic. “These,” I would exclaim, “are really a good man’s faults.” When that pet gadget broke apart, I would think, “Well, if those people would only treat me right, I wouldn’t have toContinue reading “When Conflict Mounts – As Bill Sees It #289”

The Ego And Shame; A Barrier To Humility – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K.

In the book ‘For God’s Sake’  Alan Budge writes… “Recovery isn’t about stopping drinking (or stopping whatever). It’s about investigating the ways of the ego, and trying to change on the basis of that knowledge. It’s about surrender. For me, the whole spiritual deal is based on the idea that I’m not in charge, there is somethingContinue reading “The Ego And Shame; A Barrier To Humility – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K.”

What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger

There are many powerful forces at work in our lives in relation to our personal development, but some of the most significant ones are the desires to be loved, to be accepted, and to feel that we belong.   Take a moment to think about the importance of those desires  in your current life. Can youContinue reading “What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”

Constructive Workouts – As Bill Sees It #215

There are those in A.A. whom we call “destructive” critics. They power-drive, they are “politickers,” they make accusations to gain their ends—all for the good of A.A., of course! But we have learned that these folks need not be really destructive. We ought to listen carefully to what they say. Sometimes they are telling theContinue reading “Constructive Workouts – As Bill Sees It #215”

The Masks Have To Go – Just For Today July 24th

“…we covered low self-esteem by hiding behind phony images that we hoped would fool people. The masks have to go.”  Basic Text, p. 33 ❖ Over-sensitivity, insecurity, and lack of identity are often associated with active addiction. Many of us carry these with us into recovery; our fears of inadequacy, rejection, and lack of directionContinue reading “The Masks Have To Go – Just For Today July 24th”