An AA sees that time in the program doesn’t make him immune to negative emotions Recently, my home group conducted a workshop exploring emotional sobriety. We broke it up into different aspects such as “What is emotional sobriety?” “How does it differ from physical sobriety?”, etc. My assignment was to explore: “Why we need emotionalContinue reading “It’s Not The Shoelace – Grapevine Article May 2010 by Jim H.”
Category Archives: Denial
Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1999 by Jim N.
Step 6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. The way I read Step Six, Bill seems to be saying, “Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get better.” And the longer I’m sober, the clearer it becomes that I’m not really in charge of this gettingContinue reading “Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1999 by Jim N.”
Making Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1997 by Ron D.
“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” So reads Step Six. After the guilt and remorse of my last drunk had faded, I didn’t think this Step had any application in my life. Now that I was no longer drinking I wasn’t a bad person. Character defects? I couldn’t seeContinue reading “Making Room To Grow – Grapevine Article June 1997 by Ron D.”
Out of This World! – Grapevine Article July 1992 by George M.
I had a surprising thought last night. As I listened to fellow AA members share, those initials AA took on a new meaning for me–Aliens Anonymous. I don’t know if every alcoholic feels like an alien, but I certainly have. Sometimes I still do. I’ve often said it was as if my second-grade teacher hadContinue reading “Out of This World! – Grapevine Article July 1992 by George M.”
Where Is My Life Unmanageable ? Place Yourself Into The BB Pages 60 Thru 63
I was listening to a talk where the speaker suggested that we place ourselves directly into what is unmanageable in our lives. He suggested redoing pages 60 thru 63 of the Big Book with ‘ I’ and ‘me’… and see if this doesn’t help us identify what is unmanageable right now. And perhaps , ifContinue reading “Where Is My Life Unmanageable ? Place Yourself Into The BB Pages 60 Thru 63”
Groping Toward God – As Bill Sees It #323
More than most people, I think, alcoholics want to know who they are, what this life is about, whether they have a divine origin and an appointed destiny, and whether there is a system of cosmic justice and love. It is the experience of many of us in the early stages of drinking to feelContinue reading “Groping Toward God – As Bill Sees It #323”
After the “Honeymoon “ – As Bill Sees It #216
For most of us, the first years of A.A. are something like a honeymoon. There is a new and potent reason to stay alive, joyful activity aplenty. For a time, we are diverted from the main life problems. That is all to the good. But when the honeymoon has worn off, we are obliged toContinue reading “After the “Honeymoon “ – As Bill Sees It #216”
Beginning Our ‘Course of Vigorous Action’ – BB pgs 63,64 (Step 4 – 9)
Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our decision (i.e. Step 3) was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, andContinue reading “Beginning Our ‘Course of Vigorous Action’ – BB pgs 63,64 (Step 4 – 9)”
The Timeless Marriage Of Self Will And Conflict – 12 & 12 Step 3 Pg. 37
Should his own image in the mirror be too awful to contemplate (and it usually is), he might first take a look at the results normal people are getting from self-sufficiency. Everywhere he sees people filled with anger and fear, society breaking up into warring fragments. Each fragment says to the others, “We are rightContinue reading “The Timeless Marriage Of Self Will And Conflict – 12 & 12 Step 3 Pg. 37”
God-Given Instincts – As Bill Sees It #142
Creation gave us instincts for a purpose. Without them we wouldn’t be complete human beings. If men and women didn’t exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to harvest food or construct shelter, there would be no survival. If they didn’t reproduce, the earth wouldn’t be populated. If there were noContinue reading “God-Given Instincts – As Bill Sees It #142”