Shame, Fear And The Problem With Faking It – Broken Open (Extract From Chapter 11)- By William Moyers

William Moyers wrote a bestselling book called Broken in 2006 which chronicled his journey in sobriety from alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. In 2014 after years of sober living, he found himself addicted to painkillers prescribed after dental surgery. He had made (and continues to make) his living as the Public Relations Director for theContinue reading “Shame, Fear And The Problem With Faking It – Broken Open (Extract From Chapter 11)- By William Moyers”

Cluttered Spirits – Just For Today Reflection September 4th

As long as we still owe amends, our spirits are cluttered with things we don’t need. We’re carrying the extra load of an apology owed, a resentment held, or unexpressed remorse. It’s like having a messy house. We could leave so we don’t have to see the mess, or maybe just step over the pilesContinue reading “Cluttered Spirits – Just For Today Reflection September 4th”

Have You Experimented? – As Bill Sees It #247

Since open-mindedness and experimentation are supposed to be the indispensable attributes of our ‘scientific’ civilization, it seems strange that so many scientists are reluctant to try out personally the hypothesis that God came first and man afterward. They prefer to believe that man is the chance product of evolution; that God, the Creator, does notContinue reading “Have You Experimented? – As Bill Sees It #247”

Heal Your Resentments – Journey To The Heart Melody Beattie August 22nd

How fast resentments creep in during the course of an ordinary year. How much faster they can creep in during intense times, times of change, times of evolution—the kind of times we’ve been experiencing on our journey. Things shift. Things change. We let go of the old and stumble toward the new. And resentments cropContinue reading “Heal Your Resentments – Journey To The Heart Melody Beattie August 22nd”

A Matter Of Character – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Hal W.

Assigning labels to his behaviors helps an AA to change I took a Fourth and Fifth Step several times. Everytime, I rationalized my behavior, saying to myself: Yes, I did some bad things–but I am basically a really nice guy, so no further action is necessary. In 2001, I was doing the Steps again withContinue reading “A Matter Of Character – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Hal W.”

The Case Of The Inflated Ego – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Jacklyn S.

Only Step Seven–humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings–mentions humility specifically, yet all of the Steps seem to have an element of it. Some Steps require a big helping of humility to get going on the Step in the first place (for example, admitting we are powerless or that we are insane). Or, as aContinue reading “The Case Of The Inflated Ego – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Jacklyn S.”

Earthly Spirituality, Realism & Paradox – The Spirituality of Imperfection By Ernst Kurtz

This post is extracted from Chapter 1 ‘The Fragrance Of A Rose’ of the book ‘The Spirituality Of Imperfection’ “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know.” When the Master entered, they asked him what the words meant. Said the Master, “Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?” AllContinue reading “Earthly Spirituality, Realism & Paradox – The Spirituality of Imperfection By Ernst Kurtz”

The Truth In Our Vulnerability – Consolations By David Whyte

A definition of recovery I find very helpful is ‘wisely accommodating to life as it is’. Our ability to accept and perhaps surrender(not resist) ‘what is’ is fundamental to the question the Twelve & Twelve asks us on page 88 … ‘can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose underContinue reading “The Truth In Our Vulnerability – Consolations By David Whyte”

Growing Into, Not Out Of , The Steps – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro

MATURATION VERSUS MATURITY I define addiction as a state of mind committed to maintaining the illusion of control. In addition, I define spirituality as the practice of spiritual maturation, designed to continually cut through the illusion of control and return you over and over again to reality and your powerlessness over it. And I understandContinue reading “Growing Into, Not Out Of , The Steps – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro”

Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.

Step 4 is not only about what we did, but about what we are. It is not only about the wrongs we did to others, but about the wrongs that are in us. Though most of these are tied to things we did, some may also be significantly tied to things that others did. InContinue reading “Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”