Step One, Acceptance, and the Freedom Found in Surrender One of the most exhausting things an alcoholic ever does is negotiate with reality. We negotiate with consequences. We negotiate with truth. We negotiate with our own patterns, our own pain, our own powerlessness. We say things like: And perhaps the most dangerous negotiation of all: “IContinue reading “When We Stop Negotiating With Reality – Take The 12 Blog May 2026 By Rick W.”
Category Archives: Desperation
Learning To Support Not Punish Ourselves By Dr. Kristin Neff
The most important boundary I have is with myself. It is not OK for me to condemn or hate myself. Instead of believing and accepting that judgment; I can pause and gets curious about this reaction of so much hate and disgust for myself. What I usually find is that I’m believing a bunch ofContinue reading “Learning To Support Not Punish Ourselves By Dr. Kristin Neff”
Acceptance vs. Denial By Michael P
“Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today.” That’s what it says on page 417 of the AA Big Book, but when I was first getting sober, I found that suggestion de very difficult to accept. Fortunately, my sponsor explained that “acceptance” was not the same as “approval” – we aren’t saying weContinue reading “Acceptance vs. Denial By Michael P”
Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.
‘Drop the rock’ is a powerful way of imagining and working steps 6 and 7. I love Sandy B’s hilarious way of helping us see these steps more clearly in this very short, impactful talk – Bruce M. Transcript If there is anybody new here tonight—and I hope there are some new people—there’s one lastContinue reading “Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.”
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”
Self-Acceptance: Waking Up from the Trance of Unworthiness – Interview/Video With Tara Brach November, 2025
I have added this video to the sections of gugogs.org on Toxic Shame and Healing our Jekyll/Hyde Divided Self. You may also find this article from Tara entitled ‘The Trance of Unworthiness’ relevant and useful. The interview below is about 30 minutes and full of insights and wisdom on this crucial topic that helps usContinue reading “Self-Acceptance: Waking Up from the Trance of Unworthiness – Interview/Video With Tara Brach November, 2025”
What Pain Teaches – Each Day A New Beginning April 26th
Pain is the root of knowledge. —Simone Weil We don’t want pain in our lives. We dread the situations we anticipate will be painful. We probably even pray to be spared all painful experiences. But they come anyway, at times in profusion. And we not only survive the pain, we profit from it. It seemsContinue reading “What Pain Teaches – Each Day A New Beginning April 26th”
An Inner Unity – The Inner Voice Of Love By Henri Nouven
I see much of what the Big Book describes as ‘causes and conditions’ (BB p.64) of my alcoholism as the inner wounds that keep me from wholeness and healing. In ‘As Bill Sees It #291, we are presented with this possibility of moving from being pain killers to become pain healers. For me, much likeContinue reading “An Inner Unity – The Inner Voice Of Love By Henri Nouven”
Fear Of Financial Insecurity Will Leave Us – Twelve & Twelve Pages 120 – 122
One of the 9th step promises can be especially elusive for many of us …”fear of economic insecurity will leave us”. I believe the Twelve & Twelve actually goes into a very useful review about how this fear leaves us. It’s important to note that the promise isn’t that economic insecurity leaves us but thatContinue reading “Fear Of Financial Insecurity Will Leave Us – Twelve & Twelve Pages 120 – 122”
Honesty, Open-Mindedness, Willingness – October 14th 2021 Reflection By Andy F
Not long after coming to A.A., the alcoholic fog began to clear. I kept hearing people at meetings sharing about something called the H.O.W. of the program. Buddies in the fellowship told me that H.O.W. is an acronym for Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness. They said these three principles were the only way to get well. The warped logicContinue reading “Honesty, Open-Mindedness, Willingness – October 14th 2021 Reflection By Andy F”