There can be no absolute humility for us humans. At best, we can merely glimpse the meaning and splendor of such a perfect ideal. Only God himself can manifest in the absolute; we human beings must needs live and grow in the domain of the relative. So we seek progress in humility for today. ********************Continue reading “Perfection—Only the Objective – As Bill Sees It #236”
Category Archives: Expectations
Mindful Self Compassion – Buddhism And The Twelve Steps February 10th Reflection By Kevin G
One of the great diseases of our culture is self-loathing. Many of us internalize an “inner critic” who is never satisfied with our behavior, our accomplishments, or even our thoughts and feelings. This negative self-belief is behind the crippling depression and anxiety that permeate Western society. Mindful self-compassion is an antidote to this disease. MindfulContinue reading “Mindful Self Compassion – Buddhism And The Twelve Steps February 10th Reflection By Kevin G”
Convey Not Convince – Emotional Sobriety Podcast – Dr. Allen Berger
In our February 2026 Emotional Sobriety Series, we’ve discussed how the power of pause can help us discover how ‘the best in me can lead the rest in me’. We discussed how this ‘best in me’ discloses itself when I find a ‘position of neutrality’ which has no agenda to produce some desired outcome. WeContinue reading “Convey Not Convince – Emotional Sobriety Podcast – Dr. Allen Berger”
God Speaks to Us in Silence – Grapevine Article April 2025 By M.B.
With AA’s help and prayer, a mother puts down the bottle, lets go of the past and reconnects with her family in a new way Most of my life I was a weekend drinker. I had a successful career teaching college and high school. When I retired in 2017, lacking the daily routine and purpose that had filledContinue reading “God Speaks to Us in Silence – Grapevine Article April 2025 By M.B.”
What’s My Business – Powerful Quotes From A New Pair of Glasses By Chuck C
So, my business is to go about His business, and it’s His business to take care of me. That is not my business, that’s His business. Now what is His business that I’m going about? Helping His kids do things they need to get done because I want to. (Page 105) Two verses popped throughContinue reading “What’s My Business – Powerful Quotes From A New Pair of Glasses By Chuck C”
The Light Of Rigorous Honesty Overcomes The Darkness Of Victimhood
I found the article below very helpful in understanding why ‘How It Works’ (BB p.58) describes rigorous honesty as a recovery demand in this way: “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honestContinue reading “The Light Of Rigorous Honesty Overcomes The Darkness Of Victimhood”
Perfectionism – Seeing & Responding With Emotional Sobriety Video By Allen Berger
Below is an excellent 30 minute video that explores how perfectionism amplifies self hatred. The video also explores how we can learn to respond differently to the ‘should monster’ of our idealized false self we’ve created to be loved, accepted and have a sense of belonging. And, in this new response, we learn how toContinue reading “Perfectionism – Seeing & Responding With Emotional Sobriety Video By Allen Berger”
FEAR (Face Everything And Recover) – Touchstones January 28th Reflection
To perceive is to suffer. — Aristotle In this program, we have given up our compulsive escapes from life. Our escapes may have been through dependent relationships with others, or with money, sex, food, drugs, work, or emotional binges. But now we are learning to live without them, and this has brought us in touch withContinue reading “FEAR (Face Everything And Recover) – Touchstones January 28th Reflection”
Bedevilments Are Transformed Into Promises – Big Book Awakening By Dan Sherman
On page 52 of the Big Book, we have a description of what has come to be known as the ‘bedevilments’. The bedevilments are fundamental life problems many of us were unable to solve in our active addiction and perhaps in our dry drunk state of abstinence without the practice of the Twelve Steps. DanContinue reading “Bedevilments Are Transformed Into Promises – Big Book Awakening By Dan Sherman”
Rigorous Honesty & Vulnerability In Accepting Life As It Is – Consolations By David Whyte
I found this short reflection on ‘Honesty’ by the outstanding poet and author David Whyte in his book Consolations very useful in helping understand the challenge of rigorous honesty which ‘How It Works’(BB p.58) identifies as a ‘demand’ for a sustainable recovery. His reflection also helps to connect us to the experience of the powerlessness, uncertainty andContinue reading “Rigorous Honesty & Vulnerability In Accepting Life As It Is – Consolations By David Whyte”