One of our group members, Jack, has used this substitution of ‘thinking’ rather than ‘drinking’ as a great asset in his ongoing recovery . I also find this very, very helpful as I move to accept the obsessive thinking that leads to restless, irritable and discontent and then embrace steps 2 and 3 throughout theContinue reading “Our Thinking Problem – Big Book Substitution p.30”
Category Archives: Frustration
No Ordinary Lunch – Grapevine Article December 2024 By Anonymous
One day in a quiet suburban neighborhood, a meeting of two friends becomes a life-saving opportunity to reach out A dear AA friend and former sponsor and I decided to have lunch together. She had been a support to me for many years and had sponsored me through very difficult times, including the death ofContinue reading “No Ordinary Lunch – Grapevine Article December 2024 By Anonymous”
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”
Live Your Wounds & Befriend Your Pain – Henri Nouwen Daily Meditation October 9th, 10th
I love these two short daily meditations from Henri Nouwen. I see so much of what drives my addiction as an unhealthy response and relationship to pain. I have been a pain killer and am now learning, with the help of a Higher Power and my A.A. community, to be a pain healer. That transformingContinue reading “Live Your Wounds & Befriend Your Pain – Henri Nouwen Daily Meditation October 9th, 10th”
Toxic Shame, Character Defects & Out Of Proportion Reactions
A few weeks ago, we read the short reflection entitled ‘The Trance Of Unworthiness’. That reading is a poignant reminder of how many of us lose proportion and consciousness when we’re triggered and believe we’re under attack by this toxic shame and painful experience of our unworthiness. We seem to shut down and enter intoContinue reading “Toxic Shame, Character Defects & Out Of Proportion Reactions”
Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz
AA teaches that there is a wholeness in limitation. This understanding echoes an ancient tradition of wisdom, which saw being human as being caught in the middle, containing a contradiction. To be human, according to this tradition, means to sustain the tension of always being pulled in two opposite directions: to be more than humanContinue reading “Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz”
Forgiving Others, Forgiving Ourselves – Spiritual Principle A Day – September 21st
“Sometimes the path to forgiving ourselves begins with forgiving another for their lack of forgiveness.” Living Clean, Chapter 5, “Amends and Reconciliation” At first glance, this quote may sound like a riddle, but our experience validates its wisdom. Hoping to be forgiven is only human. Despite advice to the contrary, we sometimes harbor expectations aboutContinue reading “Forgiving Others, Forgiving Ourselves – Spiritual Principle A Day – September 21st”
By Defiance – Grapevine Article August 1948 By Anonymous
I love this brief article’s insight into learning to use our defiance for the greater good consistent with our 3rd step decision and prayer. It may be a great way of helping us internalize what can happen when we learn, with God, to love our internal enemies – those parts of us that seem toContinue reading “By Defiance – Grapevine Article August 1948 By Anonymous”
Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.
Sober twelve years, an AA wonders when she’ll get the big pay-off This coming October will mark my twelfth year of sobriety, but even with the passage of time, the inner demons of the alcoholic mind don’t roll over and die that easily. As my AA birthday draws near, a lot of old stuff hasContinue reading “Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.”