The word shame is derived from the Indo-European ‘skein’, which means to hide. Shame makes us want to hide from ourselves, and our peers – making shame an existentially isolating state of mind. Feeling shame makes a person dejection-based, passive, or helpless, causing the ashamed person to focus more on devaluing or condemning his entireContinue reading “Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.”
Category Archives: Guilt
What We Could Not Do For Ourselves – Grapevine Article April 1989 By Eleanor R.
I can remember the first time I read the following sentence from chapter five of the Big Book: “We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.” I was sitting at a Big Book meeting, only a few months into the program, still pretty shaky and confused. But those words gave me a feeling of releaseContinue reading “What We Could Not Do For Ourselves – Grapevine Article April 1989 By Eleanor R.”
Peace With The Past – Language Of Letting Go September 25th
Today I choose to build a pathway to freedom from the bondage of self. –Ruth Fishel Holding on to the past, either through guilt, longing, denial, or resentment, is a waste of valuable energy – energy that can be used to transform today and tomorrow. “I used to live in my past,” said one recoveringContinue reading “Peace With The Past – Language Of Letting Go September 25th”
8th Step Willingness To Have Our Hearts Change – The Language Of Letting Go – Melody Beattie
The Eighth Step is talking about a change of heart, a healing change. This attitude can begin a great chain of repair and healing in our relationships with others and ourselves. It means we become willing to let go of our hard heartedness – one of the greatest blocks to our ability to give andContinue reading “8th Step Willingness To Have Our Hearts Change – The Language Of Letting Go – Melody Beattie”
Mr. Hyde Doesn’t Die – Grapevine Article April 1968 by A.J.W.
To explore this reality of parts within us and the war and healing of these parts , check out this section of our website The boozer in us is still there, but put to sleep by AA. This member woke up his Mr. Hyde with a single beer WE ALCOHOLICS are, I think, double-personality people–oneContinue reading “Mr. Hyde Doesn’t Die – Grapevine Article April 1968 by A.J.W.”
Quantity Or Quality – As Bill Sees It #11
About this slip business—I would not be too discouraged. I think you are suffering a great deal from a needless guilt. For some reason or other, the Lord has laid out tougher paths for some of us, and I guess you are treading one of them. God is not asking us to be successful. HeContinue reading “Quantity Or Quality – As Bill Sees It #11”
What We Will Be Tomorrow- Grapevine Article Mayb 1991 by Ed H.
My first thoughts regarding Step Five were that I would take it with someone far away and then pray for that person’s early demise. I can see today, though, how something like this could have been disastrous to my sobriety. There are people in my life today whom I have chosen as friends and throughContinue reading “What We Will Be Tomorrow- Grapevine Article Mayb 1991 by Ed H.”
No Words Needed – Grapevine Article February 2022 by Larry K.
I’m told that my grandfather was an alcoholic. The disease appears to have skipped a generation, as my father, an only child, did not drink. But alcoholism found me. Today, having just passed 20 years of sobriety in AA, I have had some time to think about the issue of alcoholism and my family. ThreeContinue reading “No Words Needed – Grapevine Article February 2022 by Larry K.”
Faith, Failure, and Frustration – Grapevine Article May 1973 by Anonymous
Making promises we cannot keep leads only to greater guilt THE GRAVITY of the offense is measured according to the dignity of the one offended. So said an old philosopher. Guilt is sometimes defined as remorse felt over one’s commission of a real or imagined offense. Sometimes, I define guilt as the result of wishingContinue reading “Faith, Failure, and Frustration – Grapevine Article May 1973 by Anonymous”
The Hidden Assassin – January 1972 by J.W.
Beware the enemy that lurks beneath the surface of our conscious selves AT AA MEETINGS, resentment is a popular topic of discussion. Everyone seems to suffer from it, and everyone agrees that it’s bad. Many of us get to relate little resentful anecdotes to the tune of understanding laughter, and though we often carry ourContinue reading “The Hidden Assassin – January 1972 by J.W.”