There are many powerful forces at work in our lives in relation to our personal development, but some of the most significant ones are the desires to be loved, to be accepted, and to feel that we belong. Take a moment to think about the importance of those desires in your current life. Can youContinue reading “What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”
Category Archives: Heroic
Serenity – Grapevine Article December 1973 By J.H.
That elusive state of being that comes with total acceptance THE DAUGHTER, the son, and a few close friends had gathered around the AA old-timer. He had just announced his decision. Rather than go to a renowned cancer-treatment center, he was sticking with his local doctor. “There’s a possibility,” I pointed out, “that your voiceContinue reading “Serenity – Grapevine Article December 1973 By J.H.”
Unforgettable Bill W. – Grapevine Article June 1999 By Bob P.
He has been called the greatest social architect of the twentieth century. He called himself Bill W. As a securities analyst, he made fortunes for himself and his clients. But he lost everything when he became a hopeless drunk. Then, through the gift of a Higher Power, he found a road to recovery and helpedContinue reading “Unforgettable Bill W. – Grapevine Article June 1999 By Bob P.”
Pride & Possessions – Grapevine Article September 2014 By Anonymous
At 59, she left her old life behind. Thank goodness she kept coming back I went to my first AA meeting in 1975 at the age of 29. I went because my boyfriend thought I needed to go. I had had an episode of what I later came to know was the DTs. I was screamingContinue reading “Pride & Possessions – Grapevine Article September 2014 By Anonymous”
Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen
I suspect that we too often have lost contact with the source of our own existence and have become strangers in our own house. We tend to run around trying to solve the problems of our world while anxiously avoiding confrontation with that reality wherein our problems find their deepest roots: our own selves. InContinue reading “Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen”
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.”
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”
Persist Or Let Go – Touchstone Reflection July 3rd
Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist but in the ability to start over.—F. Scott Fitzgerald Many situations require fierce persistence, but in others we need to start over. Early in recovery, most of us haven’t had a good way of knowing the difference. Perhaps with every challenge we tried harder and heldContinue reading “Persist Or Let Go – Touchstone Reflection July 3rd”