Through practicing the Steps we learn that our ego-image is not fixed or static I WILL never forget Karl. A buddy of mine, Mac, and I had received a call through a physician friend of AA. We were put on the trail of this character who, we were told, wanted to sign himself into aContinue reading “Who Do You Think You Are? – Grapevine Article July 1962 By L.C.”
Category Archives: Insanity
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.”
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”
Step 1 Understanding What Is Unmanageable – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro
If I’m in control, I’m not powerless. If I’m not powerless, my life is not unmanageable; I am only refusing to manage it. The error here is to assume that life’s unmanageability stems from our powerlessness. On the contrary, the unmanageability of our lives is not caused by powerlessness; powerlessness is a symptom of life’sContinue reading “Step 1 Understanding What Is Unmanageable – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro”
I Didn’t Want to Want to … Grapevine Article June 1960 By Warden Clinton Duffy
San Quentin’s former warden tells how Prison Groups offer alcoholic inmates a means for recovery from the disease that is often directly responsible for criminal records ONE OF the hundreds of alcoholic inmates who appear before the California Adult Authority (Parole Board), for fixing of sentence and possible parole consideration, said to me: “I couldContinue reading “I Didn’t Want to Want to … Grapevine Article June 1960 By Warden Clinton Duffy”
Unlikely Teachers – Grapevine Article April 1990 By Kit K.
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” How I hated to hear those words at meetings. They implied humility and a willingness to listen to whatever stranger happened to sit next to me or approach me on the street. Yet during five years of sobriety, many teachers have appeared in my life. Some wereContinue reading “Unlikely Teachers – Grapevine Article April 1990 By Kit K.”
The Wily Ego – Grapevine Article December 1962 By Harry M. Tiebout,M.D.
The capacity of the Ego to bypass experience is astounding and would be humorous were it not so tragic in its consequences. Cutting the individual down to size and making the results last is a task never completely accomplished. The possibility of a return of his infantile Ego must be faced by every alcoholic. IfContinue reading “The Wily Ego – Grapevine Article December 1962 By Harry M. Tiebout,M.D.”
Letting Go – Grapevine Article June 2017 By Lynne D.
When a defect arises, she tries to release it like a balloon and let it float up to the sky. It feels so much lighter when it’s gone For a long time I thought Step Six meant doing nothing, just waiting around and being ready. I wondered why it had to be a separate Step.Continue reading “Letting Go – Grapevine Article June 2017 By Lynne D.”
How Finding FRED And Responding Differently To Him Keeps Us Sober – Grapevine Article March 2022 By Carol K
Bruce M (italics) – This article uses an acronym I had never heard before FRED for fear, resentment, ego, and dishonesty. Like weeds in the garden of my life, I need discernment to see FRED clearly and the courage with God’s help to respond completely differently to my FRED. So much of my life hasContinue reading “How Finding FRED And Responding Differently To Him Keeps Us Sober – Grapevine Article March 2022 By Carol K”
Confusing Wants With Needs – Each Day A New Beginning – January 14th
In a culture where approval/disapproval has become the predominant regulator of effort and position, and often the substitute for love, our personal freedoms are dissipated. –Viola Spolin Wanting others to approve our efforts, our appearance, our aspirations and behavior is perfectly normal, certainly not unhealthy. However, needing the approval in order to proceed with ourContinue reading “Confusing Wants With Needs – Each Day A New Beginning – January 14th”