I asked myself, “Why can’t the Twelve Steps work to release me from this unbearable depression?” By the hour, I stared at the St. Francis Prayer: “It is better to comfort than to be comforted.” Suddenly I realized what the answer might be. My basic flaw had always been dependence on people or circumstances toContinue reading “Free Of Dependence – As Bill Sees It #63”
Category Archives: Loneliness
Expectations – Just For Today Reflection July 29th
“As we realize our need to be forgiven, we tend to be more forgiving.” Basic Text, p. 39 ❖ Our behavior toward other people in our life is a mirror of our behavior toward ourselves. When we demand perfection of ourselves, we come to demand it from others around us, too. As we strive toContinue reading “Expectations – Just For Today Reflection July 29th”
Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.
Note – Allen B. is also Dr. Allen Berger the author of a number of articles in our Emotional Sobriety section of the website and the book ‘12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety’. I stood there in line growing more and more impatient. After all, I had important things to do. I didn’t have theContinue reading “Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.”
The Essential To Recovery Of Self Acceptance By James Hollis
There is something in us, all of us, that knows what is right for us, which path is ours and not someone else’s, something that pushes us beyond our comfort zone into areas of growth, development, and presence in this world greater than we have lived up to this point. ….While all the twelve-step programsContinue reading “The Essential To Recovery Of Self Acceptance By James Hollis”
Step 10 – Make A U-Turn As We Seek To Understand Our Part(s) In A Disturbance – Altogether You By Jenna Riemersma
This article gives us some new ways of approaching the spiritual axiom described on page 90 of the Twelve & Twelve in the chapter on Step 10: “It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us” Dr. Allen Berger likes to clarifyContinue reading “Step 10 – Make A U-Turn As We Seek To Understand Our Part(s) In A Disturbance – Altogether You By Jenna Riemersma”
The Beginning Of Humility – As Bill Sees It #191
There are few absolutes inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most Steps are open to interpretation, based on the experience and outlook of the individual. Consequently, the individual is free to start the Steps at whatever point he can, or will. God, as we understand Him, may be defined as a ‘Power greater…’ or the HigherContinue reading “The Beginning Of Humility – As Bill Sees It #191”
So That’s A Spiritual Experience – Grapevine Article January 1977 By Ed O.
Not always a flash of light, but being capable of doing what we couldn’t do before I CAN REMEMBER, early in my sobriety, feeling depressed because I not had a spiritual experience. I was sure that I alone had not undergone a sudden change of heart. This impression came from listening to some other membersContinue reading “So That’s A Spiritual Experience – Grapevine Article January 1977 By Ed O.”
Acceptance Not Blaming Others Or Condemning Ourselves – Touchstone Reflection July 2nd
Fair play is primarily not blaming others for anything that is wrong with us.—Eric Hoffer As adults, we accept responsibility for our feelings and our circumstances. We haven’t chosen our own troubles, but we have the job of dealing with them. If a person falls and breaks a leg, he might say to someone, “It’sContinue reading “Acceptance Not Blaming Others Or Condemning Ourselves – Touchstone Reflection July 2nd”
No Personal Power – As Bill Sees It #114
At first, the remedy for my personal difficulties seemed so obvious that I could not imagine any alcoholic turning the proposition down were it properly presented to him. Believing so firmly that Christ can do anything, I had the unconscious conceit to suppose that He would do everything through me—right then and in the mannerContinue reading “No Personal Power – As Bill Sees It #114”
Got A Pain In Your Feelings – Grapevine Article March 1950 By J.F.
Am I my own worst enemy? I’VE been in AA, and sober, for five years. But I still bruise easily–at times. Just when I think God is in heaven and the goose hangs high, something is said or done and–ouch!–I’ve got a pain in my feelings again! Ever have that happen to you, a painContinue reading “Got A Pain In Your Feelings – Grapevine Article March 1950 By J.F.”