Look Before You Leap – As Bill Sees It #253

Wise men and women rightly give a top rating to the virtue of prudence. They know that without this all important attribute little wisdom is to be had. Mere ‘looking before we leap’ is not enough. If our looking is charged with fear, suspicion, or anger, we had better not have looked or acted atContinue reading “Look Before You Leap – As Bill Sees It #253”

Showing Up With Integrity – A Spiritual Principle A Day May 27th

“Integrity is the state of being fully integrated: Our actions, our thinking, our feelings, our ideals, and our values all match up.” Living Clean, Chapter 3, “Spirituality Is Practical” Most of us think of having integrity as being honest and reliable, as keeping our word. While that’s certainly true, integrity has a deeper and moreContinue reading “Showing Up With Integrity – A Spiritual Principle A Day May 27th”

Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein

My alcoholism and its personal and collateral damage evoke a lot of emotions. And yet, as I work the program and move from the bedevilments of my addiction(s) (BB p.52) to the ‘new freedom’ (BBp.84) of recovery, I have an experience of acceptance as well as conscious contact and spiritual fitness from a God ofContinue reading “Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein”

Emotional Sobriety Growing Toward Our Fullest Potential – Audio May 2026 From Dr. Allen Berger

I found this 5 minute slice of a recent YouTube from Allen Berger very helpful. You can listen and follow the complete transcript of his short talk below. This past Wednesday we read the story ‘Acceptance Was The Answer’. Buried in that story is a very important idea that is not generally recognized as aContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety Growing Toward Our Fullest Potential – Audio May 2026 From Dr. Allen Berger”

Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.

A three-word phrase that he didn’t understand—until he spent some quality time in the program There are very few original thoughts in the rooms of AA, but this may be one. It was a cold November morning years ago now that I walked through the door of Dawn Patrol in Albuquerque. I wanted to beContinue reading “Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.”

Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer

In our group meditation, we refer to mindfulness as this ‘wise companion’ with our goal not being to become great meditators but rather to experience this Presence in every aspect of our lives. How do we come to recognize and know this wise companion? Certainly through prayer and meditation but this article explores another pathContinue reading “Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer”

Emotional Sobriety And Relationships Video By Dr. Allen Berger

What does emotional sobriety look like in our relationships ? Here are a few ideas that Dr. Berger has helped me to discover and begin to work on: The video is about 30 minutes and is packed full of meaningful insights from Dr. Berger’s very recent talk in 2026. Allen Berger is a leader inContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety And Relationships Video By Dr. Allen Berger”

Honest Self-Appraisal In The Steps – Spiritual Principle A Day May 11th

To say that honesty wasn’t a top priority may be an understatement. We gain a new awareness of honesty’s value once we clean up. With a clear head and a restored conscience, we find that dishonesty comes at a price. Regret is no joke, so we try to avoid it. Practicing honesty with ourselves canContinue reading “Honest Self-Appraisal In The Steps – Spiritual Principle A Day May 11th”

Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.

My friend Big Adam shared this poem with me. His poem reminds me of this article from Henri Nouven about how hope so fundamentally differs from optimism. Nouven says “the person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands” and “hope is the trustContinue reading “Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.”

The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger

As many of you know, Allen Berger is a leader in Emotional Sobriety. His book 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety is featured prominently in the Emotional Sobriety section of the gugogs.org website. He is a Gestalt therapist with over 50 years of sobriety. Recently we completed a 5 Saturday series on Emotional Sobriety. – Bruce M. As weContinue reading “The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”