AA teaches that there is a wholeness in limitation. This understanding echoes an ancient tradition of wisdom, which saw being human as being caught in the middle, containing a contradiction. To be human, according to this tradition, means to sustain the tension of always being pulled in two opposite directions: to be more than humanContinue reading “Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz”
Category Archives: Now
Inside Out – Grapevine Article June 1995 By Fred H
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character If Alcoholics Anonymous were a self-help program, Step Six might read something like this: “Became determined in our minds to overcome all our character defects.” Mercifully, this is not what we are asked to do in AA. In fact, no action at allContinue reading “Inside Out – Grapevine Article June 1995 By Fred H”
By Defiance – Grapevine Article August 1948 By Anonymous
I love this brief article’s insight into learning to use our defiance for the greater good consistent with our 3rd step decision and prayer. It may be a great way of helping us internalize what can happen when we learn, with God, to love our internal enemies – those parts of us that seem toContinue reading “By Defiance – Grapevine Article August 1948 By Anonymous”
Who Do You Think You Are? – Grapevine Article July 1962 By L.C.
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.”
We Are All Beginners To Our Next Step – Tommy Rosen Author of Recovery 2.0
We are all beginners to our next step.” – Guruprem No matter where we fall on the spectrum of experience in life, we share something with every other human being. We are all beginners to our next step. We cannot know what it is to be at our next step because we have not beenContinue reading “We Are All Beginners To Our Next Step – Tommy Rosen Author of Recovery 2.0”
Cluttered Spirits – Just For Today Reflection September 4th
As long as we still owe amends, our spirits are cluttered with things we don’t need. We’re carrying the extra load of an apology owed, a resentment held, or unexpressed remorse. It’s like having a messy house. We could leave so we don’t have to see the mess, or maybe just step over the pilesContinue reading “Cluttered Spirits – Just For Today Reflection September 4th”
Valuing This Moment – The Language Of Letting Go August 18th By Melody Beattie
Detachment involves present moment living – living in the here and now. We allow life to happen instead of forcing and trying to control it. We relinquish regrets over the past and fears about the future. We make the most of each day. This moment, we are right where we need to be, right whereContinue reading “Valuing This Moment – The Language Of Letting Go August 18th By Melody Beattie”
Fear Of Success – Touchstone Reflection June 28th
We fear our highest possibility (as well as our lowest one). We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments.—Abraham Maslow In our daily lives, we may dream of success and achievement. We strive and compete in the workplace. We go to meetings and do our part onContinue reading “Fear Of Success – Touchstone Reflection June 28th”
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”
Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th
How should one live? Live welcoming to all.—Mechthild of Magdeburg Welcoming is a spiritual practice we met when we came to this program. We may recall our first meetings and how welcome we felt in this group of fellow sufferers. The group gave us hope when we felt desperate and continues to provide us withContinue reading “Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th”