There’s a paradox at the heart of self-compassion. Although the word “self” is right there in the name, self-compassion actually represents a movement away from the perspective of self. In fact, it should probably be spelled “self→compassion.” This movement is reflected in the way I define and measure self-compassion. The Self-Compassion Scale has six subscales, whichContinue reading “The Paradox Of Self Compassion September 2026 By Dr. Kristin Neff”
Category Archives: Open Mindedness
Don’t Waste the Failure – Take The 12 Blog August 2026 By Rick W
I don’t particularly like failing. I don’t like being wrong. I don’t like discovering that I’ve hurt somebody. I don’t like having to admit that something I was absolutely certain about turned out to be absolutely wrong. I don’t like rejection. I don’t like finding out that despite my best efforts, something simply didn’t work.Continue reading “Don’t Waste the Failure – Take The 12 Blog August 2026 By Rick W”
Guide to a Better Way – As Bill Sees It #149
Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the Steps require. But we saw that the program really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness of life as we had been living it. When, therefore, we were approached by those inContinue reading “Guide to a Better Way – As Bill Sees It #149”
Ego Reduction and Surrender – Road To Recovery Group Plymouth MA By Chris S.
Having been sober in AA for a while, I was encouraged to read some other AA literature as well as the Big Book. One of my favourites is ‘AA Comes of Age’. For those who have not yet had the pleasure, it is about the 20th Anniversary Convention of AA in St Louis and theContinue reading “Ego Reduction and Surrender – Road To Recovery Group Plymouth MA By Chris S.”
Our Critics Can Be Our Benefactors – Grapevine Article April 1963 By Bill W.
Bill’s View A magazine article criticizing certain aspects of AA reminds us of the need to review our relationships to medicine, to religion and to the world at large. When the Grapevine editors consulted Bill W. on the matter, he suggested a rereading of relevant portions of “Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age” (published in 1957)Continue reading “Our Critics Can Be Our Benefactors – Grapevine Article April 1963 By Bill W.”
After Twenty-Five Years – Grapevine Article March 1960 By Bill W.
For the many groups throughout the AA world who plan to hold twenty-fifth anniversary gatherings this year, our co-founder Bill W. has written this glimpse of the panorama of AA today. GSO has also made available a short version of Bill’s message for groups wishing to use it at “AA 25th” meetings–THE EDITORS. IT isContinue reading “After Twenty-Five Years – Grapevine Article March 1960 By Bill W.”
Learn To Use Misfortune – Grapevine Article April 1984 By W.J.
The best illustration of gratitude I know lies in the story of Louis Braille. Louis was the son of a French shoemaker. One day, his father, working at his bench with Louis underfoot, dropped a sharp instrument known as an awl from the table. It hit the boy in the eye and caused him toContinue reading “Learn To Use Misfortune – Grapevine Article April 1984 By W.J.”
Pause And Surrender – Why Getting Derailed Might Be the Point By Barry Michaels
Let’s be real, we have all been interrupted…especially when you’re in the middle of something important. During those moments most of us want to explode, especially on the person or situation that has broken our flow. As humans we struggle to embrace unexpected demands. On a deeper level, it is safe to say, our egoContinue reading “Pause And Surrender – Why Getting Derailed Might Be the Point By Barry Michaels”
Find Your Friend Within – Breath; Wake Up To Life By Prem Rawat
I love the reflections on breath from this book written by Prem Rawat. When first sober and very defiant in my agnosticism, I was able to find a way of relating to a Power greater than myself as breath. I knew my breath was absolutely essential to my life yet something I was being given eachContinue reading “Find Your Friend Within – Breath; Wake Up To Life By Prem Rawat”
Step 4 From Awareness To Admission – Chapter 3 Of ‘The Prep Steps: Setting Up Action In A.A.’ By Rick W.
Click to read more from Rick W and see articles about Step 1 and Step 2 . I find Rick’s short articles about what he calls the preparation steps from his excellent book ‘The Prep Steps:Setting Up Action In A.A. full of insights and extremely helpful – Bruce M. Step 4: The Preparation for StepContinue reading “Step 4 From Awareness To Admission – Chapter 3 Of ‘The Prep Steps: Setting Up Action In A.A.’ By Rick W.”