To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude. This requires not only courage but also a strong faith. As hard as it is to believe that the dry desolate desertContinue reading “From Loneliness To Solitude – Henri Nouven February 8th Reflection”
Category Archives: Paradox
How Grandiosity And Unworthiness Are Related Dangerous Traps By Jane Drew
The belief in how special and unique we are can develop into a grandiosity that we may need to recognize within ourselves. The Twelve & Twelve reminds us of what the results of a study of alcoholics concluded were our most common personality traits The doctors weren’t trying to find how different we were fromContinue reading “How Grandiosity And Unworthiness Are Related Dangerous Traps By Jane Drew”
4th Step/10th Step Emotional Sobriety Worksheet By Dr. Allen Berger
Introduction – Bruce M. This post introduces a worksheet that Dr. Allen Berger uses in his book 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety. As you may know, Dr. Berger has over 50 years of sobriety and is a Gestalt therapist specializing in addiction and recovery. You can find other articles from Dr. Berger in theContinue reading “4th Step/10th Step Emotional Sobriety Worksheet By Dr. Allen Berger”
Will A.A. Ever Have A Personal Government – Grapevine Article January 1947 By Bill W.
The answer to this question is almost surely “no.” That is the clear verdict of our experience. To begin with, each A.A. has been an individual who, because of his alcoholism, could seldom govern himself. Nor could any other human being govern the alcoholic’s obsession to drink, his drive to have things his own way.Continue reading “Will A.A. Ever Have A Personal Government – Grapevine Article January 1947 By Bill W.”
Anxiety/Tension—All Bad? – Grapevine Article March 1969 By J.C.
An AA suggests that stress reminds us to plunge deeper into the program NO, SERENITY doesn’t mean a lack of any stress or tension. It means, instead, the inner security that enables us to bear these stresses and to use them as occasions for growth. I need not fear or shun anxiety, because there isContinue reading “Anxiety/Tension—All Bad? – Grapevine Article March 1969 By J.C.”
The Professor and the Paradox – 2nd Edition Big Book Story By John B
Note – Excerpts regarding paradox from the end of this story were also posted as a Grapevine article entitled ‘The Four Paradoxes’ which you can access here. – Bruce M. Says he, “We A.A.’ s surrender to win; we give away to keep; we suffer to get well, and we die to live.” I amContinue reading “The Professor and the Paradox – 2nd Edition Big Book Story By John B”
Where Will Power Comes In – Grapevine Article May 1962 By Bill W
The following is Bill’s answer to a letter asking about the role of will power in staying sober. This article is also included in the book of Bill’s letters entitled “Language Of The Heart” There has always been a lot of confusion about this matter of exerting the will. When the Twelve Steps say “WeContinue reading “Where Will Power Comes In – Grapevine Article May 1962 By Bill W”
How Our Character Is Revealed By Our Emotions – Practice These Principles By Ray A.
Our moral inventory as laid out in the Big Book is an examination of our character flaws as they relate to three emotions. These are anger, resentment, and fear. We make a list of the people we are angry at and note next to each the “cause” of our resentments (our perception of what theyContinue reading “How Our Character Is Revealed By Our Emotions – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”
Understanding Relapse By Addresssing Shame By Dr. Allen Berger
Relapse is a common characteristic of the chronic disease of addiction. You must address shame if you are going to get and stay sober. Even if you are unaware of feeling shame, it is likely to be an undercurrent in your life—a powerful, hidden undertow that can pull you under if you aren’t prepared forContinue reading “Understanding Relapse By Addresssing Shame By Dr. Allen Berger”
Four Paradoxes Of AA – Grapevine Article December 1953 By John P
AA medallions includes the Shakespeare quote “To Thine Own Self Be True”. This quote is both an aspiration describing a direction we move toward as well as a marker of the progress we’ve made and are making ‘one day at a time’. I believe practicing these four paradoxes is incredibly prescriptive in helping us uncoverContinue reading “Four Paradoxes Of AA – Grapevine Article December 1953 By John P”