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. Very recently Dr. Berger gave a very powerful talk about how to apply the St.Continue reading “Applying The St Francis Prayer To Our Inside Job Of Reconciliation & Healing By Allen Berger”
Category Archives: Peace Of Mind
Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus
I love this short letter. It reminds me of this Grapevine article that uses the phrase ‘unsuspected inner resource’ as its title. That phrase is also used in Appendix 2 of the Big Book as a way of connecting us to a spiritual experience that may not meet our expectations of grandeur but is nonethelessContinue reading “Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus”
Some Longtime Views – Grapevine Article March 1984 By P.O.
MAY A SPECIAL shaft of serenity shine upon some alcoholic who thought up and shared that pleasant word “long-timer” instead of “old-timer.” I must reciprocate with some long-time views! One month ago, I shared my thirty-fifth AA birthday on a Sunday night at a meeting in Rondebosch. There was no banquet, no bells, not evenContinue reading “Some Longtime Views – Grapevine Article March 1984 By P.O.”
Humility Is Living In Reality – A Spiritual Principle A Day September 9th
In early recovery, we often find ourselves going from unrealistic, grandiose self-perception to believing we are the worst person in history. It’s that familiar addict pendulum swing–from one extreme to the other (with an optional sound effect): I’m a spiritual giant deserving of high praise–WHOOSH!–I’m a worthless piece of trash. I’m the hottest person here–WHOOSH!–I’mContinue reading “Humility Is Living In Reality – A Spiritual Principle A Day September 9th”
Forgiveness & Resenting The Painful Side Of Life – Forgive For Good Recovery Workbook By Fred Luskin
I believe the movement from being a pain killer to becoming a pain healer is at the heart of recovery. This article helps us understand the crucial role forgiveness can play in this healing movement. It’s extracted from a recently published workbook specifically designed for integrating forgiveness with the Twelve Steps. The author, Dr. FredContinue reading “Forgiveness & Resenting The Painful Side Of Life – Forgive For Good Recovery Workbook By Fred Luskin”
Freeing Yourself From Your Mind – The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle
Many years ago I found the book ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle an outstanding practical way to take my ‘monkey mind’ of endless thoughts of past and future and use it to discover a stillness, peace and power in the present moment … what I like to call ‘the Present of the present’.Continue reading “Freeing Yourself From Your Mind – The Power of Now By Eckhart Tolle”
Free Of Dependence – As Bill Sees It #63
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”
Swimming With the Current – Grapevine Article August 2025 By John K.
To him, AA is a program of action, not belief. If we’re honest, kind and living in the love, we’re going the right way When I was a month or so sober, a fellow came up to me after a meeting and declared emphatically, “You’ll never stay sober if you don’t accept God in yourContinue reading “Swimming With the Current – Grapevine Article August 2025 By John K.”
No One Is Coming – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Allen Berger
What if what we were seeking was already within us but was masked , hidden and unknown? This article is extracted from Chapter 7 of Dr. Allen Berger’s outstanding book 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety. You can think of this article as helping us discover and welcome with curiosity the ‘unsuspected inner resource’(BB p.567) describedContinue reading “No One Is Coming – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Allen Berger”
An AA Doctor’s Prescription – Grapevine Article July 1963 By Dr. Hal S.
As a doctor I don’t claim to be an authority on alcoholism. In some phases of the illness, however, I have acquired a specialized knowledge that is not taught in medical schools or developed in actual medical practice. During my years of “research” into the subject, I drank myself out of my profession and intoContinue reading “An AA Doctor’s Prescription – Grapevine Article July 1963 By Dr. Hal S.”