I’m still mystified by how I got sober, and the only answer that makes sense is that I stopped drinking through the grace of God. I was thinking about the difference between those of us who get sober and those who are still drinking, and I believe the difference is that we have accepted theContinue reading “The Gift Of Sobriety – Grapevine Article February 1993 In Their Own Words”
Category Archives: Problem
Staying In Your Own Business – Loving What Is By Bryon Katie
I can find only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours, and God’s. For me, the word God means “reality.” Reality is God, because it rules. Anything that’s out of my control, your control, and everyone else’s control — I call that God’s business. Much of our stress comes from mentally living out of our own business.Continue reading “Staying In Your Own Business – Loving What Is By Bryon Katie”
A Matter Of Character – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Hal W.
Assigning labels to his behaviors helps an AA to change I took a Fourth and Fifth Step several times. Everytime, I rationalized my behavior, saying to myself: Yes, I did some bad things–but I am basically a really nice guy, so no further action is necessary. In 2001, I was doing the Steps again withContinue reading “A Matter Of Character – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Hal W.”
Growing Into, Not Out Of , The Steps – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro
MATURATION VERSUS MATURITY I define addiction as a state of mind committed to maintaining the illusion of control. In addition, I define spirituality as the practice of spiritual maturation, designed to continually cut through the illusion of control and return you over and over again to reality and your powerlessness over it. And I understandContinue reading “Growing Into, Not Out Of , The Steps – Recovery The Sacred Art By Rami Shapiro”
Overcoming Suffering – Touchstone Reflection June 19th
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. –Helen Keller When a man looks at his life and at the lives of others, it is clear that pain is part of life. We cannot escape this tragic truth; our growth and our wholeness must include it becauseContinue reading “Overcoming Suffering – Touchstone Reflection June 19th”
Enjoy The Adventure – Journey To The Heart April 8th
It was a cold night in Sedona, Arizona. An unexpected snowstorm had passed through the usually warm city, dumping several inches of snow in a short time. The electricity was off. The cabin I was staying in was freezing. Great, I thought. I get to spend my last evening in Sedona fighting off hypothermia aloneContinue reading “Enjoy The Adventure – Journey To The Heart April 8th”
Let Go Absolutely – As Bill Sees It #242
After failure on my part to dry up any drunks, Dr. Silkworth reminded me of Professor William James’s observation that truly transforming spiritual experiences are nearly always founded on calamity and collapse. “Stop preaching at them,” Dr. Silkworth said, “and give them the hard medical facts first. This may soften them up at depth soContinue reading “Let Go Absolutely – As Bill Sees It #242”
From Denial To Acceptance – Language Of Letting Go February 22nd
Many of us lived in situations where it wasn’t okay to identify, have, or talk about problems. Denial became a way of life and our way of dealing with problems. In recovery, many of us still fear problems. We may spend more time reacting to a problem than we do solving it. We miss theContinue reading “From Denial To Acceptance – Language Of Letting Go February 22nd”
To Take Responsibility – As Bill Sees It #145
Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership , and brotherhood with all men and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure. But every AA has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing surveyContinue reading “To Take Responsibility – As Bill Sees It #145”
Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson
The Dry-Drunk Syndrome As hateful as this label is to so many people, it names a real condition that occurs when a person breaks a primary addiction (gets sober) but doesn’t deal with the underlying living problems. “Dry drunks” can afflict people who have broken a primary addiction (Stage I) but have not gotten furtherContinue reading “Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson”