Forgiving Others, Forgiving Ourselves – Spiritual Principle A Day – September 21st

“Sometimes the path to forgiving ourselves begins with forgiving another for their lack of forgiveness.” Living Clean, Chapter 5, “Amends and Reconciliation” At first glance, this quote may sound like a riddle, but our experience validates its wisdom. Hoping to be forgiven is only human. Despite advice to the contrary, we sometimes harbor expectations aboutContinue reading “Forgiving Others, Forgiving Ourselves – Spiritual Principle A Day – September 21st”

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”

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.”

Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.

Sober twelve years, an AA wonders when she’ll get the big pay-off This coming October will mark my twelfth year of sobriety, but even with the passage of time, the inner demons of the alcoholic mind don’t roll over and die that easily. As my AA birthday draws near, a lot of old stuff hasContinue reading “Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.”

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”

The “Felt Sense” Prayer – Author Unknown

This prayer/poem describes the many ways in which we attempt to avoid all sorts of physical and emotional pain. It also highlights how recognizing our pain and accepting it can increase self-knowledge and improve self-care. It further suggests how our response ability and relationship with pain has impacted our addiction, our recovery, and our livesContinue reading “The “Felt Sense” Prayer – Author Unknown”

Gratitude – The Spirituality Of Imperfection By Ernest Kurtz (Excerpted from Chapter 12)

Gratitude can best be defined and understood as the only possible response to a gift, to something recognized as utterly, freely given. Gratitude is the vision—the way of seeing—that recognizes “gift.” Our culture seems on the verge of losing the meaning of the experience of gratitude, in part because we have lost all sense ofContinue reading “Gratitude – The Spirituality Of Imperfection By Ernest Kurtz (Excerpted from Chapter 12)”

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”

What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger

There are many powerful forces at work in our lives in relation to our personal development, but some of the most significant ones are the desires to be loved, to be accepted, and to feel that we belong.   Take a moment to think about the importance of those desires  in your current life. Can youContinue reading “What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”

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”