NOW AND THEN, I hear a recovering alcoholic refer to the AA program as a selfish program. I fear that such a statement may hinder rather than help our efforts to stay sober and to find the peace of mind and contentment that, as the Big Book says, each of us can enjoy by workingContinue reading “Staying Away From One Defect One Day at a Time – Grapevine Article March 1983 by P.B.”
Category Archives: Self Reflection
The Serenity Prayer – Grapevine Article January 1950
…it’s origins are traced… AT long last the mystery of the Serenity Prayer has been solved! We have learned who wrote it, when it was written and how it came to the attention of the early members of AA. We have learned, too, how it was originally written, a bit of information which should layContinue reading “The Serenity Prayer – Grapevine Article January 1950”
Personality Change – Grapevine Article February 1972 by D.B.
Alcoholic patterns give way to new qualities of behavior IN THE BOOK As Bill Sees It—the AA Way of Life, it is stated, “. . .no true alky ever stops drinking permanently without undergoing a profound personality change.” This statement has frequently puzzled me. Recently, at discussion meetings, I have been led to believe that othersContinue reading “Personality Change – Grapevine Article February 1972 by D.B.”
Step 1 Surrender & Humility – Practice These Principles By Ray A.
The admission of powerlessness is a distinctly AA way of practicing certain spiritual principles that are key to recovery. Chief among these are the discipline of surrender and the virtue of humility. We have characterized these two principles as being foundational to the entire program, underlying all the Steps and extending through all stages ofContinue reading “Step 1 Surrender & Humility – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”
Prayer & Meditation- Big Book Step 11 (Pages 85 – 88)
Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. It would be easy to be vague about this matter. Yet, we believe we can make some definite and valuableContinue reading “Prayer & Meditation- Big Book Step 11 (Pages 85 – 88)”
Surveying The Past – As Bill Sees It #111
We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done to others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable injury. Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, veryContinue reading “Surveying The Past – As Bill Sees It #111”
Running The Whole Show – As Bill Sees It #320
Most people try to live by self-propulsion. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show and is forever trying to arrange the lights, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished,Continue reading “Running The Whole Show – As Bill Sees It #320”
Leave Outside Issues Out Here – Grapevine Article October 2021 by Anonymous
Talking politics is frowned on in AA meetings. One member makes the case that clothes can talk too Tradition Ten tells us that “no AA group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate AA, express any opinion on outside controversial issues—particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The AlcoholicsContinue reading “Leave Outside Issues Out Here – Grapevine Article October 2021 by Anonymous”
In Search Of Emotional Sobriety – Grapevine Article May 1989 by Anonymous
About a year ago I read an article written by Bill W. titled “The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety.” He wrote this article late in his AA recovery and it deals with that wonderfully terrifying realm–beyond not drinking. To me, it was the most powerful thing he ever wrote, along with the Big Book. It openedContinue reading “In Search Of Emotional Sobriety – Grapevine Article May 1989 by Anonymous”
The Jumping Off Place – Grapevine Article June 2002 by Anonymous
There is a chapter in the Big Book titled “A Vision for You.” A paragraph in that chapter talks about the jumping-off place. I reached that place one night in a bar after hours. I was twenty years old, and I had three children, a recent hysterectomy, and was on my third failing relationship. IContinue reading “The Jumping Off Place – Grapevine Article June 2002 by Anonymous”