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: Suffering
AA & The Wounded Healer Anthology December 2020 By Steve K.
Step 12 of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) suggests that “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” A vital aspect of our own recovery from addiction is the inspiration to help others suffering fromContinue reading “AA & The Wounded Healer Anthology December 2020 By Steve K.”
Walking Through The Pain – Just For Today November 17th
17 November It hurts like never before. You get out of bed after a sleepless night, talk to God, and still don’t feel any better. “It will pass,” a little voice tells you. “When?” you wonder, as you pace and mutter and get on with your day. You sob in your car and turn theContinue reading “Walking Through The Pain – Just For Today November 17th”
Make Use Of Mistakes, Failures, Losses And Sufferings – August 22nd Twenty-Four Hours a Day
A.A. Thought For The Day “Those who do not recover are people who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. TheirContinue reading “Make Use Of Mistakes, Failures, Losses And Sufferings – August 22nd Twenty-Four Hours a Day”
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”
To Rebuild Security – As Bill See It #301
In our behavior respecting financial and emotional security, fear, greed, possessiveness, and pride have too often done their worst. Surveying his business or employment record, almost any alcoholic can ask questions like these: In addition to my drinking problem, what character defects contributed to my financial instability? Did fear and inferiority about my fitness forContinue reading “To Rebuild Security – As Bill See It #301”
The Rabbi, Equanimity & The Serenity Prayer By Rav Carl Kinbar
G-d, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer, Kosher Version The Riverton Mussar’s definition of equanimity begins, “Equanimity is about having balance, level-headedness and calmness of spirit.” Equanimity is a middah, the ability to maintainContinue reading “The Rabbi, Equanimity & The Serenity Prayer By Rav Carl Kinbar”
Victory In Defeat – As Bill Sees It #135
Convinced I never could belong, and vowing I’d never settle for any second-rate status, I felt I simply had to dominate in everything I chose to do: work or play. As this attractive formula for the good life began to succeed, according to my then specifications of success, I became deliriously happy. But when anContinue reading “Victory In Defeat – As Bill Sees It #135”
Hope Arrived – Grapevine Article January 2025 By Liz J.
On a cold winter night when all seemed lost, she walked into her first AA meeting and came out a changed person Earlier in the day, Chris cleared the snow off the minivan. He still takes care of me, even though he is so angry that he won’t even look at me. As I reverseContinue reading “Hope Arrived – Grapevine Article January 2025 By Liz J.”
Are These Bad Times Or Good Times? – Zen Farmer Story About Equanimity & Easy Does It
Zen Farmer Story When we stop trying to coerce life to go exactly the way we want, we naturally experience a greater sense of fluidity and ease no matter what happens. Just like the Zen farmer. There once was an old Zen farmer. Every day, the farmer used his horse to help work his fieldsContinue reading “Are These Bad Times Or Good Times? – Zen Farmer Story About Equanimity & Easy Does It”