To say that honesty wasn’t a top priority may be an understatement. We gain a new awareness of honesty’s value once we clean up. With a clear head and a restored conscience, we find that dishonesty comes at a price. Regret is no joke, so we try to avoid it. Practicing honesty with ourselves canContinue reading “Honest Self-Appraisal In The Steps – Spiritual Principle A Day May 11th”
Category Archives: Trust
Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.
My friend Big Adam shared this poem with me. His poem reminds me of this article from Henri Nouven about how hope so fundamentally differs from optimism. Nouven says “the person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands” and “hope is the trustContinue reading “Holding Hope Close – Recovery Poem By Adam M.”
The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger
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. Recently we completed a 5 Saturday series on Emotional Sobriety. – Bruce M. As weContinue reading “The Freedom Of Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”
Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma
I love the phrase ‘let the best in me lead the rest in me’ that Dr. Allen Berger came up with. This article can help us realize that within us there is an ‘unsuspected inner resource’ (BB p.567) where we experience a ‘place of neutrality’(BB p.85) and discover this ‘best in me’. It further helpsContinue reading “Move Toward Not Away From What Disturbs Us – By Jenna Riemersma”
See The Divine All Around You – Journey To The Heart May 2nd Reflection By Melody Beattie
The woman was old, perhaps ninety. She had the frailness we sometimes see in the elderly, but her life force was strong, vital. She sat in the cafe eating breakfast with a younger woman. “You’ve been through a lot,” the younger woman said. “It must be hard since your husband died. How are you doing?”Continue reading “See The Divine All Around You – Journey To The Heart May 2nd Reflection By Melody Beattie”
Self-Acceptance: Waking Up from the Trance of Unworthiness – Interview/Video With Tara Brach November, 2025
I have added this video to the sections of gugogs.org on Toxic Shame and Healing our Jekyll/Hyde Divided Self. You may also find this article from Tara entitled ‘The Trance of Unworthiness’ relevant and useful. The interview below is about 30 minutes and full of insights and wisdom on this crucial topic that helps usContinue reading “Self-Acceptance: Waking Up from the Trance of Unworthiness – Interview/Video With Tara Brach November, 2025”
From My Head to My Heart – Grapevine Article May 2026 By Terri R.
After years of being dry, a woman in Texas discovers a new hope and freedom by diving back into the Steps This past December I decided to visit one of my favorite recovery clubhouses to commemorate 28 years of sobriety. It had been a long time since I was in an AA meeting and evenContinue reading “From My Head to My Heart – Grapevine Article May 2026 By Terri R.”
What Pain Teaches – Each Day A New Beginning April 26th
Pain is the root of knowledge. —Simone Weil We don’t want pain in our lives. We dread the situations we anticipate will be painful. We probably even pray to be spared all painful experiences. But they come anyway, at times in profusion. And we not only survive the pain, we profit from it. It seemsContinue reading “What Pain Teaches – Each Day A New Beginning April 26th”
Finding True Agency & Empowerment ‘With God’ – April 24th 2026 Reflection By Bruce M.
I’ll begin with a couple of reminders. First, progress not perfection … that true agency is a North Star I set my compass toward not a possession I’m expecting to acquire or achieve … I navigate with this aspiration not delude myself that it’s mine. Second, the Twelve & Twelve assertion “the more we becomeContinue reading “Finding True Agency & Empowerment ‘With God’ – April 24th 2026 Reflection By Bruce M.”
God Will Not Desert Us – As Bill Sees It #221
Word comes to me that you are making a magnificent stand in adversity—this adversity being the state of your health. It gives me a chance to express my gratitude for your recovery in A.A. and especially for the demonstration of its principles you are now so inspiringly giving to us all. You will be gladContinue reading “God Will Not Desert Us – As Bill Sees It #221”