What Hole Does Recovery Fill By Earnie Larson

Think about what recovery has added to your life and what was missing before. How has your recovery changed the hole in your soul once filled by addiction? With what has your recovery filled that hole?  Whatever recovery brings to a life is what that life lacked before. The more those needs are met beforeContinue reading “What Hole Does Recovery Fill By Earnie Larson”

When I Am Among The Trees – Poem By Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,especially the willows and the honey locust,equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,they give off such hints of gladness.I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself,in which I have goodness, and discernment,and never hurry through the worldbut walkContinue reading “When I Am Among The Trees – Poem By Mary Oliver”

God Doesn’t Create Junk – Grapevine Article By Linda P.

God Doesn’t Create Junk  She had to give up perfectionism and learn to value herself  I will always be amazed at the wisdom I find in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. I once heard that it is not what you say that matters, but how you make someone feel that counts. I want to make a difference,Continue reading “God Doesn’t Create Junk – Grapevine Article By Linda P.”

Getting To Know Our Differentiated Self – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger

I think there is a strong connection between this article and what I like to call the ‘mini-steps’ suggested as responses to a spot inventory of what disturbs us. These mini-steps are suggested in the Twelve £ Twelve in Step 10. Specifically, I see this article as very prescriptive when I find myself taking thingsContinue reading “Getting To Know Our Differentiated Self – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”

Can Healing Begin By Accepting Our Contradictions – Litanies Of The Heart By Gerry Crete

As you may know , our website has a section entitled ‘Healing Our Jekyll/Hyde Divided Self. This extract from a book ‘Litanies of the Heart’ further supports the idea of accepting the existence of many parts within us … what is called multiplicity. How often have you heard yourself or others say ‘a part ofContinue reading “Can Healing Begin By Accepting Our Contradictions – Litanies Of The Heart By Gerry Crete”

Surviving and Thriving – Grapevine Article By Jennifer T.

A horrific accident ultimately leads her to the rooms and recovery Alcohol has always been a part of my story. I grew up in a home with an alcoholic father. I started sipping alcohol as a toddler.  My story is not unusual. At some point growing up, I went from a confident, outgoing young girlContinue reading “Surviving and Thriving – Grapevine Article By Jennifer T.”

Finding Humility As We Lose Self-Hate – Touchstones Reflection November 10th

Humility is just as much the opposite of self-abasement as it is of self-exaltation. –Dag Hammarskjold In our struggles with self-hate and guilt, we may have thought we were humble – or perhaps even too humble. But self-abasement, which often alternates with feelings of superiority, is not the spiritual quality of humility that we striveContinue reading “Finding Humility As We Lose Self-Hate – Touchstones Reflection November 10th”

The Ego And Shame; A Barrier To Humility – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K.

In the book ‘For God’s Sake’  Alan Budge writes… “Recovery isn’t about stopping drinking (or stopping whatever). It’s about investigating the ways of the ego, and trying to change on the basis of that knowledge. It’s about surrender. For me, the whole spiritual deal is based on the idea that I’m not in charge, there is somethingContinue reading “The Ego And Shame; A Barrier To Humility – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K.”

False Pride & Self Centered Fear – Experience The Big Book By Dr. Michael H.

Clancy I., in one of his talks, stated that false pride is a killer for alcoholics.  He defined false pride as a compensation for feeling “less than”.   That statement defined my life.  From early childhood, I was constantly seeking approval through actions or achievements.  Just being “Michael” wasn’t good enough.  I never felt OK.Continue reading “False Pride & Self Centered Fear – Experience The Big Book By Dr. Michael H.”

Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz

AA teaches that there is a wholeness in limitation. This understanding echoes an ancient tradition of wisdom, which saw being human as being caught in the middle, containing a contradiction. To be human, according to this tradition, means to sustain the tension of always being pulled in two opposite directions: to be more than humanContinue reading “Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz”