John Bradshaw was one of the most influential writers on emotional health in the twentieth century as selected by his fellow mental health professionals. He was also an alcoholic in recovery. His areas of expertise include addiction, co-dependency , trauma, emotional instability , and abuse. This extract is the preface to the original edition ofContinue reading “What Is Toxic Shame – Healing The Shame That Binds You By John Bradshaw”
Category Archives: Unworthiness
An Alcoholic and a Child of God – Grapevine Article July 1995 By Rick D.
STEP 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” This would have been a perfect epitaph for my headstone if my drinking had killed me before I got to AA. It was something I was constantly told; it was a feeling about myself that, although I didn’t likeContinue reading “An Alcoholic and a Child of God – Grapevine Article July 1995 By Rick D.”
Let Go Of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be And Embrace Who You Are – Brene Brown
This article uses extracts from the first and last chapter of Brene Brown’s book ‘The Gift of Imperfection’. Her focus on worthiness is very consistent with how we move from toxic shame to healthy guilt. We’ll begin with a quote I love from Brene that I think helps put this short article in perspective. –Continue reading “Let Go Of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be And Embrace Who You Are – Brene Brown”
Mashup – Seeking Emotional Stability Daily Reflection Aug 22nd & Being Is More Important Than Doing Aug 6th Reflection Henri Nouwen
Seeking Emotional Stability When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play GodContinue reading “Mashup – Seeking Emotional Stability Daily Reflection Aug 22nd & Being Is More Important Than Doing Aug 6th Reflection Henri Nouwen”
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”
Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th
How should one live? Live welcoming to all.—Mechthild of Magdeburg Welcoming is a spiritual practice we met when we came to this program. We may recall our first meetings and how welcome we felt in this group of fellow sufferers. The group gave us hope when we felt desperate and continues to provide us withContinue reading “Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th”
Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.
Step 4 is not only about what we did, but about what we are. It is not only about the wrongs we did to others, but about the wrongs that are in us. Though most of these are tied to things we did, some may also be significantly tied to things that others did. InContinue reading “Doing A Thorough 4th Step – Practice These Principles By Ray A.”
A Circle Of Friends – Grapevine Article December 1992 By Jim D.
I was a loner all my life. I was always scared and ashamed. I was poor, I lived in a dilapidated house, and my alcoholic father put my family through hell. I never had any friends. I despised alcohol for dealing me such a rotten break in life. As an adult, I vowed never toContinue reading “A Circle Of Friends – Grapevine Article December 1992 By Jim D.”
Boomerang – As Bill Sees It #185
When I was ten, I was tall and gawky, and smaller kids could push me around in quarrels. I remember being very depressed for a year or more, and then I began to develop a fierce resolve to win. One day, my grandfather came along with a book about Australia and told me, “This bookContinue reading “Boomerang – As Bill Sees It #185”