Our Blog
Self-Centered Fear
The AA Perspective The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear – primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living on a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. 12 + 12 p.76. Introduction The main…
Traits of Spirituality in AA
how can we tell if this spiritual life is being enlarged and perfected? Is staying sober, in and of itself, the only outcome that is indicative of a flourishing spiritual life? Or, are there other indicators?
Opinion and Experience in AA
The Significance of Distinguishing Opinion from Experience A critical insight I gained during my initial year of sobriety was the discernment of opinion from experience. This subtle but essential difference between contemplating a situation and actively experiencing it can easily be overlooked if one is not mindful. The Value of Experience Experience, particularly in relation…
Meditation in AA
Redefining the Long Held Approach Everyone seems to love and often quote pages 86-87: On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these…
Kindness in Sobriety
The Intersection of Kindness and Sobriety – A Holistic Approach Recently, during a meeting, we explored the subject of “kindness” as prompted by the Daily Reflections. It’s a reasonable question for newcomers to ask, “What does kindness have to do with staying sober?” As per the Big Book, a text read at every meeting, the…
The Art of the Great AA Pitch
Insight from an Oldtimer As an oldtimer who has attended well over 5,000 meetings, I suspect I have heard over 50 thousand 3-5 minute pitches. Bad Pitches are Easy to Spot Some pitches are a magnificent encapsulation of the incredible beauty, grace, and power the 12-step program offers. Other shares are horrible, meandering, unsupported nonsense…
Assessing Progress in AA
The Challenge of Self-Assessment As a recovering alcoholic, I often want to gauge my progress with a quick self-assessment. Although this seems straightforward, I’ve discovered it can be perilous for someone like me. Why? Because self-assessments, particularly those conducted alone and in my head, can lead to inaccuracies. I might be overly influenced by recent…
Leading AA Anonymous Meetings
The Value of Leadership in Alcoholics Anonymous Leadership is an essential component in any organized group or setting, and this holds true for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. The meeting structure provided by experienced leaders, also known as secretaries, is often a comfort to newcomers. Guiding the Meetings In my early days of sobriety, secretaries led…
Sober Happiness?
The last three decades have seen many studies and much reporting on the topic of happiness. What does it mean to be happy and how do we get there?