Author: Phillip

Tools of the Program

We hear a lot of talk around the program regarding the “tools.”  Just what are these tools and how do we use them?  Probably the first tool is to stop drinking or using and stay stopped.  Just how do we do this?  One way is to go to rehab for a period of time.  Most

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Being of Service

Being of service to others and the program is crucial to a program of recovery.  Services helps to diminish our selfishness and self-centeredness.  It also helps us gain in humility.  When we come into the program the only person, we are of service to is ourselves.  This helps to keep the cycle of drinking and

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Your True Self

To Thine Own Self Be True. This is a phrase we find on AA medallions and other related AA paraphernalia.  Just exactly what does this phrase mean?  What is this “self” they are referring to?  It appears that most AA members find their true self through the working and application of the 12 steps.   When

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Communication Skills

“Perception” often does not get enough attention in 12 Step settings.  Perception is how an individual sees or perceives something to be.  For an example let’s use a banana.  One side of it has brown spots on it and the other side is solid yellow. Picture someone sitting on either side of the banana.  One

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KISS

K.I.S.S. This is normally considered as another AA acronym for “Keep it simple stupid.”  For our purposes in this blog, I am going to refrain from using the term stupid.  We will just stick with “Keep it simple.”  There is a notion also in philosophy known as Occam’s razor.  This basically says that the simplest

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Contempt

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a person in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”  (Pg 568, 4th edition, Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Herbert Spencer) This quotation baffled me for years after I became

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12 Steps Away

12 Steps Away From a Drunk The logic here is that if I’ve taken all 12 steps and incorporated them into my life, then I m 12 steps away from a drunk.  I know that this statement will ruffle some feathers in the one drink away from a drunk crowd.  But really guys, just open

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The Point Is…

What’s the Point? “The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.  The principles we have set down are guides to progress.  We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection (Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 60).” Notice that this passage from the book talks about progress.  Progress is generally recognized as

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Outside Help

Some of us may need to see a mental health professional.  Our brains have been trained to think in all sorts of negative ways.  We may feel a tug of war going on in our minds.  This can prove to be a formidable battle and we may need additional help outside the AA venue.  Some

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Pride

The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, anger, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.  Pride heads the list as it is considered to be the worst of all seven sins.  In doing inventories in the 12-step sense these items are usually used as categories to put our defects of character into.  These sins are considered deadly

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