WRITTEN ARTICLES ABOUT RECOVERY AND THE AA PROGRAM
Dr. Mike, in these essays, discusses different aspects of recovery including discussion of the steps and principles outlined in the big book. He also looks at topics commonly discussed in the fellowship and how he sees them applied to his own recovery.
In the posts below, Dr. Mike gives his thoughts on different topics related to recovery. Comments and discussion are welcome.
Thoughts on Recovery – No. 69 – Step 1 -Description of alcoholic insanity – The jaywalker
The chapter More about Alcoholism has a specific purpose. It is to convince the reader that they have no power to resist taking the first drink. None! They describe the queer mental twist that precedes the first drink. They ask the question on page 34 how will the reader determine if they are one of us? They then say they are going to describe some of the mental states that…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 68 – The Spiritual Axiom and the Serenity Prayer in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous – Pages 87-88 – Step 10-11 – Part 2
In part 1, I looked at the spiritual power of pausing whenever I am disturbed. This act of pausing reminds me I am no longer running the show. When I am disturbed I am in danger because I am back in self and separated from God. This is the essence of the spiritual axiom. I need to recognize that what is wrong with me is that I am seeing a…
Read MoreThought No. 67 – The Spiritual Axiom and Serenity Prayer in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous – Pages 87-88 – Step 10-11 -Part 1
I have been thinking about writing on the paragraph on the bottom of page 87 to top of page 88. It came to me that this is the spiritual axiom and the serenity prayer in the AA big book. I have written and talked about the spiritual axiom. It is in step 10 in the 12 and 12. The serenity prayer is said at almost every AA meeting. “As we…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 66 – Step 11 – Concluding Prayer – What is my next step to be? Page 87
After concluding my morning meditation they suggest a powerful prayer that I say every day. I call this the next right thing prayer. I have heard many times someone say I just do the next right thing. It sounds good but for me doing the next right thing brought me to complete defeat! Why? Because Michael was deciding what was the next right thing. Not God. On page 62 it…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 65 – Step 11 – When I face indecision – P86
After they look at upon awakening the authors talk about looking at the day ahead. In thinking about my day I may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take – page 86. Why did they put that next? I have thought about that through the years. To admit I may face indecision is to admit I need God to guide me and need to…
Read MoreThought No. 78 – Welcome to the Site
This site went live on June 14, 2017. I wrote this on july 2 2017 and I thought it would be helpful to republish this as a thought so new people would see what EBB was all about. I started the Experience the Big Book meeting in September 2008. See my story podcast June 2018 and introduction to the site for more information on why I started this type of…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 64 – Step 11 – Upon Awakening – Page 86
I complete my nightly review by asking God’s forgiveness and I inquire what corrective measures should be taken. I have found that the nightly review helps me put things in proper perspective. In the 12 and 12 it says having considered our day and having searched our hearts with neither fear or favor, we can thank God for the blessings we have received and sleep in good conscience. By trying…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 63 – Step 11 – Why did they wait to step 11 to suggest prayer and meditation? Putting this step in perspective with steps 1-10
At the meeting last Sunday night we were looking at the paragraph on becoming God conscious. I had written a thought no. 61 on that which we also read at the meeting. There were some excellent comments at the meeting about how important prayer is as an essential part of recovery. I asked myself why they didn’t put this process earlier in the steps. There are prayers in the first…
Read MoreThoughts on Recovery – No. 62 – Step 11 – Nightly Review – Into Action – Page 86
The first instruction on prayer and meditation starts with when we retire at night. They suggest I constructively review my day. Often people say they do step 10 at night. Step 10 is designed to be done during the day to immediately unblock me so I can live in harmony with God and the world. The nightly review is in step 11 and basically looks at how well I stayed…
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