Category Archives: Step 4

Shaping My Life

Hi old friends, it’s been awhile. The Emotional Sobriety meetings have been going strong this past month. The Men’s meeting is approaching the end of Step 2 and our Thursday night Co-Ed group is nearing the end of Step 4. … Continue reading

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A Lifetime Practice

I am enjoying this life I get to live in recovery, my second chance to discover who I am and really live my new life to the fullest. I returned recently from a business trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, a … Continue reading

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The Secret Ingredient: Pride

It’s so good to be back in the flow. After traveling for work the first 2 weeks of the year, I was able to attend the Thursday night Emotional Sobriety meeting this week along with all the others who were … Continue reading

Posted in Defects, Instincts, Pride, Step 4, Thursday Night Take-Away | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Art of Making Excuses Part 3: The Blamer

It’s all your fault! And the third paragraph in our Maker of Excuses Special Edition 3-Pack proves it. Or, wait. Maybe, like all the rest of these paragraphs, it gives me more insight into my alcoholism and my inventory-resisting character. … Continue reading

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The Art of Making Excuses Part 2: My Natural Disposition

Okay, so Bill W. got my attention in Step 1 with all those not-so-great alcoholic character traits, but does he ever let up? In Step 2 I find out I am belligerent, close-minded, arguing, drifting, intellectually self-sufficient, prejudiced, defiant, self-deceived … Continue reading

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The Art of Making Excuses Part 1: The Depressive

The Thursday night Emotional Sobriety Step Study group has been looking at some paragraphs in Step 4 these past few weeks which make up the “excuses for avoiding an inventory” package. The paragraphs begin on page 45 of the “12&12″ … Continue reading

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Danger! Danger!

The Thursday night Emotional Sobriety group has been talking about two different parts of our characters in the past few weeks, the part that seeks attention and protection from others and the other part of us that wants to control. … Continue reading

Posted in Instincts, Step 4, Thursday Night Take-Away | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Quest for Security

A week ago, the Thursday night  Emotional Sobriety group continued looking at the basic problem with our warped instincts by digging into the 2nd paragraph on page 43 in Step 4. Last night, we talked some more about how we … Continue reading

Posted in Dependence, Instincts, Step 4, Thursday Night Take-Away | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Going To Extremes

As an alcoholic and addict, I have an all or nothing approach to everything. I don’t know moderation or balance. I don’t know what it means to build things piecemeal or to be satisfied with just a little bit. All … Continue reading

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Discovering My Liabilities

The Thursday night Emotional Sobriety group is 3 paragraphs deep in Step 4 and it was so great to be back for the weekly discussion of spiritual principles this past week. After reviewing how our instincts for sex, security and … Continue reading

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