Comments for Emotional Sobriety Blog

Comment on The True Nature Of My Malady by Fabiola Kinlock

Fabiola Kinlock — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:29:05 +0000

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Comment on Applied Faith by Sigrid Pruneda

Sigrid Pruneda — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:28:57 +0000

Spotted your web site via bing the other day and absolutely liked it so much. Carry on the great work.

Comment on Coming into Agreement with these Ideas by Laurel

Laurel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:30:13 +0000

I have learned for me that I run from pain as if from the plague… My learned way of running is alcohol… I may have all kinds of justifications for my behavior but I know now for me it is just running… But is there also not that part about the pain of versus the penalty of not? Pain then becomes the touchstone of spiritual growth so there is no more failure. I begin to fear pain less and seek humility more… (Don’t have the book with me but these are the things that come to me when I read your post). Glad you are still with us.

Comment on Coming into Agreement with these Ideas by Bev B.

Bev B. — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:05:04 +0000

Hi John,
This weekend I had had a few days of wonderful serenity / had done some 12th step work, some spiritual growth was happening – deepening my relationships with others and HP and resolved some issues from the past – 8th step and so was enjoying this wonderful feeling that everything was in order in my world and taken care of– “by me and HP” . Then right before I got your blogpost- i got an email from someone who couldn’t make it to a rehearsal. My reaction was immediate and out of all proportion to this info. Anger – black frustration– this screws everything up! Everything is ruined. Fear, self pity- the works. But this time I stopped. I said to myself . You were feeling really good and you are allowing these awful feelings to continue. I thought. Wow! How fragile this serenity i was experiencing is. What is with that? So I thought . No I am going to stop feeling this way now. God please help- stop these thoughts– no point to these feelings. I am reacting because once again i fooled myself into believing that I was the one who had everything under control and organised. But wow- one thing – not in my control — and the savage state of mind erupts. Went to quiet place.

A few minutes later i got your blogpost notification. Reading the 3rd step wisdom was just what i needed.

One phone call and an email and things were rescheduled. big deal. I am so grateful that I can now recognise what is going on and have the tools to deal with these erratic emotions.

Yikes! Glad you didn’t drink. I have to always remind myself that it is a physical disease as well. I had a “Friend” last summer who was not an alcoholic but who had read the Big Book trying to convince me that my identification with being an alcoholic was standing in the way of my spiritual development. She had these logical psuedo bhuddist arguments — I had some moments of doubt and paid dearly — i didn’t drink but went into an awful state and the friendship turned out to be toxic which brought up all kinds of issues about my codependency. Learned alot but a close call – they come in different forms- yours was woman with a marguerita. I thank God for putting my temptations in less attractive packages. All’s I get is a really drunk ugly old guy showing up at my door at 3:00 in the morning on his 4 wheeler. So glad you are blogging again. But do whatever you have to do.
Bev

Comment on Coming into Agreement with these Ideas by Korey P.

Korey P. — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:29:38 +0000

John,

So glad you are back. This group and the way of getting into the principles is life altering. It is truly amazing how forgetful I am of the devastation this disease causes. I am sogtateful to be in a place to hear, I am praying that a way of knowing is coming.

Eight years was exactly when I went out again under almost identical circumstancs. I just reread the paragraph this morning, moments before notification of your blog post came through. I was struck by the reality that as I live this program in agreement with these ideas, with out letting them slip from my consciousness, not even my subconscious can sneak in and kick my ass because “in all times of emotional disturbance or indecision, I can pause, ask for quiet, and in the stillness simply ask for serenity, courage and wisdom. Such a deal if I will live it as rigorously as I sought willful destruction.

Thanks for being you and living transparently in line with these principles.

Comment on Begin the New by John W

John W — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:24:55 +0000

TRW – Thanks for reading! Best, John W.

Comment on Widening the Hoop by John W

John W — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:23:54 +0000

EMILY – Thanks for your support! I will check out your blog too! Best, John W.

Comment on Bumps In My Spiritual Path by John W

John W — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:20:53 +0000

And Joe, as always, I appreciate your friendship and I am truly grateful to being sharing this journey with you and the other men on Monday nights as well as with all of my friends at the Thursday group. Best, John

Comment on Bumps In My Spiritual Path by John W

John W — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:19:14 +0000

My apologies for not responding to your comments everyone. I really do enjoy and appreciate them! Thanks to you Bev and Tom for your continued support and wise words. And welcome Karen and Al. Please keep reading and offering your perspectives. It helps me so much! Best, John W.

Comment on Bumps In My Spiritual Path by Bev B.

Bev B. — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:22:18 +0000

Hi John,
A friend of mine wrote me this and I thought it was very wise so I am sharing it.

Alcoholism is like that chemical that doesn’t show up in experiments except when it interacts with other substances. You can’t define it except by the behaviors and symptoms it brings. That’s part of the reason AA works so well; it addresses the fact that alcoholism can’t be easily defined.