July 2 - Buy the book! - Listen to Sober Pod Recovery Podcast!

Are you having trouble with personal relationships? Can’t control your emotional nature? Are you prey to misery and depression? Can’t make a consistent living? Full of fear? Are you unhappy? Can’t seem to be of real help to other people?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you are feeling what the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous calls, on page 52, “The Bedevilments.” Like our symptoms of drinking and drugging, these are common among us. These are the symptoms of what A.A. calls “The Spiritual Malady.” Some of us have felt these things our entire lives, like we were born this way. Others may have acquired them throughout the years and developed these symptoms as they abused substances that contributed to their spiritual sickness. No matter how or when you felt the impact of our dis-ease, if you choose to ignore these symptoms, the pain and effects of these “bedevilments” will take their toll. It is suggested that the only solution to our spiritual malady is the remedy of a spiritual awakening or spiritual experience.

Reflections

Have you tried taking the full dose of the 12 Steps?

Daily Challenge

If you are still experiencing the effects of the bedevilments, what more do you need to do?

June 30

Soberversaries! Happy Birthday! Congratulations! Here is some cake, and if you’re lucky, we will gift you a chip, keychain, or medallion. “That’s it?” my younger self would ask. When I was fifteen, I was introduced to the rooms of recovery, and I simply thought that was all I got for not drinking and drugging. I didn’t see the benefits because I was simply not looking for them and was living like I was still drinking and using. Nothing changed for me on the inside or the outside. The only thing that changed was that I grew more resentful with every chip or keychain. I could not stand being propped up at a podium and told to speak. I had nothing to say. I was still bitter, hurt, and confused. None of the things anyone talked about when they took their chips/keychains were happening to me.

Reflections

The 12 Steps of recovery outlined in your preferred program will take you as far as you allow them to take you. Are you allowing them to take you somewhere, or are you growing more obstinate and defiant?

Daily Challenge

Look at your life up until this moment. What has changed for the better?