Recovered Podcast

Joe and Charlie giving their "Big Book Comes Alive" presentation - July 25th 2013

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Step Five of AA’s Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Step Program is essential to the fundamental change of personality required to overcome an alcohol or drug addiction. In its simplest form, the fifth step is basically a confession of personal wrongdoings and the beginnings of your spiritual housecleaning.

Although in step four we admitted the exact nature of our wrongs, the process of clearing away the wreckage of the past would not be completed until we have shared those wrongs with another person in step five. A well-chosen person to be part of this healing process helps us to become aware of our own self-delusion, where we have not been sincere, and where there are patterns of destructive thoughts and behaviors.

The exact wording of step 5 is:

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Tonight, we talk about Step 5

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Christy, D&E, Lori, Jim, Vicki, Niki, Kendra, Karen

Made their Sustaining Partner Donations

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This episode is sponsored by 

Erica, Tasha, Gigi

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Joe and Charlie giving their "Big Book Comes Alive" presentation - July 25th 2013

Step Four of AA’s Twelve-Step Program of recovery is infamously the “scary” one, probably because it’s a crucial step towards effective and lasting recovery. Since the overall philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous is that alcoholism is just a symptom of a spiritual disease, the real problem is in character flaws that need to be faced and overcome. This requires an inventory that will become the blueprint for your success.

The exact wording of step 4 is:

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves..

Tonight, we talk about Step 4

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Penny, Jennifer, Rebekah, Bryan, Tonja, Kendra, Karen

Made their Sustaining Partner Donations. Thank you so much

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This episode is sponsored by 

Nobody

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Recovery is a spiritual process and step three is when the doors of hope, faith, and trust are opened.  The essence of step three is turning over your will, getting out of the way, and being restored to reality, honesty, and peace of mind.

When working on step three we take a look at how acting on self-will means behaving without any consideration for others, focusing only on what we want and ignoring the needs and feelings of others. While we were busy pursuing these impulses, we mostly left a path of destruction behind us, and we definitely lost touch with our Higher Power.

The exact wording of Step 3 is:

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Tonight, we talk about Step 3

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Falisha, Nicole, Laura, Joel, Sam, Chris, Sean, Tony

Made their Sustaining Partner Donations

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Teresa, Audrey, Diane, Helen, McQ

Many of us also struggle with the words “power greater than ourselves,” interpreting that language to mean “God” or “organized religion.” However, this is not what that phrase means. Instead, these words typically refer to a mix of things like 12-step recovery groups, supportive friends and family, therapists, therapy groups, etc. For some of us, God and religion enter the mix; for others, not so much.

Ultimately, the definition of “power greater than ourselves” depends as much on our personal belief system as anything else. So this step is less about God/religion and more about admitting that help is needed. Step 2 is a realization and an admission that we cannot establish lasting sobriety and recovery on our own. We need help.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

The easiest way to work step 2 is to actually begin accepting help. Sometimes this starts with a  sponsor when that person offers to help you work through the steps.

Tonight, we talk about Step 2

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Teresa, Lorien, Kim, Becky, Shelly, Amanda, Christy, D&E, Lori, Jim

Made their Sustaining Partner Donations

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Joseph, Gigi

The first step in 12 step recovery programs involves more than just admitting that there is a problem. It means breaking through the denial that has kept the person locked in their misery. The individual has to accept that they have been beaten by their addiction. The exact wording of this step is:

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.

Tonight, we talk about Step 1.

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This week, 
Nikki, Penny, Jennifer, Rebekah, Bryan, Tonja, Kim, Kendra, Karen, Chris, Tony, Sam, Chris, Falisha, Nicole, Laura, Audrey, Joel, Betsy, Todd, Lorien, Teresa, Becky, Kim, Amanda, Shelly, Christy, D&E, Lori, Jim, Vicki

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Nikki, Penny, Jennifer, Rebekah, Bryan, Tonja, Kim, Kendra, Karen, Chris, Tony, Sam, Chris, Falisha, Nicole, Laura, Audrey, Joel, Betsy, Todd, Lorien, Teresa, Becky, Kim, Amanda, Shelly, Christy, D&E, Lori, Jim, Vicki

This episode is sponsored by 
Diane, McQ, Helen, Teresa, Kurt, Gigi

Popsicle Sticks is not really a topic but rather a style of meeting here in Southeast Michigan.  Tonight, this show will be presented in the form of a popsicle stick meeting.  

A popsicle stick meeting is a meeting where we let our higher power determine what we need to share.  Here in our virtual studio, we have a can full of popsicle sticks.  Each stick has a recovery topic written on it.  We will take turns, randomly picking a stick and then sharing on that topic that was chosen.

Tonight, we do popsicle sticks

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3:25 To skip the intro

This week, 
Todd, Betsy, Teresa, Lorien, Kimberly, Rebecca, Shelly, Amanda, D&E, Christina, Michelle, Susan, Lori

Made Sustaining Partner Donations

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Kurt, Misha, Tasha

I first experienced “Popsicle Sticks” at the Thursday Midnight night meeting at the Northwest Alano Club in Wayne Michigan.  At first I hated it, then I got used to it, then it became my favorite meeting.  

Here’s how it goes.
Pick a stick
Announce the topic to all
Share on the topic
Keep the stick
Pass the can

Popsicle Sticks is not really a topic but rather a style of meeting here in Southeast Michigan.  Tonight, this show will be presented in the form of a popsicle stick meeting.  

A popsicle stick meeting is a meeting where we let our higher power determine what we need to share.  Here in our virtual studio, we have a can full of popsicle sticks.  Each stick has a recovery topic written on it.  We will take turns, randomly picking a stick and then sharing on that topic that was chosen.

Tonight, we do popsicle sticks

http://recoveredcast.com

3:25 To skip the intro

This week, 
Todd, Betsy, Teresa, Lorien, Kimberly, Rebecca, Shelly, Amanda, D&E, Christina, Michelle, Susan, Lori

Made Sustaining Partner Donations

This episode is sponsored by 
Kurt, Misha, Tasha

I first experienced “Popsicle Sticks” at the Thursday Midnight night meeting at the Northwest Alano Club in Wayne Michigan.  At first I hated it, then I got used to it, then it became my favorite meeting.  

Here’s how it goes.
Pick a stick
Announce the topic to all
Share on the topic
Keep the stick
Pass the can

When people give up abusing alcohol and drugs it does not mean that their trials in life are over. They are still going to have to deal with the ups and downs of life just like everyone else. The only difference will be that they won’t be hiding from reality through substance abuse. One of the things that people in recovery are almost certain to face is fear. It is unavoidable. Those in recovery are no longer interested in hiding from fear. Their focus is on learning to manage it effectively.

Fear can be defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending pain or danger. The trigger for this emotion can be real or imaginary, and it may or may not be rational. When people feel fear, they may go into panic mode. This means that are unable to think clearly or make good decisions. It is usual to view fear as a negative emotion, but it can also be highly beneficial, as it helps to keep humans out of danger.

Tonight, we talk about Fear

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For information on the Book "Powerless Not Helpless"

Link to Buddy' Book Through Our Affiliate

3:25 To skip the intro

This week, 
Jennifer, Rebekah, Bryan, Kim, Tonja, Karen, Kendra, Sean, Tony, Chris, Sam, Nicole, Falisha, Laura, Joel, Betsy, Todd, Lorien, Teresa, Kim, Becky, Shelly, Christy, D&E, Lori

Made their Sustaining Partner Donations

This episode is sponsored by 
Chris, Diane, Helen, McQ, Kelly, Kurt

People can be afraid of getting better in recovery. This is because so much of their identity has been wrapped up in their addiction. It can be impossible for people to imagine a life where substance abuse is no longer so important. The idea of a person who is happy and sober can be frightening. It can feel like they need to give away their current identity in order to become a stranger. Getting better is undoubtedly a step into the unknown and it does take courage to press forward into sobriety. But it’s worth it.

This week’s topic of
Fear
was inspired by
Chapter 31 - Surrendering the Weapons of Fear
Of Buddy’s book, Powerless But Not Helpless
Get the book at BuddyC.org

So, here is

Verse 31 - Surrendering the Weapons of Fear

The weapons of fear are selfishness, dishonesty, and resentment.
When we start this path, these are the only defenses we possess.

The result is weakness, despair, and death.

As we surrender to this new way of life, we begin to lay down the weapons of fear and pick up the gifts of Love in their place.

We see that our enemy was not the target of our fear.
There is no enemy, only ourselves.