The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast

  This is part 1 of a 4-part seminar titled “Stepping Stones to Serenity”, presented by Ellen C in 2008. This part covers steps 1 through 3.   The post Stepping Stones to Serenity – 1 – Episode 158 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

“Our sight, once clouded and confused, will clear and we will be able to perceive reality and recognize truth.” Our sight, once clouded… And confused…. How was I confused? We will be able to perceive reality We will be able to recognize truth Readings in this episode are from the Al-Anon book Discovering Choices. This is... The post Seeing Clearly – Episode 157 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Can you say what is your purpose? How do you decide what to do on a daily basis? What do you want to be “when you grow up”? This episode is inspired by the book Life on Purpose. How has recovery challenged me to articulate my values and my purpose? What is the purpose of “purpose”?... The post Life on Purpose – Episode 156 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Last weekend, I drove back to the city I grew up in, to attend a memorial service for a childhood friend. As family and friends shared their memories of my friend, I reflected on the ways we say “Yes!” to life in the presence of death. This week, I am re-issuing episode 76, Loss, with... The post Say Yes! to Life – Episode 155 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Are you a mother? What did you learn from your mother? How has recovery changed your way of being a mother, or your relationship with your mother? Inspired by the US holiday, Mothers Day, Carrie and Spencer talk about mothers, their relationship with their mothers, and being a mother. What was your mother like? What... The post Mothers Day – Episode 154 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

This open talk by Ajit S was recorded at the We Are Not Saints AA roundup in 2007. I first heard Ajit on a tape or CD some years ago, when I was new in the Al-Anon. I liked what he had to say and how he said it. He has a great self-deprecating humor... The post Ajit S Open Talk – Episode 153 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you retreat into yourself when problems arise? Do you prefer not to hear bad news? Maybe you are shutting down as a defense. Here's our outline: Which of these statements do I connect with about shutting down? “When I am stressed, I retreat into myself.” “If I don’t think about a problem, it will... The post Shutting down as a defense – Episode 152 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

How do you meditate? Or, DO you meditate? Meditation is something of which many of us say “I need to do that!” “I've got to get into doing it regularly.” “I know it would really help me.” So why is this? What is blocking us? What good can it do us? And what ways are there to meditate? Spencer... The post Meditation – Episode 151 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you sometimes feel that you have nothing to contribute? That your voice is meaningless? That you can't say anything to help others? I was inspired by this reading to say “No! Your voice matters!” Commitment People say, what is the sense of our small effort. They cannot see that we must lay one brick... The post Your Voice – Episode 150 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Have you done a fourth step inventory? How did you do it? Join Mike S. and David M. as they lead a workshop on using the 4th step inventory worksheets, based on the process described in the “How it Works” chapter in the AA Big Book. There are 4 worksheets, corresponding to the 4 inventory... The post Fourth Step Inventory – Episode 149 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

We will discover that we are both, worthy of love and loving. We will love others without losing ourselves, and will learn to accept love in return. What does this mean to you? If you had read or heard this statement when you had just arrived in Al-Anon, what would you have thought of it?... The post Worthy of Love – Episode 148 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

“Who will roll away the stone?” The story of Easter is one of resurrection and recovery. But, we need help to roll away the stone from the tomb of our despair and denial. In Al-Anon, we find that help. It might come from recognition that we are not alone, that others have been where we... The post Roll Away the Stone – Episode 147 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you feel emotionally safe? Do you close out intimacy because it threatens you? Let's talk about emotional safety. Thought questions for this discussion include these: What is emotional safety? What is emotional security? How do they relate to each other and how are they different? How are emotional safety and security threatened? What happens... The post Emotional Safety – Episode 146 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you love an alcoholic? Has that love brought you fear, anger, shame, and joy? 3 Al-Anon speakers from a session at the 2015 AA International Convention share their experience, strength, and hope. A listener emailed with a question about emotional abuse and emotional safety. Have you felt emotionally unsafe? Have you dismissed those feelings... The post So, You Love an Alcoholic – Episode 145 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Have you found yourself trying to do it all? Did you take care of your loved one’s problems? Do you try to force things to work out your way? Have you ever felt totally unappreciated? The 4 M's are Managing, Manipulation, Mothering, and Martyrdom. Spencer had a very full weekend, so please enjoy this “best of”... The post The 4 M’s – Episode 84 redux appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you have joy in your life? Do you feel fulfilled? Are you finding these gifts in recovery? Or are you still waiting for them to come? In this first episode in a series, we explore a “Gift of Al-Anon“. We will become mature, responsible individuals with a great capacity for joy, fulfillment, and wonder. Though... The post Joy, Fulfillment and Wonder – Episode 144 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What did you think when you saw the word “God” in the 12 steps? Did you think you would be forced to believe in some particular religion? Or did you think you couldn’t find help because you didn’t believe in God? Two speakers from a NA convention share their experience finding a God of their... The post God of our Understanding – Episode 143 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What does Love mean to you? Has alcoholism turned your love turned to hate? Or maybe, you feel both at once and it’s tearing you apart. The ancient Greeks had 4 words for different kinds of love. In English, we have to use adjectives to distinguish them. These include In an alcoholic relationship, love can become... The post Love and Alcoholism – Episode 142 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Spencer recently was a speaker at an open panel meeting titled “The Effects of Alcoholism and Addiction on Intimacy and Sexual Relationships”. Hear his sharing about how his ability to be intimate was damaged by alcoholism, and how he is rediscovering intimacy in recovery. Tom and Grace also attended the panel, and we talk about... The post Intimacy – Episode 141 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you have a sponsor? Do you sponsor others in the program? How has your sponsor supported your recovery? How has being a sponsor supported and enriched your recovery? Tell us about it! Two of us share our experience as a sponsor, and of being sponsored, and then challenge you to share your experience, strength,... The post Sponsorship: a prompt – Episode 140 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

The first word of the first step is “We”. It is often said “this is a ‘we’ program.” What does that really mean? How do we find recovery from sharing our experience, strength and hope? All the steps (not just the first) start with “we”. The AA big book prefaces the steps with “Here are... The post It’s a We program – Episode 139 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Another conversation about families. What did you learn from your family of origin? How have you found new ways to relate to families in recovery? Tom joins us, and talks about what his family was like growing up, what he brought from that into his adult life, what he rebelled against, and how he is using his recovery... The post Families – Episode 138 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What did you learn from your family of origin? How have you found new ways to relate to your family in recovery? Spencer and Mara talk about family, guided by these questions. Describe, generally, what kind of family you grew up in. Was there (active) alcoholism or addiction? Was there codepenency? What did you learn... The post Family – Episode 137 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What have you accomplished in the past year? How did you work your recovery? What are you looking forward to in the new year? Reflect on your year past, look forward to the new year with these thought questions. In this episode, Spencer reflects on his 2015 and looks at his 2016 goals. Did I... The post Old Year New Year – Episode 136 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you try to do “all the things” by yourself or do you work in cooperation with others? How do you keep balance and serenity while moving forward? Can Concepts 11 and 12 help answer these questions? Concept 11: The World Service Office is composed of selected committees, executives and staff members. How does this... The post Cooperation and balance – Episode 135 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you dread the holidays? Do they bring out the worst in you or your loved ones? Are you not sure how you’re going to survive visiting (or visits from) your family? What is in your holiday survival kit? Here are some items from my and my friends' holiday survival kits: Plan ahead Take Al-Anon literature... The post Holiday Survival Kit – Episode 134 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

In recovery we listen to each other; we learn from each other’s experience strength and hope; we let go of our need to control others; and find love for them. These are the 4 L's. Spencer and Pat discuss “listen, learn, let go, and love”, prompted by these questions. Do you try to fix others if they are... The post The 4 L’s – Episode 133 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you obsess over the thought that your loved one might be lying? Do you have to prove the lies? How do you find the ability to trust in recovery? Julia joins Spencer to talk about lies, guided by these questions. How have you been lied to (in relationships with an alcoholic or addict)? How... The post Living with Lies – Episode 132 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Maybe you’ve heard some of these slogans. “Easy does it.” … “How important is it?” … “Think” … “Let go and Let God.” Spencer and Eric talk about some slogans, guided by these questions. What did you think about these slogans when you first came to the program? Was there a particular slogan that you... The post Slogans part 1 – Episode 131 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

How has Al-Anon helped you to clear a path in your life? A few weeks ago, we posted a lead by June on the topic of “Clearing a Path”. Today, 5 listeners and Spencer respond to that lead. The themes explored in our experience, strength and hope include these: A new way of living. Finding... The post Clearing a Path – Episode 130 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Have you heard someone say they were grateful for the alcoholics in their life? How do you practice gratitude? Can you find gifts in the “punishments” of your life? I reflect on gratitude while walking in the woods on a beautiful fall day. (How) can I say I am grateful for my loved one’s alcoholism?... The post Gratitude – Episode 129 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What makes you a leader? How do you divide leadership and management? Can you set clear boundaries between your and others’ responsibilities? Spencer and Akilah talk about Concepts 8, 9, and 10, which address these concerns and others. Concept 8: “The Board of Trustees delegates full authority for routine management of Al-Anon Headquarters to its executive... The post Leadership – Episode 128 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

  Spencer is traveling, so here's a favorite episode from our back catalog. Kelli, Swetha, and Spencer talk about their experience with Step 2, “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” The episode is bracketed by a short intro and closing recorded in the northern Utah desert. Upcoming... The post Step 2 – Higher Power – Episode 127 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Have you felt that your life was out of control, and that you'd never find a way out? Today, June shares about clearing a path in the jungle of her life, and invites your reflections. What thoughts does June's lead inspire in you? How do you relate to this metaphor of clearing a path with... The post Clearing a Path – A Lead – Episode 126 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Have you attended an Al-Anon or AA conference? Maybe you went to the AA International Convention this year. Or do you wonder what’s the big deal? What might you bring home from a gathering of people in recovery? Spencer talks with Annie and Alvin about their experience attending recovery conferences. Our discussion is guided by... The post Conferences and conventions – Episode 125 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

This week we have an Al-Anon open talk by Randy K. I (Spencer) identified with a lot of his experience. I was particularly struck by his description of his “addiction”, and related closely to it. Upcoming topics include Concepts 8 and 9, your shared experience with intervention, and the non-drinking parent. Please call us at... The post Randy K Open Talk – Episode 124 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you dream of relapse? Of recovery? Of loss of control? What are your Al-Anon dreams? Join us as Spencer, Jane, Akilah, Pat, and Brooke share some dreams. Dreams: what are they? From the shared experience in this episode, I think that our “Al-Anon” dreams might fall into these broad and overlapping categories: Reliving scenes... The post Al-Anon Dreams – Episode 123 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you feel that you have to be perfect? Do you go through life as if you're on a stage? Is it hard to have compassion and love for yourself? Let's talk about imperfection. This episode was inspired by the book, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be... The post Imperfection – Episode 122 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

When you came to your first meeting, were people laughing? How did that make you feel? How do you use laughter in your recovery today? When (under what circumstances) did you laugh before program? When and how did you laugh as a child? How did that change as you grew older? How did that change... The post Laughter – Episode 121 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

What was your experience of your first Al-Anon meeting? Maybe you haven't been to one yet. Spencer, Kelli, Swetha and 7 other members talk about their first meeting or meetings. Hear how we came to believe that they could find help in Al-Anon. For some of us, the first meeting was transformational and enlightening. Others of... The post Best of: Our first meetings appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you have trouble letting go of responsibility? Do you take on too much? Or do you give responsibility to someone for something they can’t do? If you’ve ever felt that way, you may find help in Concepts 6 and 7. Concept 6 says “The Conference acknowledges the primary administrative responsibility of the Trustees.” And,... The post Authority and Responsibility – Episode 120 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you worry a lot? Is it hard to get your mind off the terrible things that might happen? Or maybe it’s just obsessing on the stuff that is wrong in your life today? Think about a time before program when you were worrying. What were you worrying about? How did worrying affect your life... The post Worry – Episode 119 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Sometimes life throws us a curve ball. How can we accept it and live life on life's terms? Due to some technical difficulties, the episode we had planned for this week did not come together. Instead, I'm talking about taking life on life's terms. Or maybe it's about acceptance. Or about Higher Power moments. Upcoming... The post Life on Life’s Terms – Episode 118 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Fathers Day is a holiday that recognizes fathers and honors fatherhood. What is or was your relationship with your father? Are you a father yourself? How can recovery help us to be better fathers? Or to improve connections with our fathers? In this episode, Spencer reflects on how his father affected his life, and on... The post Fathers – Episode 117 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

A couple of weeks ago, at church, we honored our graduating high school seniors. The sermon that day was in the form of advice to those setting out into adult life. What caught my ear was the second point, to “gather your chairs into a circle.” What does this mean, and how does it relate... The post Gather your chairs in a circle – Episode 116 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Our 12th Step encourages us to “carry the message to others.” How have you done that? How can we reach out to sufferers who don’t even know about Al-Anon? Spencer and Eric talk about our experiences with public outreach, roughly following this outline. How did you first get involved in public outreach? What have you... The post Public outreach – Episode 115 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

In your interactions with others, how do you find harmony? Do you sometimes feel that you are not heard? How do Concepts 4 and 5 help? Concept 4 says “Participation is the key to harmony.” and concept 5 states “The rights of appeal and petition protect minorities and insure that they be heard.” How do... The post Participation, harmony, and being heard – Episode 114 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

How do you have fun? Do you have fun? Has your concept of fun changed in recovery? Join Spencer and Brooke as we talk about fun, and hear the contributions a couple of listeners sent in via email. What does “fun” mean to you? How did you think about having fun before recovery? Could you... The post Fun – Episode 113 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you drink? Did you drink with your alcoholic loved one? How has recovery changed how you drink? How you think about drinking? Did you stop drinking? Why? Spencer talks about his personal experience with drinking, about how he drank with his loved one, and about how that changed with recovery and how his feelings... The post Do you drink? – Episode 112 appeared first on The Recovery Show.

Do you pray? What is prayer? How can it support your recovery? In this episode, Spencer shares his personal journey to and understanding of prayer. I did not grow up with a tradition of prayer. My idea of prayer as a young person: “God, please give me a pony.” It didn’t work! I did not... The post Prayer – Episode 111 appeared first on The Recovery Show.