Position of Neutrality

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the raw and emotional experiences outlined in the early pages of the book. Reflecting on the harrowing struggles faced by those battling addiction, Joe highlights the importance of addressing inappropriate responses to trauma in Step 4. “Somebody has to watch how you’re reacting and pay attention to how you’re fee...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the raw and emotional experiences outlined in the early pages of the book. Reflecting on the harrowing struggles faced by those battling addiction, Joe highlights the challenges of self-esteem, security, and ambition in Step 4. “Was it our self-esteem, our security, our ambitions, our personal or sex relations whi...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, discussing the crucial role of forgiveness in Step 4. Joe emphasizes that forgiveness is for our own benefit, not for others, and highlights the challenges of owning our faults while disregarding others’ actions. “And it may not be comfortable owning that, but forgiveness is not for them anyway. Forgiveness is for you. Does t...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, addressing the pervasive role of fear in addiction and recovery, a central theme in Step 4. Joe emphasizes the importance of finding a partner to deeply explore these fears and the need for honesty in this transformative step. “A lot of people skip over Step 4, but I would recommend finding someone who wants to do a deep dive...

Position of Neutrality is a study of the manner of living suggested by the founders of A.A. which was recorded in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. Join us for more inspiring recovery stories and transformative insights. Check out our website at: www.positionofneutrality.org YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@positionofneu...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, exploring the critical self-examination required in Step 4. In this session, Joe delves into the concept of self-defeat and the importance of identifying the flaws in our makeup that lead to failure. “So we took stock honestly first we searched out the flaws in our makeup which caused our failure. Being convinced that self ma...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, delving into the common pitfalls of blaming others and the importance of personal accountability in recovery. Reflecting on the tendency to dwell on others’ wrongs, Joe emphasizes the necessity of moving beyond blame to find peace and progress. “So to conclude that others were wrong was as far as most of us ever got. How many...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the practical aspects of seeking guidance and strength in recovery. Reflecting on personal experiences, Joe emphasizes the importance of staying conscious and aware of our actions to make better decisions moving forward. “We’re not theorizing; these are facts out of our experience. To sum up about sex, we earnestl...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the crucial role of helping others in achieving personal freedom. Reflecting on the struggles many face, Joe emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from self to others to find reprieve from inner turmoil. “If sex is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs a...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the real power needed in recovery—not just the power to avoid picking up, but the power to live a fulfilling life. Reflecting on the deeper purpose of recovery, Joe emphasizes the significance of seeking a higher power to transform our lives. “Power to not pick up? It takes no power to not pick up. Wayne shows the...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the profound experiences and spiritual resonance that occur when engaging in Step 4. Reflecting on the importance of connecting with a higher power, Joe emphasizes the significance of recognizing the spirit within. “And so when Wayne says empower Joe and speak through him, that spirit in me is going to speak to th...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the essential aspects of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of taking action and not dawdling in the step process. “And don’t dawdle in your step process because this is all about launching. So if we’ve been thorough about our personal inventory, we’ve written down a lot. We’ve listed and an...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, delving into the crucial aspects of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe explores the necessity of encountering power and taking decisive action in the recovery process. “If you’re not launching forward, we’re going to have to go back. Perhaps you haven’t encountered Power, which is a second step thing. Perhaps you haven’t fully c...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, delving into the essential process of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe explores the analogy of taking a commercial inventory and applying it to our personal lives, emphasizing the importance of uncovering and addressing personal flaws and damaged goods. “Taking a commercial inventory is a fact-finding and a fact-facing process...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the challenging yet transformative journey of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe emphasizes the significance of embracing honesty and forgiveness while conducting a personal inventory. “They use the words they mean they mean the words they say. It’s not going to be easy to find my own mistakes because I overlook them...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the transformative journey of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of setting aside prejudices to access the power to live. “I’m fairly cheesy anyway, the point is when I say ‘God,’ they say ‘Power’ because we don’t want any prejudice blocking somebody from getting access to this power to live...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the transformative journey of Step 4 AA. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and taking a fearless moral inventory to aid in the recovery process. “Okay, so we did exactly the same things with our life. So what’s exactly the same thing? It’s a fact-finding and a fact-facing process. So...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the pivotal moments that define the recovery journey. In this session, Joe discusses the critical turning point in Step 3 AA, where individuals must fully commit to the path of recovery. “So we stood at the turning point. What’s the turning point? I know what happens. I can bring to consciousness right now many ye...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the raw and transformative experiences of those in recovery. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of getting honest and letting go of old ideas to make way for true recovery. “Anyone know what I’m talking about? So I’m going to have to get honest with the fact that of myself I have no solutions. None. I...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, exploring the profound journey from the depths of addiction to the heights of recovery. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of understanding the lows one has experienced to fully appreciate the highs of recovery. “This is a treasure hunt, not a crap hunt guys. I’m learning the depths that I sunk to so I’ll know the...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, delving into the profound simplicity that forms the foundation of recovery. Reflecting on the keystone concept of the new and triumphant arch to freedom, Joe emphasizes the importance of understanding who you are and whose you are. “Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch t...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the raw and emotional experiences outlined in the early pages of the book. Reflecting on the journey of recovery, Joe discusses the obsession with seeking ease and comfort and the necessity of a revolutionary change for the destruction to stop. “How many of you had a way of living and thinking that was completely...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, diving into the raw and emotional experiences outlined in the early pages of the book. Reflecting on the journey of recovery, Joe discusses the importance of celebrating progress rather than seeking perfection. “So the principles we’ve set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfecti...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, delving into the promises and conditions outlined in Step 3 AA. Joe emphasizes the importance of understanding the foundational promises and the experience of the first several thousand who have successfully recovered by thoroughly following the path. Joe shares, “They start out with some promises and conditions. See if you c...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, exploring the transformative journey of Step 3 AA. Reflecting on the necessity of letting go of old ideas, Joe highlights the crucial steps and experiences that lead to progress in recovery. Joe shares, “And if you survive it, we’ll pick you up. I once thought and felt as you do, but I doubt I’d have made much progress had I...