Position of Neutrality

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe reflects on the transformative power of faith and spiritual growth. AA teaches that spiritual transformation begins when we let go of our past self and announce our faith in a Higher Power,...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe emphasizes the importance of going beyond a simple apology to the family. The spiritual process of cleaning house requires more than remorse—it requires action, daily meditation, and the po...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe delves into the importance of cleaning house with the family. After doing an inventory and sharing your story, it’s time to approach the family with honesty, understanding, and humility. Jo...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe discusses the fear of returning to recovery after falling off the rails. He shares a story of someone who, despite being overwhelmed with fear about how others would perceive them, found th...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe focuses on the emotional damage caused by the alcoholic and the importance of rebuilding relationships. He emphasizes that recovery requires more than just remorse; it involves taking the l...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 8 & 9, Joe discusses the experience of approaching others to make amends, even when the outcomes may not be what we hope for. He highlights how using personal pain to lift others can provide a sense o...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe delves into the concept of “pocketing pride” and how this metaphor guides us through overcoming the fear of judgment in our recovery process. The authors of the Big Book use this powerf...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe emphasizes the importance of having guidance through the process of making and reviewing a personal inventory. As we navigate the steps, many of us require help to interpret and address...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe discusses the importance of finding peace within ourselves and how the journey of recovery helps us regain the ability to look the world in the eye, free of burden. In Alcoholics Anonym...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe discusses the battle between ego and spiritual experience in Steps 5, 6, & 7. The journey of recovery often involves a war between the lies we tell ourselves and the truth we discover through the AA proce...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe discusses Bill Wilson’s reflection that it’s more logical to believe than not to believe, based on personal experience. The world reflects back to us how we think and feel, and this rea...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of disclosing ourselves fully to another human being. The Big Book makes it clear that skipping this vital step can be detrimental to recovery, as those who avoid it often turn to ea...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe emphasizes the importance of relationships in achieving peace, joy, and happiness. Without healthy relationships, true recovery remains out of reach. As we navigate Steps 5, 6, & 7, we are encouraged to t...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe dives into the struggles many face even after becoming sober, such as difficulty getting along with others and the temptation to isolate. He reveals that isolation isn’t the answer and that resentment, even w...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe emphasizes why in recovery we share experiences, not opinions. Alcoholics often spend thousands of dollars on medical opinions, only to lie about the truth and ignore the results. What truly matters is sharin...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe expresses gratitude to Wayne for leading while he was away and reconnects with the community, including a special shout-out to faithful followers in Canada. This episode emphasizes the importance of community...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe explores how the spiritual experience begins to transform our thinking and actions. The authors of Alcoholics Anonymous show us that the real battle is between the lies our ego tells us...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe emphasizes the need for power in recovery. It’s not just about avoiding substances—it’s about tapping into a power greater than ourselves to take meaningful action and bear witness to t...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe reflects on the promise that we can be alone at perfect peace and ease. For many in addiction, being alone was a luxury lost long ago, often accompanied by a constant chorus of thoughts. Joe shares the person...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe discusses the spiritual delight that can come after completing a fifth step. For many, the first time may bring feelings of being unburdened, though sometimes it may add a burden. Joe reflects on his own expe...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe explores the concept of conscious relation—the awareness of being aware and using that awareness to assist others. This awareness helps individuals communicate with something greater than themselves, guiding...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session, Joe addresses the importance of balancing religious practices with recovery practices, particularly when navigating Steps 5, 6, & 7. Joe emphasizes that while religious confessions have their place, they shou...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe highlights the transformative power found within the process described in the Big Book, emphasizing how these steps have worked for addicts of the hopeless variety, regardless of substa...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe emphasizes the importance of taking risks and moving forward in faith, even when fear is holding us back. He shares the story of a man who initially didn’t believe in God but borrowed J...

Join Joe McDonald as he reads and expands on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, offering deeper understanding and practical advice for those on their recovery journey. In this session on Steps 5, 6, & 7, Joe dives into the idea of how we often cover up our consciousness of a higher power, leading to fear, tension, and misery. Many in recovery find that even when things are going well, they’...