Before there was AA, there was Tolstoy...
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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Originally Posted by FreeOwl 
I believe feeling the need to numb our self consciousness is another great indicator of being out of alignment.
So finding this again is definitely not a simple exercise.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central America/Florida USA
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Wow, good stuff. I certainly "stupified" myself in order to take actions that I was ashamed or afraid to take while sober. Drinking was a free pass - a permission slip - to take a break from the problems in my head and act out. In the end, I was cheating myself out of a higher plane of existence. Love the article, thanks for the tips on the Sunday links as well guys!
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by haennie
I believe that "restoring the alignment", or creating it for the first time, is one of the greatest challenges in recovery. Also part of the reason why it takes so long. Alcoholism disrupts our alignment with our values and as it progresses, it takes us further and further from it until we don't even remember anymore...
So finding this again is definitely not a simple exercise.
So finding this again is definitely not a simple exercise.
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,666
It's hard work guys. When i was drinking every day I only had one problem, which was to get the alcohol. Now I have a bunch of them! As somebody said to me on a train before 'the easiest way is often the wrong way'... Tolstoy is talking about God here, isn't it?
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Interesting article, FO - thanks for the post.
Off topic, sort of......
Every time I hear Tolstoy's name I think of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqS1Ty79mOE
Off topic, sort of......
Every time I hear Tolstoy's name I think of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqS1Ty79mOE
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 525
Originally Posted by FreeOwl
It doesn't necessarily mean we drank to numb ourselves from being 'bad'. Just out of alignment. I believe feeling the need to numb our self consciousness is another great indicator of being out of alignment.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -Tolstoy
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 525
Originally Posted by Stratman1
It's hard work guys. When i was drinking every day I only had one problem, which was to get the alcohol. Now I have a bunch of them!
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,666
Originally Posted by AcceptingChange
I noticed that too. That's another reason the first days and years of sobriety are so challenging, because we ignored so many things in our obsession to drink. Ugh, anyone who gets sober is a true hero in my book, it's extremely difficult and challenging. And it's a major accomplishment.
Some good articles on that site
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