Workshop: Joe and Charlie Big Book - Part 3 of 8 (2003)
Feb 9, 2024
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Joe McQ and Charlie P, both deeply interested in AA's Big Book, present an insightful workshop. Topics include finding a personal conception of God, the power of fellowship in AA, characteristics of a real alcoholic, childhood experiences, the destructive nature of alcohol, spiritual tools for recovery, the power of fellowship, and challenges in recovery.
The main issue in alcoholism lies in the mind rather than the body, and a personality change or spiritual awakening is crucial for overcoming the problem.
Change plays a vital role in the recovery process, and a willingness to change, coupled with honesty and open-mindedness, is essential for a person's sobriety and overall well-being.
Alcoholics have two choices when it comes to their drinking problem: continue drinking with increasingly negative consequences or accept spiritual help, which involves a shift in attitudes and reliance on a power greater than oneself.
Deep dives
The Problem of Alcoholism
The podcast discusses the main problem of alcoholism, which is the loss of control and the inability to stop drinking once started. It is explained that this problem stems from a mental obsession and a physical allergy to alcohol, which makes it virtually impossible for the alcoholic to stay sober once they start drinking. The podcast emphasizes that the main issue lies in the mind rather than the body, and highlights the importance of a personality change or a spiritual awakening to overcome alcoholism. It is stated that this change can be achieved through spiritual experiences or awakenings, which lead to a shift in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
The Role of Change in Recovery
The podcast emphasizes the significance of change in the recovery process. It explores the concept of a personality change and the transformative power it can have in the life of an alcoholic. It is explained that the change can manifest in different forms and may occur suddenly or gradually over time. The podcast highlights the key role of willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness in bringing about this change. It emphasizes that change is essential for recovery and that the refusal to change can be detrimental to a person's sobriety and overall well-being.
The Two Choices
The podcast presents the two choices that alcoholics face when it comes to their drinking problem. The first choice is to continue drinking, which leads to increasingly negative consequences and ultimately can lead to death or insanity. The second choice is to accept spiritual help, which involves a shift in attitudes and a reliance on a power greater than oneself. The podcast highlights that these two choices are the only options for alcoholics and emphasizes the importance of willingnessto seek spiritual help for recovery.
The Importance of Accepting Spiritual Help
The podcast emphasizes the significance of accepting spiritual help in the recovery process. It explains that for alcoholics, there is no middle road solution and that human aid alone is insufficient to overcome the problem of alcoholism. The podcast underscores the importance of honesty, willingness, and effort in accepting spiritual help and states that for many alcoholics, this is the only viable choice for recovering from their addiction. It concludes by stating that the acceptance of spiritual help is a crucial step in achieving a personality change and finding freedom from alcoholism.
The Illusion of Control
One of the main ideas discussed in this podcast episode is the illusion that alcoholics believe they can control and enjoy their drinking. The episode describes the story of a man who remained sober for 25 years but fell victim to the belief that he could drink like other people. He took a drink, triggered his allergic reaction to alcohol, and within four years, he was dead. This story highlights the fact that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic, and attempting to return to social drinking always results in worse consequences.
The Importance of Steps 1, 2, and 3
Another key point discussed in this podcast episode is the importance of Steps 1, 2 and 3 in recovery. The podcast emphasizes that taking these steps is just the beginning and that failure to continue with the remaining steps can lead to relapse. The episode recounts the story of a man named Jim who took Steps 1, 2, and 3, experienced initial improvements in his life, but later relapsed because he didn't work on the subsequent steps. This underscores the significance of following the entire 12-step program for long-term recovery.
This is a very late version of the Joe and Charlie Big Book workshops recorded in 2003, the audio quality is excellent. If you have never heard a J & C workshop I would encourage you to give it a listen, there is a lot here. There is also a 4th step worksheet to accompany it, if you would like a copy you can download it from google drive here: https://scast.us/jc4th
This is part 3 of 8, it jumps right in from the end of yesterdays post.
Joe McQ and Charlie P met in 1973, they instantly discovered their mutual fascinations with AA's Big Book. The study they met for regularly became something they presented at meetings, eventually becoming this workshop.
At the AA International Convention in New Orleans in 1980, Wesley P, organized a lunch for 1,500 AA members from all over the world and gave away 100 Joe & Charlie workshop tape sets as door prizes. Invitations exploded, and within a couple of years Joe & Charlie were presenting about 36 seminars a year worldwide.
The forum is about half way set up and I should have it live sometime next week, I will post the url as soon as its done.
If you have any AA or Al-Anon event coming up let me know I am happy to help get the word out. https://scast.us/events
If you have an AA roundup, retreat, convention or workshop coming up, we would be happy to give you a shout out here on the podcast and list the event on the Sober Cast website. Visit the link above and look for "Submit Your Event" in the blue box.
Sober Cast has 2500+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com
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