Emotional Sobriety II

The second collection of essays from Grapevine magazine that speak to emotional sobriety—a powerful concept first described by AA co-founder Bill W.




The editors of Grapevine, the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous, have collected more than 40 stories of sober women and men that describe the personal transformations that sobriety can bring when practicing the principles of AA in all aspects of their lives.

In a 1958 article for Grapevine, the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. wrote about the ongoing challenges of recovery that he faced long after he stopped drinking, including his struggle with depression. For him, “emotional sobriety” became the next frontier.

In these personal essays from members of the AA Fellowship, you’ll discover what emotional sobriety is all about. To quote from Bill Wilson, “the development of much more real maturity and balance (which is to say, humility)” in all of one’s relations. Many discover that happiness is a by-product of giving without any demand for return; others learn to embrace the present with gratitude so they may claim moments of real peace.

The stories in this collection demonstrate how emotional sobriety is a vital element of recovery from alcoholism or other addictions. These creative, heartfelt insights from a diverse spectrum of sober seekers offer insights that can light the way to your own “quiet place in bright sunshine.”