We're up to Chapter 4 in the Big Book called "We Agnostics". The first time I read this Chapter, I was really offended and thought it a complete waste of time to be reading about - "We Agnostics." The nerve of them (and my sponsor) to even suggest that I - a very Frum Yi...
1. To go beyond my mind, I wear a yamulka. G-d spoke to us; we are connected to that which is above - I can literally reach above my head. 2. Neshama (soul) comes from the word noshem, to breath. What is the closest to life I get? When I breathe; the breath is always new....
The "Three-Second Rule:" If you see something inappropriate, implement the "three-second rule." Doing so involves three steps: alert, avert, and affirm. The first step is to realize that you're seeing something inappropriate. That's the "alert" stage, and it may take a se...
I've been slipping a lot lately and I felt like a total failure. This past Shabbos, the last thing I felt was holy. Then out of the blue I picked up the sefer 'The garden of Emunah' by Rav Arush and I opened it to a random page. And this is what I read as soon as I opened...
One of the Rabbeim in my yeshiva way back when, in a mussar shmuz, mentioned two strategies against the Yetzer Hara:
1) He said when faced with a Yetzer Hara that looks overwhelming that you are afraid to even start the battle, it helps to "chop the Yetzer Hara into bite...
Dear holy person - it sounds like you are reaching out for help.
If you feel that you are not just a sinner, but are actually out of your mind - meaning: out of control - and have come to believe that you are pretty much hopelessly self-destructive, you may be in luck. Mo...
Although going strong for 28 days now, I almost just lost it due to "a regular everyday news story". As I was logging on to my e-mail account, there was a story about a controversial picture on the front cover of a magazine. Out of habit I clicked on it, but soon came to ...
Boys Town, NE - On a clement winter day at the edge of the Plains, two men in black trod a kind of hallowed ground. One was a Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Steven E. Boes, and the other a Hasidic rabbi, Shais Taub.
They were walking through the village founded decades e...
I just wanted to share something that I heard in name of R' Yerucham. It say in this weeks parsha that Rivka went to Beis Shem ve'Eiver to ask about her difficult pregnancy. They told her that she was going to have two entirely different types of children. The meforshim u...
Someone who can stare temptation in the face without being swayed must be a Malach. A Tzaddik, on the other hand, is someone who avoids situations where he may be tempted.
I once asked our oncologist if it wasn't depressing to work with sick and dying people all the time. His answer blew me away. "Everyone is going to die," he said, leaning forward over his desk, "some sooner than later. It's how we choose to live our lives that matters. My...
Ask yourself if you still really believe you are unable to use the behaviors you used to depend on, and if you are unable to control them at all and are really finished with them. Then, ask Hashem to help you stay clean today. I never ask for His help to tomorrow. (Ok, re...
When I feel that way, I get me to a meeting. We gotta get out of our heads and take actions of love whenever we are too filled up with self-concern, even good self-concern - and it's too much self-concern if it is leading me a direction like giving up, sadness, or anythin...
There are so many people here that could benefit from a 12-Step program. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM. All those posts from the men & women on this fantastic forum, yet it seems they're just repeating an endless cycle of attempting 90+ days, Fall, Blog-a-lot, Sobriety, a...
Hi Reb Guard, My therapist mentioned to me that repression will lead to self hate and loathing. I was just interested to know your response.
It seems to me that your therapist is obviously not trained in addiction. As any addiction therapist knows, an alcoholic is aller...
This is the first time I had some major insights FROM A CLOSE CALL, instead of FROM A FALL, Thank G-d!
First of all, I used the forum in a way I never have before. I was desperate so I sent out distress PMs to some familiar names there. Until now, I've felt sort of impers...
Reb Guard,
First of all thanks for all that you do on daily basis on behalf of Klal Yisroel.
In the past 2 weeks I've been in contact with Elya K on the hotline and b"h I've been clean for 10 days. But the most amazing change that has happened over the last 10 days has be...
You know that Nike line, "Just Do It!?" Well after the fact you will say, "Ok, I Did It! Now What?"
Instead we say, "Just Don't Do It!" You will love yourself for it later.