Chris – Steps 10-11 – The Position of Neutrality – 2020

About This Speaker Tape

Chris maps out the daily maintenance of sobriety, focusing on the 'disciplines' of Steps 10, 11, and 12. He dismantles the idea that recovery is merely about avoiding a drink, arguing instead for a state of 'neutrality' where the obsession is removed. Through a series of gritty airport encounters—snapping at a TSA agent and shoving a 'beefy' passenger on a plane—he illustrates the necessity of the prompt 10th Step apology to avoid carrying emotional baggage.

He emphasizes the 11th Step as a tool for intuitive guidance, sharing a story of a phone call to a former mentee that likely saved the man's life. Chris warns against the 'ineffectual' life of the dry drunk, urging the fellowship to pursue genuine happiness and creative passion rather than a boring, stagnant existence.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Chris discusses the necessity of the 10th Step, noting that we are wrong 'when' not 'if' we are wrong.
• 3:15 Reading of the 10th Step promises and the definition of 'sanity' as the knowledge that alcohol will kill the user.
• 6:20 Critique of 'dry' sobriety versus the 'neutrality' found in the Big Book.
• 8:40 Laughter: Chris talks about his love for buffets and gambling in Vegas while staying on 'solid ground'.
• 11:10 Story begins: The TSA security line conflict and the 'horse's patoot' behavior.
• 14:30 The act of the 10th Step: Returning to the TSA agent to apologize and clear the wreckage.
• 17:10 Story: Shoving a 'beefy' man on a Southwest flight and walking into the wrong bathroom.
• 21:00 Discussion of the 11th Step and the influence of Paul Martin's articles on meditation.
• 24:45 The 'intuitive' nature of the 11th Step: A story about a timely phone call to a struggling alcoholic.
• 28:30 Advice on avoiding boredom in recovery; the warning that 'you're bored because you're boring'.
• 31:15 Closing thoughts on the 'dark side' wanting the alcoholic to be 'ineffectual' rather than dead.