Why Time Alone Doesn’t Treat the Disease – Joe K.

About This Speaker Tape

Primetime Is Now Group - 2011

A rooming house full of drunks was Joe K.'s first classroom in alcoholism but it took hitting a devastating bottom four years ago to realize that time in sobriety isn't a cure for a mind-powered disease. He describes the 'lash of alcoholism' as a mental noise that drowns out the ocean and a circular closed system of self-will that keeps a person trapped in a loop of shame and guilt. Joe breaks down the mechanics of the first three steps not as homework to be completed but as a daily practice of resigning from the 'debating society' of the ego. He reflects on the struggle to flip his phone back over and engage with life when the disease tells him to dissociate. The talk evolves into a group dialogue on the 'medium-low' state of suffering and the necessity of snagging toxic thoughts before they harden into emotions that the ego can weaponize.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Joe K. opens with the Primetime meeting format and the definition of alcoholism as a living, mind-powered disease.
• 6:15 Joe describes his childhood memories of the rooming house 'crash pad' and his early identification with bums on the street.
• 12:40 Discussion of the 'dash' on a tombstone and the reality of unmanageability.
• 17:10 Joe shares a concrete example of the disease telling him to dissociate from his phone and the use of Step 2 to overcome it.
• 21:30 Analysis of the 'belligerent' character state and the 'closed mind' system in Step 2.
• 26:10 Joe discusses the 'defiant character' and the humility of learning to be taught.
• 31:00 Joe's reflections on Step 3 and the practice of turning the will over to a Higher Power.
• 36:15 Laughter: Ron shares the story of the Skirball Center traffic jam coincidence.
• 42:30 Gary C. discusses the 'wreckage' of his mouth being quicker than his alcoholism.
• 48:10 Carl discusses the 'spiritual kindergarten' and the danger of 'tap dancing' through recovery without internal change.
• 53:20 Frank shares his experience with the 'revolving door' and the proximity of crack houses to the jail on Skid Row.