Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery
Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery
Allen Berger & Thom Rutledge
Disappointments Are Not Obstacles
33 minutes Posted Apr 5, 2026 at 6:38 pm.
Coming soon: Sobriety for Superman
Enjoying the Feedback From Our Podcast
Tom's nutshell for the week: Life is a Wonderful Blessing with
Nothing in the Universe Happens By Mistake
Exploring Emotional Sobriety
Acceptance of Realities
The Reef: How to Love Your Wife
Lessons from Working With a Sick Brain
Does Anyone Really Hate Himself?
Tom on Disappointments
Tom Cruise in '
Jefferson Ross
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33:56
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Show notes
Thom’s Nutshell:
“Life is a wonderful blessing, with many great disappointments. Can you see disappointment as a gift?”
In emotional sobriety, we attempt to believe that we are here to learn from whatever we are given, which Thom calls “positive opportunism.” How can we use what disappoints us to become a better person? How can we use it to be productive? Acting “as if” this was the plan all along can help us through.  If we appreciate the true nature of things, we’re free from expectations about how they’re “supposed to” be.
Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com
Visit our website:
www.emotionalsobriety.info
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: thomrutledge2
Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs
Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here:
https://rebelliondogspublishing.com 
 
Friendly Circle Berlin workshops: https://friendlycircleberlin.org/events
 
Allen’s book, 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety: https://www.amazon.com/12-Essential-Insights-Emotional-Sobriety/dp/1955415129/
 
Join Allen & Thom at our Thursday night, 7pm PST Zoom meeting on Emotional Sobriety and the Steps (login information below): 
https://zoom.us/j/330149513
Password: 375986
 
For our ongoing workshop video series on Emotional Sobriety and the 12 Steps, visit our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEM2-kqLkfp3I4c0jy-X-g
 
Also, please join our “Emotional Sobriety and Recovery” FB Group at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/120450976662519
We’d love to stay in touch in between meetings.
 
We appreciate feedback! Contact Patrick, our producer, at [email protected] for any questions or comments.