Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery
Emotional Sobriety: The Next Step in Recovery
Allen Berger & Thom Rutledge
Responsibility Over Blame
33 minutes Posted Sep 29, 2026 at 4:37 pm.
Introduction and Recovery 2.0 Retreat with Tommy Rosen
Yoga, Travel, and Recovery Speaking Life
Blame vs Responsibility: Defining Emotional Immaturity
How Blame Turns Us Into Victims
Walking Through a Disappointment Scenario
Empowerment Through Responsibility
Joining Joe: Milestones in Long-Term Sobriety
Childlike Curiosity vs Duty and Obligation
Addiction as a Solution That Almost Worked
Self-Regulation and Mindfulness
Expressing Feelings Through Music
New Parenthood and Emotional Sobriety
Uncharted Territory: Supporting a Struggling Friend
Living With Human Range, Not Transcending It
Agency, Responsibility, and Passing Time
Perpetrator, Victim, Rescuer Triads
Programming, Privilege, and the Limits of Emotional Work
Responsibility as Meaning, Not Burden
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Show notes
Thom’s Nutshell:
Serious condition: I’ll be okay as soon as that thing that happened to me didn’t happen to me.
There’s a difference between blame and responsibility. Blame comes from “low differentiation,” or a low level of emotional maturity. It’s a sign of where we’re stuck in our development-fused with our environments. Taking responsibility, conversely, empowers us. It gives us more possibilities, brings in enthusiasm and zeal. We’re working towards self-support, where we act for ourselves without being selfish, and acting for others without losing ourselves.
Our music is provided by the great southern artist Jefferson Ross. Learn more about Jefferson at jeffersonross.com
Visit our website:
www.emotionalsobriety.info
Learn more about Joe C., Secular AA and Rebellion Dogs here:
https://rebelliondogspublishing.com 
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: thomrutledge2
Joe C. Twitter: @Rebellion_Dogs
 
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.