This meeting grows directly out of Bill Wilson’s later understanding of recovery, expressed in his writing The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety. In it, Bill speaks plainly about something many sober alcoholics discover. That even after the drinking stops, emotional balance and inner peace do not always follow.

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Many of us arrive sober, yet still restless, irritable, and discontent. Old fears remain. Old demands remain. We may want approval, security, or comfort from people, circumstances, or even from A.A. itself. When those demands are not met, we suffer. Bill named this problem clearly. Emotional dependency. The demand that life give us what we think we need to be okay.

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In this meeting, we explore Bill’s own journey as it unfolded over time. From the Big Book, to the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and finally to his reflections on Emotional Sobriety. We take a deeper emotional look at each Step, asking not only what we do, but why we react, cling, demand, and resist.

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Bill described this work as learning how to bring our hidden inner life into alignment with what we already believe and practice. He spoke of the inner “Mr. Hyde,” the unseen part of us where fear, compulsion, and false expectations still live. Emotional Sobriety is not about denying that part of ourselves. It is about seeing it honestly, surrendering unhealthy dependencies, and learning how to love without demand.

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Bill suggested that alcoholics who had tested the program thoroughly might become the spearhead for the next major development in A.A. Not by creating something new, but by growing up emotionally and spiritually. By finding humility, balance, and maturity in our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God.

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This meeting lives in that spirit. We are not inventing a new program. We are exploring what Bill pointed toward. A deeper freedom that comes when we stop demanding and start giving. A quieter mind. A steadier heart. A way of living where peace and joy become natural byproducts, not goals we chase.

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The room is calm, thoughtful, and welcoming. There is no pressure to speak or perform. You are free to listen, reflect, and take what applies to you. This meeting is for the alcoholic who has stopped drinking, yet knows there is more growing to do, and is willing to explore that next frontier together.