Magazine - The ESSAY Magazine

DECEMBER 2025

“Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” (AA 58) Thoroughly following the path of those who have gone before us in recovery demands rigorous honesty when looking at ourselves in Step Four. Through honesty, we see more clearly our resentments, fears, and sex harms that have caused much damage—preparing us to have them removed by a caring God in Step Seven, making amends in Step Nine, and carrying this message to other sexaholics in Step Twelve. This caution and invitation to be honest is a blessing and an opportunity for us to practice fact-finding for the rest of our lives.

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In Every Issue

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Enjoy reading all the articles of the current magazine below.

Where Is Your Honesty?
The Steps replace the addictive process with a Program of recovery. This happened almost 20 years ago, when I was just beginning this recovery Program.

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Healing the Wounds in My Life
Her sponsor helped her admit deep resentment towards her adoptive mother. Rigorous is “an adjective that means extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.” Rigorous honesty is a commitment to complete truthfulness in all aspects of life, even when it's difficult or has consequences. Phew.

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Can’t Leave My Heart Out of It
Honesty helps him take the Steps with sincerity of heart. Honesty starts with my heart. My head is going to think of all kinds of reasons to dodge the truth.

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A Lot of Courage
Higher Power gives her the courage to turn her whole life over to the will of God. When I hear the words “rigorous honesty,” all kinds of things go through my mind: bringing the inside out, sharing with others, writing Tenth Step inventories, making phone calls, and sharing honestly and sincerely in meetings.

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Holding Nothing Back
He learned through the Program to be honest in every area of his life. Rigorous honesty with myself is the best medicine for the disease because my disease comes out of denial—lying to myself and others. Before lust, I learned to fantasize and make up fun stories.

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Looking at the Sun
Completely exposed before God with a wide open willingness for Him to take away her defects gave her a vital spiritual experience.

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Melting the ice inside
After years of being dominated by lust, this member is living life on a spiritual plane as a result of practicing the Program, with deep love for sponsorship.

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Crosstalk
This member shares how following the “no crosstalk” guidelines fosters real respect for all the members in the meeting.

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Improvising
God uses him to carry the message of recovery through his musical gifts. My name is Winfried, and I come from Germany. I have been sober since February 14, 2013, thanks to God's grace.

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Where God Found Me
By presenting himself as he truly is, God meets him there with His love that transforms. It wasn’t on the mountaintop where God found me, but in the dust.

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