Corking the Bottle

Here is something that is confusing to me. "According to Carl Jung, at the very core of our humanness exists a dualism -- the shadow and the light. Before we can manifest our light and become that winged bird, we must first come to know and accept our shadow." (Jacqueline Small, Awakening in Time     https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jacquelyn-small/awakening-in-time/ ) I have worked to minimize and erase the personality disorders I have become aware of by working the Twelve Steps. One important defect is self-centeredness and a feeling of superiority. I feel like I have made good progress toward that goal. People at A.A. meetings show me we are all the same in God's eyes, but with unique strengths and weaknesses. That's the way God made us. My wife still accuses me of thinking only of myself. So does my youngest sister. So am I not seeing myself clearly for what I am? Are they trying to boost their own self-esteem by projecting their issues at me? Or...

My exploration into the inner me, instigated by a desire to stay sober, has showed me I need to turn up the dial on my humility. Most of my earlier life was filled with successes in my work and personal life. I think I was an egotist. Then when my highly polished armor developed some chinks, my feelings of superiority were replaced by feelings of inferiority. A.A.'s Big Book and counselors helped me to balance the two. Accepting my fate as an alcoholic was humiliating, especially for someone like me. "...we are not human beings learning to be spiritual; we are spiritual beings learning to be human. In fact, we've found that when people are out of touch with the inner life, they are far more prone to addictions of all kinds. They only look outside themselves for gratification and validation." ( Awakening In Time , Jacquelyn Small,    https://books.google.com/books/about/Awakening_in_Time.html?id=J0hY7iqxg48C ) In God's eyes we are all equal. That realization ...