Why We Reasonably Intelligent People Continue to Make Totally Insane Decisions – Step 2

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May 25, 2025

Ari L

I have a lot of process addictions that I struggle with and like addictive behavior in general, I want to work on all the way down to reading (on insanity)

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What are some of the behaviors, marked by insanity, that you would like to see restored to sanity?

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OR

Have you ever done the same thing over and over, even when it did not work?

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Insane in the Membrane – Cypress Hill (3:26)

 Einstein on God (7:48) 

Peaceful Relaxation Meditation (9:59)

Analysis: Escaping the Loop

Addiction obscures our view of reality. The Basic Text calls this condition insanity. We lose our grasp on sound judgment. A Higher Power offers a clearer vision. We must acknowledge our fractured perception first. Honesty breaks the cycle of denial.

Old habits trigger the same destructive patterns. The Big Book details this recurring tragedy. We craft trivial excuses to justify lapses. Albert Einstein famously defined this behavior as insanity. He noted the futility of seeking new outcomes from old methods. We repeat the same steps while expecting change.

Wellbriety teachings provide a path toward restoration. “We regain our sanity through connection to the Creator” (White Bison, 2002, p. 55). Carl Jung also understood this profound need. He believed spiritual awakening heals the broken spirit (Jung, 1933). Surrender replaces our rigid, failing willpower. We find strength in the present moment. Each day brings a new chance for clarity.

References

Jung, C. G. (1933). Modern Man in Search of a Soul. Harcourt, Brace & World.

White Bison. (2002). The Red Road to Wellbriety. White Bison, Inc.

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Traducción al Español

Citas, Títulos y Referencias

POR QUÉ LAS PERSONAS RAZONABLEMENTE INTELIGENTES SEGUIMOS TOMANDO DECISIONES TOTALMENTE LOCAS – PASO 2

LAS ADICCIONES DESAFÍAN TODA RAZÓN –

“Muchos de nosotros sentimos que ‘insanidad’ era una palabra demasiado dura para describir nuestra condición. Sin embargo, si analizamos de forma realista nuestra adicción activa, veremos que hemos sido cualquier cosa menos cuerdos. En su mayor parte, nuestras percepciones no se basaban en la realidad.” (El Texto Básico, p. 13)

BEBER, ENJUAGAR, REPETIR –

“…inevitablemente [teníamos] alguna excusa trivial y loca para tomar el primer trago. Nuestro razonamiento sensato no lograba mantenernos bajo control. La idea loca ganaba. Al día siguiente nos preguntábamos, con toda seriedad y sinceridad, cómo pudo haber sucedido.” (El Libro Grande, p. 37)

ALBERT EINSTEIN –

“Locura: hacer lo mismo una y otra vez y esperar resultados diferentes.”

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)


Análisis

La adicción oscurece nuestra visión de la realidad. El Texto Básico llama a esta condición insanidad. Perdemos nuestro juicio sensato. Un Poder Superior ofrece una visión más clara. Primero debemos reconocer nuestra percepción fracturada. La honestidad rompe el ciclo de negación.

Los viejos hábitos provocan los mismos patrones destructivos. El Libro Grande detalla esta tragedia recurrente. Elaboramos excusas triviales para justificar nuestras recaídas. Albert Einstein definió famosamente este comportamiento como locura. Señaló la inutilidad de buscar nuevos resultados con los mismos métodos. Repetimos los mismos pasos mientras esperamos un cambio.

Las enseñanzas de Wellbriety proporcionan un camino hacia la restauración. “Recuperamos nuestra cordura a través de la conexión con el Creador” (White Bison, 2002, p. 55). Carl Jung también entendió esta necesidad profunda. Creía que el despertar espiritual sana el espíritu roto (Jung, 1933). La rendición reemplaza nuestra rígida y fallida fuerza de voluntad. Encontramos fuerza en el momento presente. Cada día trae una nueva oportunidad de claridad.


Pregunta Concluyente

¿Alguna vez has hecho lo mismo una y otra vez aunque no funcionara?

insanity

Comments

14 responses to “Why We Reasonably Intelligent People Continue to Make Totally Insane Decisions – Step 2”

  1. VLeigh Avatar
    VLeigh

    I would like for the insane thoughts of needing to fill the void to be restored to sanity. Even in recovery, I still feel an emptiness at times.

  2. Phil d Avatar
    Phil d

    My insanity looks like telling myself I can still have a glass of wine now and then because it wasn’t my drug of choice. But then I think “why would I even bother? Alcohol tastes like shit and just one glass wouldn’t even get me buzzed!” I realize it would only be to pretend I’m sophisticated in front of others and I’m trying not to be as performative.

  3. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    An insane thought that I had a little over a year ago was that maybe I would be able to drink like a gentleman someday, knowing full well from much research that it would be catastrophic…. it all starts with a thought… I like to use step 3 to stop that thought by making the decision…

  4. Elexi WSA (Lotus) Avatar

    5/26/2025
    “Have you ever done the same thing over and over even when it didn’t work? “
    For some reason, even though something may not be for me any longer for some reason, I still, mostly in panic, seem to repeat somethings. I need to write a long list of everything I want to stop, so that I can really fine tune what’s all causing the repetition to occur. My mind being focused on different tasks allows me to reduce panic states, but at the same time I have to focus on the problem to find a solution. A lot of study prepares me to think through things more, and write a good journal. There’s people out there though that make it harder to not commit these repetitions I don’t want to repeat. Someone who seems perfectly normal at first may turn the wrong way all of a sudden. Trust gets bleaker for me to trust just anyone. It gets harder when we don’t know if someone will turn or not. Some businesses for instance are so environmentally unfriendly, that they will hire any robotic like working people out of desperation.

  5. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    During addiction, my behaviors became delusional. With each passing day in sobriety, with the guidance of my HP and the fellowship of the rooms, my sanity is restored.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

  6. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    I have a lot of process addictions that I struggle with and like addictive behavior in general I want to work on all the way down to reading

  7. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    There are several negative emotions that are a part of my disease that I work on daily to reduce their impact on my life. Shame, impulse control, obsession are all rooted in my disease. There are several tools that I use got minimize them, such as affirmation, mindfulness and positivity. One of my favorite tools is to ask myself, what is the evidence. Specifically when in a negative frame of mind. What is the evidence that these negative thoughts or behaviors are true? When I stop, be mindful, and ask myself for proof, the negative thoughts are quickly disproved and I can move forward with a positive attitude.

  8. E-dawg Avatar
    E-dawg

    For me insanity is entertaining the thought to drink, especially knowing where it will take me. If it is entertained too much the thought becomes an obsession and once the obsession happens the drink is taken the man is gone the cycle continues and the only way to be restored back to sanity for me is to be physically removed from it by ending up in a residential treatment program or jail…

    1. Elexi WSA (Lotus) Avatar

      Yes, I think entertaining drinking has caused me too, to struggle tremendously, then there’s some people who just don’t seem to grow up mentally. This all causes drinking to be harder to stop.

  9. Omar Avatar
    Omar

    what I would like to see restore to sanity it is my happiness. I got to the point where I stop smiling but I would like to see my self smiling again, and I know that I will.

  10. Br. Buddha Avatar
    Br. Buddha

    Good morning everyone + happy Friday. I would like to share with you my AA credo. I shall be of service in the A.A. fellowship. I shall be loyal in my attendance, generous in my giving, kind in my criticism, creative in my suggestions,loving in my attitudes. I shall give to A.A. my interest, my enthusiasm, my devotion, + most of all, myself. Blessings. BB

  11. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    When I have negative thoughts I follow them and I let them carry me through that continuous cycle of one negative thought after another. When I started thinking of politics this morning I realized how angry that makes me and I sit in it like a fly on you know what. I’d also like to learn how to drink 1 cup of coffee once in a while and not like 4. This just really affects my nerves and doesn’t help my sobriety at all. And it is just lovely that every fricken meeting has a huge coffee pot. Like that is supposed to help.

  12. JB jr. Avatar
    JB jr.

    Today I have to relearn that a watched pot doesn’t boil … any faster. Knowing when to let things unfold is the greatest gift I can give myself now.

  13. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    As I sit here at my computer with my little grandson resting his head on my arm, I know the joy of unconditional love. He has taught me to see the world in new ways and to marvel once again at the magnificence of even the smallest things. Each child gives so much and I wonder if we give to the children in the same way – do I repeat the mistakes of my parents – doing the same thing expecting different results.

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