"Though our inability to accept personal responsibilities, we were actually creating our own problems." Basic Text, p.13
When we refuse to take responsibility for our lives, we give away all of our personal power. We need to remember that we are powerless over our addiction, not our personal behavior.
Many of us have misused the concept of powerlessness to avoid making decisions or to hold onto things we had outgrown. We have blamed others for our circumstances rather than taking positive action to change those circumstances. If we continue to avoid responsibility by claiming that we
are "powerless", we set ourselves up for the same despair and misery we experienced in our active addiction.The potential for spending our recovery years feeling like victims is very real .
Instead of living our lives by default, we can learn how to make responsible choices and take
risk. We may make mistakes,but we can learn from these mistakes. A heightened awareness of ourselves and an increased willingness to accept personal responsibility gives us the freedom to change, to make choices, and to grow.
Just for today: My feelings, actions, and choices are mine I will accept responsibility for them.
CAIM Treatment & Rehabilitation
www.caimindia.org
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2 comments:
Awesome stuff guys, i read this blog everyday now for inspiration. Thanks for all the help, keep the posts coming.
I've asked the same question of literally hundreds of recovering addicts. "We don't have power over addiction, other people, the wind, water or the air, what do we have power over?"
They answered the same thing almost universally - choice. We have the power to choose how we respond to situations in our daily lives.
I have to keep in mind that not choosing is a choice. If we ignore or hide from problems and/or react with our addict instincts they will generally get worse.
On the other hand, maybe I don't need to respond. Maybe HP will take care of it for me.
Sometimes the hardest thing to ask an addict to do is nothing. Luckily the truth is always clear and I know if I don't feel that clarity I probably need to wait in conscious contact until HP lets me know what to do.
If I choose to wait it needs to be a conscious choice with a clear (and hopefully spiritual) intent - not procrastination.
Serenity Prayer (Long Version)
God, grant me;
The serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
The wisdom to know the difference
Patience for things that take time
Tolerance for others whose struggles are different
Gratitude for all that I have
(I usually add)
Take my will and my life
Guide me in my recovery
Show me how to live
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