What is Recovery?

I have known people that simply do not understand what recovery really means. They think that if you stop drink, druging or get out of the abusive relationship that you have recovered. The in reality is only half of the equasion and in fact it is the easiest part of all. For those that have tried this approach and only abstain they still have a life that is filled with all the same problems and behaviors as before.

Some people may even think I am crazy by saying that abstaining is the easy part and in reality it really is. The hard part comes when we have to look in the mirror and see who we have become as a result of our abusing the booze or drugs. Who we turning into becuase of the abuse of another that we loved. We all create false images of who we are and that can be really hard to break through to allow the real me to get through.

With time and lot of work I slowly identify the things that I did that hurt those around me and the things I did that hurt me. It is important to do that and to make amends for having done it. Yet, for many the best amends will be in the form of changed behavior, in not continuuing to do the same things over and over again. When we are in recovery it is not enough to just stop drinking, we also need to change the way we think, deal with issues and how we deal with others.

We no longer have the ability to hide behind a bottle, a pill or an abusive spouse. If we continue to do what we have always done we will only have ourselves to blame for it. Looking in the mirrow and see what looks back is the hardest thing anyone can ever do, when done honestly. The bravest thing we can do is to take action to change what we see by allowing ourselves to come out from behind the mask that we have created.

The bravery comes in when we allow ourselves to be real with all our flaws and allow others to love us for who we are and not for who we pretend to be. This is recovery and it is really hard to do becuase you ahve to be honest with yourself and others. You cannot hide behind masks like others do, you have to be real. It in being real and honest that we recover the thing that means the most and that was the highest price paid for the abuse of chemicals or the abuse at the hands of another. Our selves, our own identity our own soul.

Have a great day all and God Bless, love you all.