PROMISE TWO
Feb 15 from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader
“Our self-esteem will increase as we give ourselves approval on a daily basis.” BRB p. 591
The promise of self-esteem is very attractive, especially given that if we didn’t have a negative self-perception, many of us would have no self-image at all.
By showing up regularly at ACA meetings, we increase our “True Self-esteem” in a positive way. We find a safe space to interact with others who are on the same quest. This act of showing up for our True Self gives us a positive view of ourselves, most likely for the first time.
By participating in the meetings and identifying ourselves as adult children, we are sending a signal to our Inner Child that we are aware of the work we have to do, and we are willing to make a commitment to realize our spiritual awakening. More True Self-esteem will come from regularly affirming our current state and our future mission.
By our showing up and participating, we give our True Self approval; approval to get well, to belong, to share, to believe, to hope, to care, to cry, to laugh, to grieve, to live. These simple expressions of our humanity are True Self esteem of the most precious and rewarding kind.
On this day I will practice doing the things that build True Self-esteem and give my True Self the approval to trust, feel, and talk.”
My experience:
I never thought of it that way, but the act of showing up is totally for you. You get to be around people that are on a similar journey as yours and you get to hear their hope, their struggles, their healing and it lets you know you are not alone. The knowledge that you are not alone, that you have comrades right there to talk to, call, fellowship with and have sponsor you increase your self-esteem exponentially. The other thing I never considered, until my sponsor pointed it out to me is that I had never said out loud that I was an Adult Child. Some of us go to meetings and we hear some people say, “Hello my name is XXX, and I am Adult Child of an Alcoholic and/or other Dysfunctional Family.” I never really gave much thought to it. I just never spoke those words. Just recently I started to utter those words in meetings and there was a transformation. It made me even closer to those folks in the room as I was saying out loud that I belong here. There is power in those words. In a way, I guess I was still hiding or in some sort of denial. Well the secret is out now, and what a relief.