RECOVERY LANGUAGE
Jan 10, from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader
“We may be speaking program lingo, but we are not talking about what truly bothers us.” BRB p. 432
In the beginning, many of us found great comfort in the new language of recovery. It shielded us against the old way of thinking. But some of us found that “talking the talk” without “walking the walk” did not change our actual behavior. We damaged ourselves and those around us by treading lightly. As we learned when we were children, we did not make waves, and the consequences still hurt us deeply. What we needed to see was that we were in a fight for our very lives.
As we recognize our complacence we begin to free ourselves. We embrace our choices as adults with a firm backbone. We grow up. We do for ourselves, what no one else can do: we rescue ourselves. We do this by surrendering our controlling grip and letting other people into our lives who can help us – a sponsor, a fellow traveler, a therapist – whomever we need.
We are not looking for perfection, but progress. We put aside our doubts and walk into the light of a new truth. It may feel painful to be honest and try something new, but not as painful as staying where we are.”
“On this day I will take action to get a sponsor if I don’t already have one. I will commit to working the Steps and not just sound like I know what I’m talking about when I really don’t.”
My Experience:
“Walking the Walk” is very difficult. People don’t like when you actually change. See, when I actually changed I stopped taking over other’s problems, I started doing for me. I prioritized my time differently, I started to incorporate fun things in my life and it didn’t matter that others didn’t want to participate. Clarity started to come when I met with the sponsor that had the right fit and started to work the steps. I better understood what I needed to do for me. Funny thing is, once I did for me, it benefitted all those around me as I have a different outlook on life. I am enabling others to do for themselves and live their best life, while I am doing the same. You cannot just “talk the talk,” you have to “walk the walk” and embrace change. Embrace change with me!!