TRUE SELF
June 1, from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader
“We begin to see that we can bring our True Selves to a relationship. We have something to offer that is different than unhealthy dependence. This is what ACA recovery looks like.” BRB p.265
“Discovering our True Selves – what a journey! When we look back at our first ACA meeting, we thank our Higher Power for getting us here. Maybe we hoped for a quick fix to stop the insanity and to have a better life, or a miracle answer about how to fix other people. But that’s not exactly how things turned out.
As we keep coming back, we find that working the Steps is not always easy, nor is it pretty. But the key to freedom is courage, vulnerability, and the willingness to shed our tears while we follow this quest. We work with a sponsor or fellow traveler who has walked this walk before. We discover our ineffective behavior patterns and become willing to change. We don’t get stuck on blaming our parents and the generations before them.
Slowly, the ACA Promises come true. As we work our program, we develop those characteristics and learn to breathe and love life. We play again. We become healthier and have healthier relationships with ourselves, our families, our friends and community. We become sponsors and help others through the swamps, gently and tenderly, the way we were shown. With the help of our Higher Power, we discover we had the “ruby slippers” all along!
On this day I continue to do the work that helps me discover more aspects of my healthy True Self.”
My Experience:
Going through the progression and recognition of finding my true self is very painful, but it is also needed and very helpful too. In retrospect, I feel like I started this program with the ability to effectively communicate of that of a 10 year old. With the help of this program, I had to work through the hurts and the blame. I had to recognize the raged filled tantrums I displayed and work on having conversations that were not only appropriate, but I also needed to determine if they were needed or was there something inside me that needed to change. I did all this to discover my true self. My true wants, desires and the way I really want to live. I am not perfect, but I am progressing nicely. People can actually see the change and it gets recognized. What a blessing it is to have my Higher Power, my sponsor, my fellow travelers and this program as a whole providing me guidance and love.
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