Responsibility - from the Recovery Learning Series at SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.

Recovery is learning to enjoy life - without the use of alcohol or drugs that alter mind or mood.

It is treatment for the condition of addiction - an approach to the challenges of life - and a path to personal growth.

Recovery requires us to learn - about the true nature of addiction.

It may be personalized - but it has its necessary Principles and its Ways.

The Principles of Recovery provide direction - to the choices that we face each day.

The Ways of Recovery provide us with tools - that help us to heal - and to enjoy life on life’s terms.

This Learning Seminar introduces the recovery principle of personal Responsibility -

How to let go of blame - and to take Responsibility for your health today.

Addiction and Blame

Addiction is a condition that seems to occur from the outside - in.

Drugs are taken to change the way that we feel.

The compulsion to use is felt as a pull or a tug from the outside.

We start out with a great deal of control - avoiding feelings that are unpleasant to us - manufacturing those that we enjoy.

But addiction gradually gives our control away - to the substances that we take - to the feelings we fear - and to people, places and things.

The ways of addiction leave us feeling powerless to exert change.

Blame in an important way that addiction gives our power away.

Fix the things that bother me - and then I’ll stop using.

Blame avoids responsibility for those things that we could do for our selves right now.

Blame is a cornerstone of active addiction.

People - The Past - Family - Depression - Finances or a Stressful Job.

Blame offers no solution - but leaves us stuck in a helpless place.

Look for addiction - and you’ll always find blame.  

Productive change requires that we see things as they truly are right now.

Recovery begins when the problem of addiction is seen as it is - a condition existing deep inside of us right now - and taking its toll on the rest of our life.

Acceptance of the true nature and place of addiction - is a necessary foundation for recovery.

It is only then that we can assume responsibility for our health - are willing to take the steps necessary for change.

Personal Responsibility

Recovery does not happen by wishing it so.

It requires us to do things differently today - and to allow time for its power to grow.

Responsibility in recovery means to get active.

Ask for help - Let go of blame - Connect with others - Don’t use and Do what you need - to deal with Life on Life’s Terms.

Recovery works when we do - as we actively participate in its necessary ways.

Journal Write - Ask for Help - Recall the Serenity Prayer - Write a Gratitude List - Listen to the experience of others - Play the Movie Through.

There are many ways to deal with the nonsense by which addiction clouds our mind.

Responsibility in recovery means to attend to the stuff in our head - before it takes us in directions different than we wish to go.

Remember This Too Shall Pass - and don’t always react to the feeling of the moment.

Notice feelings - Question them - Talk and write about them - Learn to sit with feelings - and to not let them push you around.

Responsibility for feelings means to see them as mine - and to not blame their occurrence on the people and events around me.

Remember that healing does not occur in the past or the future.

Recovery is a here and now - and one choice at a time way to live - in sickens or in health.

Learn to stay in the day - notice and let go of the thousand ways that our mind retreats to the past - or pretends to know the future.

Stand your ground. No matter what happens - just don’t run from your recovery today.

So much of addiction is about running - avoiding and evading.

Recovery happens by standing firm - facing your fear with the support of others - reclaiming your power - by not continuing to give it away.

Responsibility in recovery means to question resentment and self pity.

Do I expect others to respect me - more than I respect my self? Where have I laid the seeds - for the things that I struggle with today? Do I speak up - about what that I need? Or do I assume that others can guess the things that I want for my self?

Do I choose to make a list of the problems in my life? - Or do I write a list of the things that I am grateful to have today?

Responsibility in recovery means radical acceptance - that things are as they are right now - without question or blame.

Acceptance of responsibility offers power to change - the stuff on our mind - and the way that we conduct our selves today.

Active participation in recovery counteracts the helplessness of addiction. It offers opportunity to grow - one step at a time.

In Summary

Addiction is a condition that seems to occur from the outside - in.

But recovery helps us to see things as they truly are right now.

Power to change comes with acceptance of the true nature of addiction - and as we are able to take responsibility for our recovery - from the inside - out.

You have now reached the end of Responsibility.

Look for this and other Learning Series topics at www.SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.