JFT - 3/06/08 - Rationalizing Away Our Recovery

[Gmoney]

March 6

Rationalizing away our recovery

“As a result of the Twelve Steps, I’m not able to hold on to old ways of deceiving myself.”

Basic Text, p. 176

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We all rationalize. Sometimes we know we are rationalizing, admit we are rationalizing, yet continue to behave according to our rationalizations! Recovery can become very painful when we decide that, for one reason or another, the simple principles of the program don’t apply to us.

With the help of our sponsor and others in NA, we can begin to look at the excuses we use for our behavior. Do we find that some principles just don’t apply to us? Do we believe that we know more than everyone else in Narcotics Anonymous, even those who have been clean for many years? What makes us think that we’re so special?

There is no doubt, we can successfully rationalize our way through part of our recovery. But, eventually, we must squarely face the truth and start acting accordingly. The principles in the Twelve Steps guide us to a new life in recovery. There is little room for rationalization there.

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Just for today: I cannot work the steps and also continue deceiving myself. I will examine my thinking for rationalizations, reveal them to my sponsor, and be rid of them.




Copyright © 1991-2008 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved

[Paulie]

There is no doubt, we can successfully rationalize our way through part of our recovery.

I can rationalize my way through just about anything. That is one reason why I have a sponsor and am a part of the fellowship.