BEGINNING THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY...worth reading.

Old 07-13-2002, 09:48 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Ann
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
 
Ann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Lightbulb BEGINNING THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY...worth reading.

The following is from the Codependents Anonymous Big Book. It's something I need to read continually in my recovery. Hope you enjoy it.

BEGINNING THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY FROM CODEPENDENCE

In our codependency, we excessively place our faith and hope in ourselves, our mates, children, realtives and friends - even our careers and lifestyles. We do this for our safety, value, worth and well-being.

In recovery, we learn to build faith and hope and progressively surrender our lives to the care of a loving Higher Power. We learn to let go of our controlling and avoiding behaviors, to resolve our feelings about what we do, and to emotionally detach from those on whom we compulsively rely.

Some of us gladly reach for our Higher power's hand. Some of us reach in desperation. Some of us realize that our ability to trust anyone or anything has been so greatly diminished that it may take time. We may need to feel some sense of safety. We may have to act as if we have faith until it becomes a reality.

Many of us will pray or mediate when our fear is so overwhelming that we're unable to surrender even a small part of our will or lives to our Higher power. Often, time will allow only a simple prayer such as "God, please help me to find the willingness to let go."

As we continue our recovery, many of us can surrender more easily to our Higher Power and experience this Power's heartfelt presence within us. Surrendering and letting go doesn't mean that life's circumstances will happen the way we want. It means we're better able to accept life as it is and handle problems with a newfound strength from our Higher Power. This enables us to experience a growing personal empowerment and a humble, yet truer, self-esteem.

We learn that our Higher Power doesn't create bad people. Goodness dwells within us all, even those responsible for the broken promises, abuses, hurts and fears of our past. It's possible to love thos persons, yet not condone their behaviors. We can even love and forgive ourselves. In our own way, we're all learning how to love and be loved.

Even with our Higher Power's help, none of us love or live perfectly. Our humanity continues to evolve. We begin to realize that perfectionism is merely an illusion. Over the long haul, we make many mistakes, and at times "slip" into our former codependent behaviors.

When we're unable to maintain our emotional balance, strenth or self-esteem, we reflect on the work we must do and that recovery is a lifelong process. We remember that comparing our progress with others is self-defeating; each of us is learning at our own balance and pace.
Ann is offline  
Old 07-13-2002, 09:55 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Ann
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
 
Ann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
BEGINNING THE JOURNEY...CON'T

As we continue to strengthen our relationship with our Higher Power throughout our recovery, our overwhelming tiredness, depression, anxiety, despair and hopelessness are replaced with an increasing strength and resiliency. Step by step, our fear and same diminishes. Our childhood wounds amd feelings progressively heal. WE experience richer encounters of prayer and meditation. It becomes easier to let go of our control and avoidance behaviours, and to allow our Higher Power to guide our life's journey.

The miracles of recovery unfold.
Ann is offline  
Old 10-30-2002, 11:32 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Morning Glory
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
 

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:09 AM.