A hugely important part of our recovery is changing how we view ourselves, and therefore our addictions. We tend to perceive ourselves with a great deal of shame. We feel so disappointed in ourselves, so remorseful and so regretful that we suffer from low self-esteem and have a fragile sense of self-worth. We hate ourselves. We reject ourselves, and it’s often in large part because of our addictions. Instead of having compassion for ourselves for having struggled for years with a debilitating illness, instead of viewing our experiences with understanding and acceptance, we reject our addictions and convince ourselves that they make us bad people. Changing how we feel about ourselves means taking into consideration how we view our addictions. How can we change how we feel about this aspect of ourselves and therefore our identities as a whole?
To change how we view our addictions, we want to stop viewing certain experiences as good, and some as bad. We want to stop qualifying them based on whether or not they were seemingly positive or negative. Everything we go through teaches us something, and we learn a tremendous amount from our pain. All of our challenges and struggles serve to strengthen and empower us. They prepare us for the journey ahead. They enable us to help other people using the knowledge and wisdom we’ve gained. They give us a deeper understanding of human nature so that we can extend compassion to other people who are suffering rather than treating them with scorn and judgment. Every lesson, every spiritual test, every difficulty helps shape the person we are. When we see ourselves with love and acceptance, we begin to appreciate everything we’ve been through to help us become that person. We wouldn’t be who we are without hardship and struggle. We wouldn’t be as far along in our healing journey if we hadn’t known what it meant to suffer.
Our addictions are part of our life experience that we shouldn’t have to feel we need to deny or suppress. They are not something to be ashamed of. They are an important element in our complex and beautiful stories that help give our lives their profound meaning. They help make us the strong, empowered people in recovery we are today. As we start to view our addictions differently, we begin to have more love and acceptance for ourselves and everything we’ve been through. This gives us the self-nurturing and support we need to continue to work to heal ourselves and to stay committed to our sobriety.
Are you ready to take the first step on your journey to recovery? Call The Guest House today! 855-483-7800.