Recovery
What follows is for those who are addicted and for their families and friends. This is because they all share the same problem.
Recovery is really based on four principal ideas. The first is that as an addict or a family member you are utterly ‘powerless’ over drugs, alcohol or any other addiction.
The second is that because of this the only choice is to turn to something bigger than yourself… your sense of a higher power or the sacred. For some this higher power may be just the power of the group they go to.
The third is realising that your thinking, in its attitudes and behaviours has been disturbed by the addiction or the addict and you accept that you want to change your attitudes and behaviour.
The fourth is that you can only keep the gift of healing that you have received if you give it away by helping others.
The most liberating principle of mutual aid 12 step programmes for addictions is freedom from religion. Instead, your own spirituality can be anything you see it as.
This attitude has been echoed repeatedly . . .
Spirit overcomes spirit Marcus Aurelius
Religion is for people who are scared of going to Hell. Spirituality is for those who have been there Anonymous
Everything in moderation and Know thy self Portals of the temple of Delphi
It is a blessing to be born into a religion and a tragedy to die in one Anonymous
Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside Ramana Maharshi
Your mind is like an unsafe neighbourhood; don’t go there alone Augusten Burroughs
