I hope that wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you.
In our culture, we are often taught that life is about moving upward, moving forward, and doing it all by ourselves. For much of my life, I believed this was the way I was supposed to live.
But Recovery has taught me something different.
Trying to move upward and forward all the time rarely works, especially for those of us in Recovery. It is not the whole truth. If Recovery truly means healing, then it should not be about getting to the top by ourselves. It should be about healing our hearts, helping one another, and learning how to live with greater love and compassion.
I have learned that we can become trapped by the idea of success and upward mobility. Some people reach the “top,” but forget the shoulders they stood on to get there. Sometimes, people even hurt others to remain there.
I have also learned that staying at the bottom of our lives can lead us to overcompensate. We may spend our energy trying to prove our worth or make up for what we believe we have lost. These efforts can leave us exhausted, discouraged, and feeling defeated.
Psychiatrist Carl Jung taught that much of our suffering comes from refusing to accept the legitimate suffering that comes with being human. When we refuse to feel the pain that is part of life, we often create even more suffering for ourselves.
Recovery has taught me this lesson in ways I never expected.
I have learned that I do not have to run from suffering. I can bring it to God. I can bring it to my therapist, my support group, my wife, and the people who walk beside me in Recovery. I can sit with what hurts instead of trying to fix everything right away.
This has not always been easy for me.
Recovery has given me space to slow down, become still, and allow my heart and soul to be washed clean. It has helped me look honestly at myself and learn how I want to treat the people in my life. In this space, I have found healing.
I no longer seek upward mobility or success in the same way I once did. I am learning that my worth does not come from being at the top. My worth comes from being loved by God and learning how to love others.
There is beauty in accepting suffering. It can soften my heart and bring me closer to Recovery. It allows me to experience what I am feeling without being ashamed of it. It also allows me to accept the loving help of others when I cannot walk through something alone.
When we are willing to face the deeper issues in our lives, something beautiful can happen. Even in the middle of suffering, joy can begin to enter our hearts and souls.
Richard Rohr writes, “Before the truth sets you free, it tends to make you miserable.”
I understand this more today than I once did.
The truth can hurt before it heals. But when I dare to face the truth, feel what I need to feel, and invite God and others into my healing, something changes within me.
This, to me, is part of the beautiful mystery of Recovery.
I do not have to climb higher to become whole.
I only have to become willing to go deeper.
And sometimes, it is there—in the deeper places of my heart and soul—that I discover the healing, peace, and joy I have been searching for all along.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.
Please pick up my new book. Your support of my ministry allows me to serve others. Daily Devotional: 12 Steps to Unshakeable Recovery: Winter, L.J.: 9798987012741: Amazon.com: Books
SuperHuman Being
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/