I hope wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
In 2023, I wrote a book titled SuperHuman Being. The subtitle is Be Bold, Be Imperfect, Be Present, and Recover. I never promised an easy life because Recovery does not promise one. For years, many people have tried to combine Recovery with an easy life, but the two are not compatible. In fact, Recovery often asks us to do the hard things. Looking back, I realize there were times when I avoided some of Recovery’s deepest teachings during my own healing journey.
Is it fair to say that many of us in Recovery sometimes avoid its teachings? We all struggle to understand and embrace some lessons more than others. Perhaps none is more difficult than Step 6. Let’s take a closer look.
We surrender to God our suffering, anger, resentments, and every emotion that blocks our Recovery. (Step 6)
This is a central moment in the Recovery journey.
The first time we struggle with Step 6 is when we begin to see what we have been carrying in our hearts. During the middle of my own Recovery, I realized I had held onto anger and bitterness toward my father because of the abuse I experienced as a child. I was stuck and could not move forward.
Finally, I grew tired of carrying those painful emotions. With God’s help, I chose to let them go. That did not mean I said the abuse was acceptable. It meant I no longer wanted my past to control my future. Once I released that burden, I was able to move forward. It also helped me see other areas where I needed healing and make a plan to grow.
The second moment comes as I watch others on their Recovery journey. I have seen many peers carry anger, resentment, and other painful emotions for years. Some are not yet ready to face those wounds, heal, and let go. Instead, they remain in the role of a victim and say things like, “I will never forgive my parents,” or, “Why should I let go of my anger? It makes me feel like I am in control.”
I share this with great compassion and love. Holding on to anger may feel easier in the moment, but it also keeps us from experiencing the freedom Recovery offers.
With a heart full of love, I want to say this: Sometimes we do not fully accept what Recovery truly is. When that happens, we cannot fully understand all that it wants to do for us.
Deep within, we are all hungry for healing. Discovering what we are truly hungry for is one of life’s greatest spiritual journeys. Recovery speaks to us through humility. It uses our hunger to teach us, guide us, and draw us closer to God. It is waiting to feed us with the one thing that truly satisfies—a life lived through the Twelve Steps.
Recovery is unlike any journey we will ever take. It is not easy, but it is worth every step. When we allow God to transform our hearts, we discover a peace and wholeness that words can hardly describe.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.