Principles used in recovery

Honesty

Getting honest with the scope of the problem, and honest about a sincere effort to resolve it, are necessary to recover.  How about a definition of honesty as “the absence of the intention to deceive”? Why do we try to fool ourselves and others?

Hope

When we start the recovery process, we have some inkling of hope we can get and stay clean and have a better life. A way to find hope is to realize that recovery is not a question of ability. After all, there are millions in recovery. The hope of recovery develops through persistence and application. Think about how much effort it is to stay drunk or high? Remember everyone who has put together time in recovery has stood behind this principal before progressing

Faith

We can seek out help with the skills, but it is necessary to utilize these skills. Faith helps us to take action and use what has been learned.  Our job is to become willing to do the right thing. A simple, but not easy, way to view the “next right thing” is to not engage in an old behavior.

Courage

In a “successful” recovery program it is necessary to take an honest assessment of ourselves. Courage is what helps us continuously look at ourselves and not at people, places and things.

Integrity

Integrity, in so many words, is the quality of being honest and fair and the state of being complete or whole. Integrity is an established and honest set of personal principles – steady and unwavering regardless of circumstance. What does our word mean? Can we live to our word?

Willingness

Willingness can be defined as being eagerly compliant. It means doing something out of choice and not because of coercion. Ask yourself: Am I willing to go to any length to get and stay clean and sober?

Humility

With willingness, we let go of your old behaviors. Now we ask for help in actually letting go. Can you learn to forgive yourself? Can you line our will up with what the Recovery/Universe/ Higher Self/God wants you to do? Can we allow recovery to happen?

Discipline

We are continuing to remove the barriers that can block forward sober growth. Can I take action every day to treat my addiction/dependence?

Forgiveness

Asking for the forgiveness of those we have intentionally or unintentionally injured. A key point here is to try to correct those injuries through action, not just words. Asking forgiveness is not a gift to the other person, but rather an act of kindness to yourself.

Acceptance

To be human is to make mistakes. Hopefully, our journey has led us to the point where we can readily admit mistakes and accept ourselves for being imperfect. We must also learn not to judge others but accept them for who they are, not our vision of who they should be.

Knowledge and Awareness

Here we search for our path and try to become aware of our purpose in life, and actively pursue that purpose. This principle is simply being mindful, and not being caught up in the rush of life. This is about making a conscious effort to do the right thing and to be at peace.

Service and Gratitude

Having brought about a behavior and attitude change sufficient to remain in recovery it is time to demonstrate these principles in our daily life through example. By helping we can find the magic elixir which can keep us from picking up a drink or a drug again.