Recovery is a “WE” and not “ME” Program of Action
Someone very closely involved with my recovery, a friend, supporter, and guide, recently reminded me to “Stick with the winners.” I need to remember who the winners are in my support. The winners are not necessarily those people with the most amount of clean time or the least amount of clean time. The winners are those members of my network who are committed to ongoing Recovery through reading literature, attending meetings, reaching out to others, and working with a sponsor.
Sticking with the winners reminds recovery is a “We” program based on action. I must take action every day to maintain my ongoing recovery. I must remind myself of my powerlessness every morning and make conscious contact with my Higher Power. I must focus on what Step I am currently applying in my life today, and I must read literature to complement my own beliefs about the Steps with a guided resource to remind me of the principles of the 12 Steps.
I take action by reaching out to others in recovery. I make contact with someone in recovery every day, whether it be by phone, e-mail, or person-to-person. I have to get outside of my own internal self, who can create chaos where there is no need, and reach out to others so as to fellowship. Those of us in recovery can make our program complicated by remaining isolated or we can keep it simple by reaching out to others. I have found when I keep my program simple by reaching out to others, I am more able to cope with and manage symptoms of my dual disorder through the 12 Steps and principles of the 12 Steps.
When I make conscious contact with my Higher Power in the morning, I am reminding myself the 12 Steps are meant to support those of us who which to bring a spiritual dimension to our recovery. I try and remember I don’t have to walk alone in this journey throughout the day. I can choose to have spiritual perspective with me at all times, and this helps me feel not so alone. I can reach out to my spirituality at any time of day, and if need be, I start my day over at any time with the help of my Higher Power.
I keep telephone numbers close at hand. In fact, I am fortunate enough to have a cell phone in which I can store numbers of my friends in Recovery. I can access any one of these friends at any time by pushing a few buttons on my cell phone. If I go it alone throughout the day, I am cheating myself out of what recovery has to offer. I am an addict, being chemically dependent and all. I don’t want to cheat myself out of anything. I didn’t like to be cheated when I was in active chemical dependency, so why would I cheat myself out of something recovery has to offer?
Help yourself to keep your program simple by making yourself reach out whether you are in the hollows of despair and depression or in the joys of freedom from active recovery. Keep your program simple by reaching out to the Higher Power of your understanding so as to have a spiritual perspective, and reach out to others in Recovery. After all, the 12 Steps are a “We” program. Choose to keep it simple.
