We all need to understand what special talents we have that we can use to help others. When we are drinking or using drugs and medication, we have very low self-esteem and for most of us, part of the reason we got into recovery was because we had reached our ‘rock bottom’. We hated ourselves and our lives and would not have thought we had anything of value to others at all.
Begin to Believe in Ourselves
In recovery from addiction, though, we can feel happy again and we can begin to believe in ourselves. Some of us have special talents and gifts we can use – perhaps we are gifted musically or artistically. Perhaps we can write or manage or even be a good listener. We should use our talents. One thing we all have is experience and understanding of addiction in a way that no one who has only studied addiction can better. Without experience, people can read all the books in the world but never really understand the power of addiction and the misery it causes. We can use our experience to reach out to the still suffering addict and share our experience, strength and hope with them.
Newcomer the Most Important Person
We are often told that the newcomer is the most important person in the room and we must never forget this. We can sometimes forget in the familiar territory of our meetings that others coming through the doors for the first time can find it all quite daunting and off putting. Go to meetings and see familiar faces and good friends. Newcomers can feel like outsiders. We need to practice our Step 12, carrying the message to others as it is only by giving it away that we can keep it (our recovery) ourselves. And carrying the message and helping others can really help our own sense of self worth.
Sharing in Meetings – Feeling Good
Alongside reaching out and saying hello to a newcomer, sharing in meetings is also an excellent way of carrying the message. In our shares we need to be honest too. How refreshing it is to live an honest programme and not to have to do all the ducking and diving that we used to do in active addiction. How clearly I remember the hiding of the bottles and drinks in all sorts of creative places; the disposal of the bottles and cans and the feeling that at least they were gone – but only to have to go and buy more full ones.
What hard work it was telling all those lies and denying things – and then having to try and remember the lies I had told so as not to be caught out. Being in recovery is so much easier and so much a more positive lifestyle! I go to bed with a clear conscience and wake up in the morning with no concern about what I did the day before which I cannot remember, I am feeling good.
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol rehab and alcohol addiction treatment centre which not only successfully teaches people how to stop drinking but also offers drug rehabilitation treatment.
If you or a loved one needs help for alcohol or drug addiction, please call 01462 851414.
