Comments on: Alcoholism Recovery – The Resulting Change in Personality http://www.spiritualriver.com/the-creative-theory-of-recovery-the-resulting-change-in-personality/ Non-traditional recovery from addiction Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:09:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lisahttp://www.spiritualriver.com/the-creative-theory-of-recovery-the-resulting-change-in-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-41476 Lisa Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:47:54 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/?p=327#comment-41476 Thanks for asking me to come back and let you know about how I am doing. I have been reading some great books that have helped me focus more on the NOW than on the past or the future. When my mind is not in the now I become angry that my past needs were not mind and anxious that my future needs will not be met. In the now I am finding trust and joy. It's been about practicing a joyful, helpful, hopeful attitude. I do not, by any means, always succeed. I am sometimes so angry, contrary and argumentative. But I have also given up on the idea that I can be perfect-another source of constant letdown for me because of the impossibility of achieving perfection. I no longer belive I have to be perfect. I now believe that my best effort, win or lose, is all that is required of me. I continue to stay close to the principals of recovery and my support group...although now in my 7th year of recovery the branching out to other areas is more necessary. The ability to evolve into someone who is interdependent with life and my support group has been a challenge, but I always keep some constants in my life - step work, therapy with a professional, sponsor, meetings as often as I can (sometimes this is only 1x/month) - I always see myself as an alcoholic/addict in recovery-I remember where I come from and where I never want to return. For me the obsession has been lifted - I am not cavalier about drugs and alcohol - I am indifferent. I continue to seek spiritual evolution in my life and am working 1/day a week less (I was (:) also a workaholic) to live a more balanced life and to continue to expand my spiritual life with retreats and my current seeking of a Spiritual Advisor. So I am still in the most exciting, adventerous part of my journey in life. The excitement and adventure only began when I put down the drink and drug. What a paradox! I had to give up the very thing I thought gave me joy in life....to find joy in life. How are you doing? Thanks for asking me to come back and let you know about how I am doing. I have been reading some great books that have helped me focus more on the NOW than on the past or the future. When my mind is not in the now I become angry that my past needs were not mind and anxious that my future needs will not be met. In the now I am finding trust and joy. It’s been about practicing a joyful, helpful, hopeful attitude. I do not, by any means, always succeed. I am sometimes so angry, contrary and argumentative. But I have also given up on the idea that I can be perfect-another source of constant letdown for me because of the impossibility of achieving perfection. I no longer belive I have to be perfect. I now believe that my best effort, win or lose, is all that is required of me. I continue to stay close to the principals of recovery and my support group…although now in my 7th year of recovery the branching out to other areas is more necessary. The ability to evolve into someone who is interdependent with life and my support group has been a challenge, but I always keep some constants in my life – step work, therapy with a professional, sponsor, meetings as often as I can (sometimes this is only 1x/month) – I always see myself as an alcoholic/addict in recovery-I remember where I come from and where I never want to return. For me the obsession has been lifted – I am not cavalier about drugs and alcohol – I am indifferent. I continue to seek spiritual evolution in my life and am working 1/day a week less (I was (:) also a workaholic) to live a more balanced life and to continue to expand my spiritual life with retreats and my current seeking of a Spiritual Advisor. So I am still in the most exciting, adventerous part of my journey in life. The excitement and adventure only began when I put down the drink and drug. What a paradox! I had to give up the very thing I thought gave me joy in life….to find joy in life. How are you doing?

]]> By: Patrickhttp://www.spiritualriver.com/the-creative-theory-of-recovery-the-resulting-change-in-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-19246 Patrick Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:29:29 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/?p=327#comment-19246 Hi there Lisa I too thought that I would never be able to laugh, smile, or have any fun if I ever got clean and sober. Thank goodness I finally gave it a chance enough to find out how wrong I was. Sounds like you have a great support group around you and a good recovery program going.....good luck to you and God bless. Thanks for your comment, come back and let us know how you are doing with your creative life in recovery.... Hi there Lisa

I too thought that I would never be able to laugh, smile, or have any fun if I ever got clean and sober. Thank goodness I finally gave it a chance enough to find out how wrong I was.

Sounds like you have a great support group around you and a good recovery program going…..good luck to you and God bless. Thanks for your comment, come back and let us know how you are doing with your creative life in recovery….

]]> By: Lisahttp://www.spiritualriver.com/the-creative-theory-of-recovery-the-resulting-change-in-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-19238 Lisa Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:51:20 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/?p=327#comment-19238 Just eliminating drugs and alcohol from my life changed me completely. I would not have been able to without the support of my fellow addicts and alcoholics who showed me I could smile and laugh without self medicating. Now I'm excited about the possibilities of life, becoming the person I always wanted to be, and leaving the past behind (at least not staring at it as I used to)...I constantly need inspiration and so I stay close to my support group - but I am branching out in many other ways that don't involve just that. Life is good now - although I still get scared, I don't feel the need to use or drink. I'm gald I was wrong about never smiling or laughing again too! I once thought that would be impossible to keep up without using. Just eliminating drugs and alcohol from my life changed me completely. I would not have been able to without the support of my fellow addicts and alcoholics who showed me I could smile and laugh without self medicating. Now I’m excited about the possibilities of life, becoming the person I always wanted to be, and leaving the past behind (at least not staring at it as I used to)…I constantly need inspiration and so I stay close to my support group – but I am branching out in many other ways that don’t involve just that. Life is good now – although I still get scared, I don’t feel the need to use or drink. I’m gald I was wrong about never smiling or laughing again too! I once thought that would be impossible to keep up without using.

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