Maybe the term “Recovery” is a misnomer. We in Recovery don’t just “recover” what we used to have (before addiction took it away) – we obtain so much more than that.
Perhaps, “Discovery” would be a better term: what we are experiencing now (self-discovery and insight) is entirely new, and constantly evolving in an overall positive direction. This is so much more than mere “Recovery”.
Socrates tells us that “the unexamined life is not worth knowing”, similarly urging us on with the recommendation to “know thyself”.
The opportunity to “know thyself” is one of the great gifts of Discovery but it cannot begin to take place until abstinence is achieved. The connection with oneself, the voyage of self-discovery, must be preceded by Step 1. Abstinence allows the fog to clear so that we can look at issues that had always been unresolved, even before our addiction took over.
After abstinence is achieved, I think Discovery has to start with “know thyself”. This is what Steps 4 and 5 are about: it starts with self-awareness. Some aspects are discovered in solitude and self-reflection, others with the help of our sponsor. Every person is unique and at the same time shares common traits with everyone else. Therefore, every person’s 4th and 5th Step, every person’s self-discovery, is unique and yet also contains themes common to all addicts and alcoholics.
It is at some point during the completion of Steps 4 to 7 that our journey of Discovery may begin to turn outward and may give us a deeper awareness of the network of fellow addicts and alcoholics and our place among them. As we begin to look outwards, we become aware of an improving way of living that did not exist before, new ways of coping never contemplated before. We must not be afraid of this fundamental change in our living. We have discovered in our 4th and 5th Steps that we are individuals, unique in many ways. Therefore, Discovery can be viewed as being malleable and must be adjusted or tailored to our individual needs. I cannot describe this in any greater detail because, as previously hinted, the voyage is in so many ways unique for each of us, although it has common features as well.
An entirely new spiritual life will begin, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, as they say in the program. This spirituality means different things to different people (see Blog 35) and therefore also needs to be tailored to the individual, but it always thrives in those working a strong program.
One aspect of spirituality is connectivity – the outward-looking, outward-reaching part of Discovery. If we work at this program, we will discover this connectivity with others and with our environment. Discovery then is a wonderful journey which unfortunately many never take, even if they achieve the abstinence of Step 1. Abstinence alone will not be sufficient to experience self-discovery and spiritual connectivity. (This spiritual connectivity need not be a connection to a supernatural entity).
(I will continue using the term Recovery in future Blogs because it is still the commonly used term for the extraordinary transformation that takes place after abstinence is achieved and the subsequent Steps are tackled. However, the literal application of the term Recovery belies its true and powerful meaning in the community of healing alcoholics and addicts).
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