Let’s take a look ahead to give you a glimpse of where we are headed. If we can distinguish character from instinct then we are in a better position or empowered to understand why will-power isn’t an effective tool when the drive satisfy an impulse is overwhelming. With the ongoing practice of insight comes self-forgiveness, where hopefully we are able to acknowledge that we are neither unique nor flawed and our only challenge is we’re human.
In the early stage of recovery you will practice, and I mean practice, an attitude which supports a nonjudgmental observation of yourself. This is really tough at first and in the beginning you may have to ‘act as if’ rather than feel it. Also during this stage you will begin to learn how to acknowledge fear without reacting to it. As you practice, you become able to access your self-life with care rather than by shaming yourself into submission.
You will start to shift and that drive for wholeness you thought could be satisfied with external objects will begin to originate from a loving place within, not from judgmental place that lies outside.
As you practice the tools of recovery you will be empowered to acknowledge your fear and do it anyway.
As you continue to heal you will stop getting results that generate self-loathing but rather create a landscape that builds positive esteem and self-trust. As this happens you will learn to face the fear previously used in an attempt to motivate and respond without judgment – here is where we begin to advance in love and recover through self-nurturing and self-care.
This is what happens to make it both gratifying and easier to maintain. It feels good.
