RECOVERY TOOLS - part 2.

In a former role as a specialist interviewing clients who’d left rehab and failed, I’d always ask them the last time they had used any recovery tools… the answer was always “weeks ago… or months ago”. This is an act of self-neglect! It’s inevitable that the ‘inner saboteur’ will run riot if there is no ongoing self-check.  

By contrast those who did well in recovery as seem to make wholehearted use of recovery tools! They appeared focused, happy and determined to face any obstacles to long-term abstinence. Some of the success cases used the 12 step meetings and some did not. From my perspective it comes down to how much work and self-care each person is prepared to put in!

Today id’ like to take a brief look at another basic tool: JOURNALING.
It has two approaches:

1. Unstructured… free writing to let go and loosen up the rigid and controlling ego. This involves writing without any censoring or judgment or pre-conceived themes. It is an excellent clearing away process and is a good preparation of other self-therapy.

2. Structured writing. There are lots of templates or headings for this and there are some software programs. The content is for you to do! The framework is perhaps:
• Cognitive therapy themes;
• 12 step themes;
• Scripture themes etc.

All of this helps to dismantle the limited perspective and control of the ego. In all major religions the purification of the ego is central to spiritual growth. It is our responsibility to find ways to do this by self-reflection. And, we can take our writing to our sponsor, therapist or group therapy etc. At the end of each year we can take time to acknowledge the personal and recovery growth thru this narrative process.

Call {1-604-746-1164} or blog me if you want any further tips on recovery tool and the process.

Peace,

Brian

info@innercare.org

Based in the Fraser Valley serving British Columbia/Alberta... and the rest of the world!