when i got sober i discovered many character defects that in my case i had always thought were good characteristics of myself. imagine my dismay when i realized they were harmful traits. such as i could always "beat up" the other guy in an argument. this was false pride and ego. i thought it of advanced intellect. i don't know how many ppl i made minced meat of with this behavior.
so i began the process of discovery about my flaws. to balance things out so i wouldn't completely beat myself up my sponsor asked i list in another column characteristics that were positive about me.
i'm still not perfect but have acquired new skills to become a better me. this brings me in harmony with serenity most days. i don't feel better than my fellow man. i was told AA was a program of CHANGE. i have learned ways to CHANGE.
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The Aim is Progress and Not Perfection
When people become sober they are not expected to turn instantly into saints. In fact they are likely to become even more aware of their imperfections. This is because addition allows the individual to hide from their character flaws When people first become sober they may be alarmed to find that they have many imperfections. This is normal, and it is actually a good sign. It does not mean that recovery is causing any type of deterioration; only that they can now see things more clearly. The benefit of being able to notice character flaws is that it makes it easier to chip away with them.
There is no expectation that the individual will be able to remove every one of their character flaws. If they do somehow manage to do this then that would be wonderful, but it is not going to be a realistic aim for most people. The aim is progress and not perfection. All that is required is that people keep trying to overcome the worst of these imperfections.
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Quote:
Pain is the Touchstone of Recovery
It is often suggested by recovery experts that pain is the touchstone of recovery. What this means is that people will generally not make changes in their life unless things become uncomfortable. It is this discomfort that drives the individual to face their character flaws; people become so fed up with their imperfections bringing them into conflict with the world that they are motivated to tackle them. Progress in recovery occurs as people face each of these challenges and overcome them.
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http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-reha...s-in-recovery/
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Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle.
The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours..~Ayn Rand
Last edited by madisgram; Jul 27, 2012 at 10:57 AM.
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