One of the most difficult things we will ever do is “start.” Starting can be so painful that we use it to say will wait until tomorrow. The reality is tomorrow never comes. At some point, we need to do it “now” and not later because with every passing moment we get one step closer to death. If we’re not facing death we are certainly facing losing family, friends, finances, jobs, and even self-respect.
The reason so many of us put off starting later and not now is because of fear. In this particular blog the “HOW” stands for honesty, open- mindedness, and willingness. We find it near impossible to be any of these three things let alone being them simultaneously. If I am honest I have to admit that I have a problem. That goes 100% counter to protecting the supply because that supply is my medication of which I need to get through life.
Being open-minded is also not up for negotiation. To be open-minded means that I am saying that someone could be right when they’re saying I have a problem. Maybe someone is saying they have a better way of doing something or dealing with something than they see me doing. Willingness is such a difficult place for us to get to. Willingness’s like kryptonite. I have to be at a bottom of all bottoms to become willing to do the things necessary to enter recovery let alone stay there and become well.
The reason I must engage the “HOW” Now and not later it’s because a later might not come. The substance or the behavior might not kill me directly, but I may kill myself if I lose one more thing.
Page 58 BB of AA; “With all earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with alcohol – cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help, it is too much for us”.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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