“I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.”
Tony Robbins
When I consider this quote at first I am conflicted because I believed everything needed to be dismissed so I could build a fresh and new. Upon further examination, I believe my past failure and frustration drove me to be willing to do anything necessary to never go back to that way of living. Furthermore, it gave me a sense of gratitude when I would contrast and compare where I was, where I came to, where I am, and where I could end up. One of the keys to this quote is “understanding.” A verse in the Bible states “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all that getting get understanding.“ Understanding is a necessary component of clarity. I employ my understanding/clarity to deepen my sense of purpose, acknowledgment, and fulfillment.
Let’s look at what Understanding is and how it adds to me as a person of recovery.
Understanding is defined as
- the mental process of a person who comprehends
- personal interpretation
- intellectual faculties
- the superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence
- knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing
- skill in dealing with or handling something
These attributes of Understanding give us the power to lay the foundation for the new life we are living in. I hope you have found this to be true for you.
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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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