Thats right E.R.R. for to ERR(or) is human, and if we never ERR we never learn, and if we never learn, we never move forward.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over substances-that our lives had become unmanagable. Yes I modified a word here to substances, for it is not only alcohol, or narcotics, or Meth, it is any substance that may lead to addiction.
My opinion on this one step could fill volumes, I am no more powerless over any substance or addiction, than congress is over screwing things up, (humor friends humor). I have major issues with this step, for it was not until I told myself with great conviction that I was more powerful than meth that I was able to get clean and remain in that great place we call sobriety. Admitting I was powerless (which I am not I realised) only made me feel weak defeated,. Defeated by a substance that was not smart, was not cunning was not even alive, kinda made me feel uhm STUPID. Yet when I finally figured out and told myself what power I had, that being the power of knowledge, of reason, of control, that I gained the upper hand over my addiction. I no longer felt weak, I no longer felt defeated, I felt more in control of my life than at any point in my short history. The power lies in this simple few words. We have the power to control what enters ours system 99.9% (minus the .1% chance of a rufie), we control our surroundings, we control our situations, and if we cant control the above we control our abilities to gain control through our brains. We all have chains of support whether we realise it or not, and if we use our heads and our chains (chains that set us free as compared to the chains that used to bind us) we can find an escape a tactical retreat if you will back to safe ground. Enough from me for now Rik out
I went thru the same thing when I started the 12-steps ( I did not finish, btw--I too, had a problem with being so-called powerless). When I first came across that, I am pretty inquisitive, so I asked the facilitator at the N/A meeting, how we are powerless when we are the ones that have control over what we do and what we put in to our bodies. He told me that when we are addicts, we are weak when it comes to our drug of choice. So when we come against triggers or if the drugs are in front of us, we are going to take it. Oh My.... That had me feeling so weak within. I thought the same way you did: STUPID. And that right there just about got me feeling SO weak that I wanted to turn RIGHT to my drug. Well, it took me a few months, but came to the conclusion that this very step is a bunch of horse pucky. I am NOT powerless. I HAVE THE POWER to stop myself from using. I am the one accountable; not the drug. I never did do steps. I have done this with support with my faith, and with family and friends. It IS possible to live clean and BE HAPPY with yourself and your new, clean life.
"Powerless" is not my phrase of choice either. I think it is used as an excuse for failure. "OOPS, I relapsed, not my fault I am powerless". Well excuse me, isn't the point to take responsibility and not be given excuses? Maybe its a way to say oops you fell off the horse dust yourself off and get back on the wagon. I understand mistakes happen and bad choices are chosen, but NO ONE is powerless over themselves or their choices.
My opinion on this one step could fill volumes, I am no more powerless over any substance or addiction, than congress is over screwing things up, (humor friends humor). I have major issues with this step, for it was not until I told myself with great conviction that I was more powerful than meth that I was able to get clean and remain in that great place we call sobriety. Admitting I was powerless (which I am not I realised) only made me feel weak defeated,. Defeated by a substance that was not smart, was not cunning was not even alive, kinda made me feel uhm STUPID. Yet when I finally figured out and told myself what power I had, that being the power of knowledge, of reason, of control, that I gained the upper hand over my addiction. I no longer felt weak, I no longer felt defeated, I felt more in control of my life than at any point in my short history. The power lies in this simple few words. We have the power to control what enters ours system 99.9% (minus the .1% chance of a rufie), we control our surroundings, we control our situations, and if we cant control the above we control our abilities to gain control through our brains. We all have chains of support whether we realise it or not, and if we use our heads and our chains (chains that set us free as compared to the chains that used to bind us) we can find an escape a tactical retreat if you will back to safe ground. Enough from me for now Rik out
ReplyDeleteI went thru the same thing when I started the 12-steps ( I did not finish, btw--I too, had a problem with being so-called powerless). When I first came across that, I am pretty inquisitive, so I asked the facilitator at the N/A meeting, how we are powerless when we are the ones that have control over what we do and what we put in to our bodies. He told me that when we are addicts, we are weak when it comes to our drug of choice. So when we come against triggers or if the drugs are in front of us, we are going to take it. Oh My.... That had me feeling so weak within. I thought the same way you did: STUPID. And that right there just about got me feeling SO weak that I wanted to turn RIGHT to my drug. Well, it took me a few months, but came to the conclusion that this very step is a bunch of horse pucky. I am NOT powerless. I HAVE THE POWER to stop myself from using. I am the one accountable; not the drug. I never did do steps. I have done this with support with my faith, and with family and friends. It IS possible to live clean and BE HAPPY with yourself and your new, clean life.
ReplyDelete"Powerless" is not my phrase of choice either. I think it is used as an excuse for failure. "OOPS, I relapsed, not my fault I am powerless". Well excuse me, isn't the point to take responsibility and not be given excuses? Maybe its a way to say oops you fell off the horse dust yourself off and get back on the wagon. I understand mistakes happen and bad choices are chosen, but NO ONE is powerless over themselves or their choices.
ReplyDelete@SonDee:
ReplyDeleteWell said!
DEfinatly a cheers and a Bravo on that one!!
ReplyDelete