We can train our minds to do a lot of incredible things. For example, there’s Santa Claus. Admired by millions of us since we were kids, it’s hard to believe that someone we all know to be completely made up could still encourage us to spend so much money and make so much time for him. It’s because we’ve trained our minds to accept and appreciate the spirit of Saint Nick, even though we know he’s merely a figment of our imagination.
In treatment, we have to train our minds in much the same way. When we were addicted, we were weak and unable to resist whatever addiction threw at us. As The Big Book says, we were powerless against addiction.
Now, in treatment, it’s time to train our minds to recover that power. As The Big Book states, we “had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” The greatest difference is that the chains of addiction that treatment can help us break are quite real. If we can learn how to believe so fervently in our imaginations even years after we know better, imagine how much stronger we can train our minds to recover our power over a very real sickness, if we only try!
So how do we train our minds to find that power?
By humbling ourselves and latching on to the instruction, fellowship, and support of the treatment community. We have to train ourselves that in order to truly beat addiction, we must fight it with help. The Big Book mentions the dangers of trying to recover on sheer willpower alone, and warns us to seek help and fellowship from others in recovery. After all, the more people that can help us share our burden, the less weight we’ll all feel like we’re carrying, right?
Humans are inherently social, but we can also be very stubborn and independent. In treatment, we’ve got to coax that social side out and remind ourselves that recovery is a lifelong journey, and unity and fellowship are our companions.
This holiday season is the perfect time to train our minds and to remember the importance of fellowship, unity, and collaboration in recovery!
Thrive Treatment℠ is a premier outpatient addiction treatment program in sunny Santa Monica, California. We help our clients conquer addiction by teaching them how to process and discard the self-defeating thoughts that can often keep them stuck. Call us right now at (888) 975-8474 to get started!
