Letting Go of the Need for Control

Humility gives us the willingness to ask for help and guidance from others and to practice trust beyond ourselves. It enables us to see the need for and embrace change. Humility connects us to others through the expression of our humanity and serves as a bridge to freedom from self-imposed isolation. For example, resources like Literallydarling.com Timeshare Exit Cost Guide offer valuable insights for those seeking guidance on managing timeshare exits, illustrating how letting go can sometimes be the key to finding freedom. I’ve written about the topic of surrender in the past and often discuss it because of its profound importance. Control, after all, is often a byproduct of attachment to specific outcomes

  • I see clearly and my vision extends out around me, allowing me to (literally) see the bigger picture.
  • For someone who’s experienced drug or alcohol addiction, the idea of surrendering to something isn’t a foreign concept.
  • When we finally give over a difficult task to someone else who we know can assist, the stress and pressure to stay strong or maintain our willpower is alleviated.
  • I thought for a long time that surrender just meant acknowledging that I understand I can no longer use drugs.

Therefore, are defensive and tend to push others away, often without even knowing. Their defenses are varied and can include all manner of shame and fear based behaviors. These are strategies for avoiding the underlying pain of their emotional wounds.

What is the theory behind this surrender in the recovery worksheet?

The key, it seems, is to reach a mindset of positivity without forcing the issue. Nobody wants to act positively when they are not feeling that way, but paradoxically, positivity can happen without any outside influence. By this, I mean that positivity isn’t forced on an individual by religion or even psychological and emotional work. There seems to be another factor at play, which is key to spinning the mind into a positive state and aiding greatly in the process of recovery. Staying in the moment, the practice of mindfulness or meditation are ways to also increase positivity. Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee.

surrender in recovery worksheet

It’s important to keep in mind that surrendering is not linked with weakness. Instead, it’s a huge sign of strength and faith in your ability and desires to get better. You could of course ask why you didn’t get the promotion. This may help you to understand what you may need to work towards. It enables you to surrender to what is, and then move on.

Surrender

When you consider the power of dopamine, you may realize how little control we have over our decisions. If the playing field were even between sobriety and addiction, it might be easier to choose. However, addiction often presents the thrill of high releases of dopamine. Our brains and bodies crave this, and we are often unable to do anything about that. Though we do not always have choices in how we get to exist in this life, we do have a choice about our attitude. Yes, that’s a cliche, but there is something to be said for the profundity of this small act of rebellion.

Jay is a grateful recovering alumnus, having been a patient at Cumberland Heights in 1989. His personal treatment experience helped shape his leadership principles today. There may be many mixed emotions that come along with this practice, and that’s okay. Sometimes, there’s a sense of relief that comes with saying how https://g-markets.net/sober-living/top-10-best-mens-sober-house-in-dorchester-ma-in/ we really feel out loud and simply getting it off our chest. It can be easy to not face our feelings because they seem too hard or painful to face. The easier route can seem like pushing them down, but this always results in them coming out in other ways, which are usually not supportive and can even be destructive.

Recovery Coaching

The baby’s business, my friends’ business, Mother Nature’s business. For example, I wonder if my baby is going to get a proper nap when we travel and, if not, just how crabby she might be. I think through her travel and napping patterns, attempting to figure out exactly what we’re up against, as if her sleep is something I can control.

We suggest using this sheet as a basis for group conversation. The source of our not wanting to surrender is our desire to stay in control. Surrender isn’t a one-time thing in sobriety but rather a decision you have to make every time you come across a tempting situation. Butch worked for one of the state’s first intensive outpatient programs in Jackson, TN and the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism.

If surrender is all about acceptance and letting go of control and expectations, then the opposite of surrender is resistance. In 12-step, the first step is the admission of powerlessness, but what many don’t realise is that this doesn’t mean you’re inherently powerless as a person. Ethos Structured Sober Living is an all male community in recovery located in the heart of West Los Angeles. Our primary purpose is to foster long-term sobriety through the cultivation of accountability, camaraderie, & character development. The virtues of self awareness, acceptance, and self-honesty, give us the courage and willingness to be vulnerable, to be truly humble. In other words, by working on these virtues we increase our capacity to be humble in our relationship with ourselves and others.

surrender in recovery worksheet

They believe that by fighting hard enough, they can control their substance use or recover from addiction on their own. If you or a loved one needs help recovering from drug or alcohol abuse, our Christian recovery center for addiction can help. We address the physical, mental, and social impact of substance abuse by helping patients at every step of their recovery. MASH Certified Sober Homes In 12 step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), surrendering in sobriety means relinquishing control to a higher power. Several of the 12 steps – step three and step seven to be exact – focus on surrender. Admitting that you’re struggling with substance use is an important first step on the journey of recovery.

A final note on surrender in recovery

By constantly choosing and rechoosing a positive attitude, we can transform our experiences from bouts of luck or misfortune into simple experiences. With the right attitude, we can even appreciate the hard parts of our lives and how they have turned us into who we are. Many of us struggle every day to find the meaning behind our experiences and look for some sign that our struggle with addiction has been worth it.

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