Friday, September 18th
Whenever I begin to coast, I start sliding downhill.
Many of us have experienced wide emotional swings while acting out our sexual compulsions. We might have been excited or joyful one moment but depressed and hopeless the next.
In early recovery, we may experience hope that can give us a sense of relief and joy. We may find a sponsor, start working the Steps, and enjoy being part of the fellowship. For many, this sense of comfort can be a “pink cloud” of euphoria as our confidence in the program climbs higher.
But recovery can be uneven. Perhaps we become bored with meetings. We might find some members annoying and avoid them by cutting back on meetings or service commitments. We may think we have made enough progress to relax our efforts. We might be tempted to revisit an acting out place “just to see what’s going on.” Our “coasting” can initially feel comfortable, but it can sometimes turn into a free fall.
In recovery, we accept setbacks and use the Tools to overcome them. We don’t dwell on past slips but learn to stay in the present. In resuming our recovery work, we can experience the spiritual growth that supports our sobriety and expands our lives.
My recovery keeps me focused on living for today.