When you take that moral inventory, don’t forget to include what’s good about you.
In any 12-step group, part of the recovery process includes taking a searching moral inventory of ourselves. That’s a scary thought for most of us. Addiction has made all of us do things we’re not proud of, and so often we beat ourselves up over the past. But before you get too busy focusing on all your downfalls, don’t forget to factor in your good traits, too.
It is important to take an honest look at ourselves – both the good and the bad. The things we don’t own up to or deal with are only going to hurt our chances of staying sober. But it’s important to remember we’re so much more than our mistakes. We all have a place here, and the process of recovery isn’t meant to destroy us. Instead, it allows us to discover who we are and why we do what we do.
When I decided to turn my thinking and actions over to God eight years ago, I knew I needed to start with my thinking. Like so many others, I used substances to block out the things about myself that I didn’t like. Now, I’ve learned to look at my motives and change my thinking.
It’s an ongoing process. I’ll keep taking inventory throughout my life. When I see something wrong, I stop and quickly admit it. But it’s not all about those bad traits. When I see something good, I’m careful to take notice of that as well.
Harold Connell is an Outreach Specialist at La Paloma Treatment Center in Memphis, Tennessee, where he’s brought numerous people into treatment. In addition to his experience as a professional on staff, he’s experienced addiction from the other side as well. After 10 attempts at treatment and 14 incarcerations he finally surrendered. He’s been sober since January 4, 2001 and says, “I love what I do. I don’t see me doing anything other than working in this field.”
Tags: 12 Step Group, 12-step, Addiction, Alcohol, Harold Connell, la paloma, Moral Inventory, Recovery, Sober, Staying Sober, Substances, Treatment
