Recovery Nation

I have been a member here for 2 years and I have "skimmed" the workshop. I feel like I have a pretty good working knowledge of what this workshop is about, but I have decided to put all of that aside and put the work in this workshop like I should have...

Lesson 1 Exercises:
A. Three keys to establishing a successful foundation for permanent change in early recovery are:
1) actively committing yourself to change
I am a program hopper and I must admit this is just another stab at another program. I am on another board where it is believed that recovery is forever. RN says it is a health based recovery and that is what I want.

I have never given myself the opportunity to commit to a process. I worked it until I slipped and then changed plans- this is why I am a program hopper.

That changes today.

2) not allowing guilt/shame to sabotage your commitment to change

This is a very tough one for me, guilt and shame controls my committment

3) allowing yourself time to change.


This again goes back to my inability to allow the process to do its work.

It seems to me just reading these 3 keys could change my direction if I commit to them.

B. Beyond an active commitment to change, another important factor in determining your ultimate success is your motivation. Look deep inside and list ten to fifteen reasons why you seek to permanently change your life. Don't stop at three or four obvious ones, really examine your life and what is important to you.

1.To live a life worth living
2.To deepen relationship with my wife
3.To deepen relationship with my children
4. To be effective at my job
5.To be able to enjoy down time
6. To deepen my spirituality
7. To be a difference maker in my community
8. To be able to plan long term goals
9. To live a life of integrity
10. To gain confidence in myself

I found it extremely difficult to come up with positive motivation to end addiction- it is so ingrained in my life. I had to stop myself from making the motivations in the negative form.

This is a start...

How can you live a life worth living?? What does it mean to you?

I appreciate your thread, and hope that you stay with the workshop, not program.. I am trying as well and...thank you...

Saved

Thanks saved for stopping by with your question of what a life worth living looks like to me. I have given some thought to that, but will comment later as I have been sick since I did the 1st lesson here and I still am.

I am still committed to the lessons, but the 1st 7 are very intensive and I am not feeling well enough to invest all I need to- so I am just concentrating on feeling better.

Hey Rouby

Good to see you here and working the lesson. Can I say one thing at the start. Don't think of RN as a 'program'. there is no restrictive moral vision here, save your own. The emphasis is on process - on making decisions and choices - not on the outcomes. The difference between RN and say 12 Stepping is that it is up to you to decide what recovery looks like. Of course, it means sobriety in the end - but that will be different for each of us based on our own experienes and values.

You and I for eg might differ about what healthy values would look like/ But that is fine - it is your recovery and you need to find you own path.

The lessons encourage you to look at yourself clearly - they ask only that your monitor yourself and decide for yourself how youare doing. There is no judge here. No one to fool. If you cchoose not to recover, that is fine. It is your choice.

The only person's time you will waste here is oyur own. So make the most of it. There is wisdwom in the lessons. On other people's threads. Coach Jon's wisdom is everywhere. You can find many examples of challenges facing you on other people's threads. Use them.

Ask questions on the forum. Make them direct and specific.

Finally, work the workshop each day. KKnowledge builds by regular patient attention on your part. You make it happen. So go to it.

Shaw

Thank you so much Shaw for dropping by as I really appreaciate any input I can get. RN is not new to me and in fact I have used some of its components for some time, but I have not lived it. I have spent years and years on discussion boards focusing on outcomes by way of daycounts and similiar challenges. I never was a 12 stepper.

I have come to realize that I need a heath based recovery...



This is my plan. Unfortunately, I have been sick since my first post. During that time I have been stuck on Lesson 2 as I contemplate my vision. I can see this as the foundation of everything.

Thanks again Shaw for stopping by...

Hi Rouby
let me add my welcome to RN


I hope that you are feeling better and that you get back to writing your vision
you are correct that early lessons are intensive but they are important as is your commitment

dont leave it too long with procrastination

_________________
Remember recovery is more than abstinence
Every transition begins with an ending
stay healthy keep safe
Kenzo

My Life Vision

Ultimately, I want my life to be one of meaning and value. I begin with myself...

-The greatest imbalance in my life has been my job and it is what has fueled my addiciton
-I want to enjoy getting up in the morning
-I want to do an excellent job at work
-I want to be valued for my role
-I want to enjoy my leisure time
-I want to be in good health by eating healthy and exercising daily
-I want to develope emotional maturity
-I want to live by the slogan "Life is not about bypassing the storms, but about learning to dance in the rain"
-I want to live an organized life at home

Another area addiction has eroded is relationships with...
Family
-My wife and now grown children (I know I could write in more detail here, but will leave it at this for now)

Spirituality
-Regular attendance with church
-Participate in ministry
-Spend some time each day in meditation and prayer

Finances
-Pay mortgage off in 10 years
-Save for trip to Hawaii
-Save for Emergency Fund
-Plan for Remodel
-Pay off Medical Bills

Well, I slipped today, though I should use a stronger word than "slip"

I have been working this workshop, but as has always been the case, I feel like it has more to do with the addicted brain than emotions that lead me to act out.

I was doing great when I was shown an image, that although risque, should not have taken me over the top, but it did. My mind dwelled on it and I could not remove it.

I was not out of balance emotionally until I saw that image and I just snapped...

Moving forward