Where has your recovery led you? What about your spiritual life, wellness practices, and career paths? Are you honoring the journeys others have been led on?
My recovery begins with the Twelve Steps. Although seeds were planted very gently by a few people, I feel blessed I was not pushed or forced into any one way.
With millions of people living the principles and practices of the Twelve Steps, each person's journey is their own. I cringe at absolutes and am forever grateful I didn't and don't have to believe what anyone else does. That said, I found people in recovery who live the principles and CHOSE to follow their lead. I wanted what they had and, by the grace of God, have found a beautiful, sober life. I honor other paths of recovery, and there is no one way. It was up to me to keep showing up to learn and grow with authenticity, honoring the deepest parts of me. I am in a Twelve Step program that works for me, and I continue to practice this with an open mind for deeper growth. I hope you can sink into a path that works for you.
Spiritually, I am the same. I grew up in the Episcopal Church and certainly have roots there. But where I am in my spiritual life today includes so much more. Here, too, I cringe at absolutes and "this is the only way" thinking. I honor all paths that do not dominate or control. Through recovery, I can seek and learn about many faiths and spiritual practices. I find the beauty in all faiths and leave the dogma behind.
It saddens my heart when I see a person from one recovery program bad-mouthing another path. The same goes for yoga, spirituality, and religion. So many are seeking to be "right." In the recovery world, it can mean someone's life. So, I choose to encourage you on your journey. Whatever path you are being led to. Try it. Live it. Allow it to grow. If it's not working, add to it. Supplement it or try another path. Get a support network in whatever path you choose for recovery, yoga, spirituality, wellness, career, and other areas of your life. I honor those walking a different route and seek to find the value of how they live.
It has taken me time to soften my heart. I used to fear when someone did things differently as if there was only one way and what I was doing was wrong. Thankfully, through growth, differences don't scare me today. They create curiosity and open conversations for deeper exploration, which brings me joy. Don't get me wrong, I am human, and sometimes, when I hear something that pinches, I need to work through it. Again, if I practice my program, I can come to a curious point with relative ease and explore why I felt the pinch.
I hope this message gives you what you need to move forward confidently. The light of recovery sparked in me honors the light that shines within you.
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