Powerless

Recovery
#1

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

It is no coincidence that the very first Step mentions powerlessness: An admission of personal powerlessness over alcohol is a cornerstone of the foundation of recovery. I’ve learned that I do not have the power and control I once thought I had. I am powerless over what people think about me. I am powerless over having just missed the bus. I am powerless over how other people work (or don’t work) the Steps. But I’ve also learned I am not powerless over some things. I am not powerless over my attitudes. I am not powerless over negativity. I am not powerless over assuming responsibility for my own recovery. I have the power to exert a positive influence on myself, my loved ones, and the world in which I live.

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#2

Absolutely. I made it my job to find something positive in every negative thing I encountered. Sometimes it took days to find. The more I did this, the more positive I became. I still do it. It's part of my coping mechanism.

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#3

'I am not powerless over my attitudes.' That is the line right there. It takes a lot of work to stop fighting the things we can't control, but the peace on the other side is worth it.

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