We have all heard the saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” This saying is especially true in facing recovery. We cannot expect full recovery if we are not fully honest. The first step to recovery is admitting a problem – in honesty, we recognize our faults and ask for help. As we continue in recovery, we must remain true to our beliefs and seek true healing.
Honestly, assessing our lives means being authentic in every aspect of our lives.
What Is Authenticity?
According to the Oxford American Thesaurus, authenticity is synonymous with reliability, trustworthiness, truth, genuineness, and fidelity. We often mistake being honest as answering questions honestly, being truthful, and not telling outright lies. However, we often find ourselves prone to those little white lies that make others feel better but sometimes make us feel worse.
Authenticity means being honest in all matters of life and not lying to ourselves or others to make ourselves feel better, nor making others like us more. We are fallible people and must admit our feelings, thoughts, and actions if we expect true recovery.
Authenticity is not making others feel bad but sharing our truths and opinions in such a way as to build better relationships and maintain our personal integrity.
Being Mindful
Mindfulness is an element of many treatments in this current era. Mindfulness is supposed to help us be more grounded in our surroundings and can help us be more grounded in our authentic selves. In an article from Frontiers in Psychology, the authors explain how mindfulness impacts our self-view.
Being mindful also extends to our relationships and activities. The mindful self, the authors explain, uses an integration of spiritual methods to help us be more cognizant of who we are and who we want to be. The idea is there should be a balance between recognizing that change is inevitable and being willing to abandon our previously held concepts about ourselves while still maintaining a sense of stability about who we are. In other words, we must be willing to change our perceptions of the world and still maintain our personal integrity.
Being mindful of our experiences can help us achieve change and authenticity in who we want to become.
Changing Reactions
People recovering from abuse of alcohol and/or other substances often want to please others and make themselves more approachable. We want to be friendly, be seen as pleasant, and not be judged by our past. However, we must remember that our history has shaped who we are. The Bible explains how all difficulties experienced are used for good. We should not be ashamed of our past but rather try to use our experiences to help others and build a better life for ourselves. We are not just persons with a history of addiction; we also have a future and can learn from our past.
As we ponder our ability to move forward, we must change our reactions to the world around us and develop a sense of urgency to be more authentic. We often discount ourselves by placing ourselves in the realm of people-pleasing and saying things we think others want to hear. When we dismiss our thoughts and feelings, we develop anger, self-righteousness, and resentment toward others.
The only way to avoid these draining feelings is through authentic interactions. Being mindful of what others are saying and staying true to our own beliefs allows us to recover successfully. When you change your reactions to others and remain truthful to yourself, you change your life for the better.
Being Authentic in Recovery
The role of honesty in recovery can never be overstated. You must be honest with yourself, your sponsor, and your whole support system. Honesty in recovery does not mean sharing everything about your struggles with addictive behaviors but being open about your struggles with those who genuinely care about your recovery.
At Renaissance Ranch, we know the battle you face and understand the power of being genuine in recovery. We support your honesty and know that being authentic is the only true way to recover.
Recovery is difficult enough without pretending to be something or someone you are not. You need to accept yourself and be willing to change and grow into the person you want to become. The change will not happen overnight, and learning to be authentic and speak your truths will take time and help from others. However, becoming authentic is the main attitude shift necessary for recovery.
Authenticity is one of the most overwhelming aspects of recovery. It takes time and effort to learn after time spent using and hiding from your use of alcohol and/or other substances. You have learned to hide from who you truly are. The time has come for change. If you or someone you know is struggling from addiction to alcohol and/or other substances, help is available. You do not have to fight this battle alone. Please know you are not alone. At Renaissance Ranch, we will provide the support you need. We offer support for every step of the recovery process, including support for families. We know the difficulties of battling addictive behaviors, not only for the individual but also for the family. Reach out for help. Call Renaissance Ranch today at (801) 308-8898 and learn how we can help. Life is easier when you face your problems and are willing to stay true to who you are.