Recovery entails two parts that are instrumental for not only getting sober but also staying sober for the long run. On one hand, you must hit a bottom that lets you feel humiliated enough to give you the gift of desperation to get sober. On the other hand, humiliation is a key component to find your humility which is a pretty important principle to learn in your sobriety.
Humiliation
The very thing that makes up your “drunkalog” or your “drugalog” is humiliation. All the lying, cheating, stealing, driving under the influence, anger, inappropriate behavior, and anything else that questions your morality entails humiliation. Those circumstances and activities that give you a pit in your stomach when you recall them because you are ashamed of the manner you have conducted yourself in can be classified as something that is humiliating. Using these experiences as your moral compass can be an indication of what you need to change in your life. Turning your humiliation into something positive means that your shame and guilt become your experience, strength, and hope to help others discern their own humiliation.
Humility
The definition of humility is “a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.” Humble has synonyms such as meek, deferential, respectful, submissive, self-effacing, unassertive, and modest which says much about how you would hold yourself accountable around people, places, and things. Humility is a basic necessity in staying sober because if you become too egotistical with thinking “you got this”, you may take yourself right out of sobriety and straight into relapse mode.
To better practice humility, you can change your mindset to alleviate your humiliation and give you the “oomph” you need to put towards humility.
- You were uniquely made but you should opt-out of being terminally unique.
- You must use your past to help dictate your future by remembering where you came from.
- You never graduate in sobriety because you are always continuing your education when it comes to your recovery.
- You should try to be of service as much as possible because helping someone in need can truly be a humbling experience in eliminating self-centeredness.
- You will understand that you are human and will continue to make mistakes although you will better know how to clean up your side of the street with some integrity.
- You can find humility in giving up control by delegating control to your Higher Power for better results.
Humiliation is a normal progression into humility when you are working your program of recovery and could go the other way if you are not. Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility develops from thinking about yourself less.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Detox Center of Colorado offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Detox Center of Colorado fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
