Finding A New
Family of Choice

To start or progress in the recovery process, I have found it very important to start doing, thinking and acting almost 100% opposite of the way that I used to. Everything I had learned in the past from my family I had to take a hard look at. For the first time in my life, I had to pay special attention to:

The Five Freedoms

THE FREEDOM TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR,
..instead of what we SHOULD see or hear or be.

THE FREEDOM TO SAY WHAT WE FEEL AND THINK,
...instead of what we SHOULD feel and think.

THE FREEDOM TO FEEL WHAT WE FEEL,
...instead of what we OUGHT to feel.

THE FREEDOM TO ASK FOR WHAT WE WANT,
...instead of always waiting for permission.

THE FREEDOM TO TAKE RISKS IN OUR OWN BEHALF,
...instead of choosing to be only 'secure' and not rocking the boat.

When we start taking just these small steps and freedoms it can get very scary. We see things and persons from a new respective.
However, we also start noticing that all of the 'normies' around us are getting very uncomfortable with our change. Recovery does not feel normal for 'normies'. It does not feel familiar. But if you have made it to this point there is no turning back now. Move on and look for others who also feel the same way you are starting to feel and together we will become for each other....

A NEW FAMILY OF CHOICE

What we have covered so far in these few pages is a small start on an exciting journey. We are still in the first step stage. It is very important, I feel, that we not skip steps to give ourselves the 'quick-fix' we all crave.
Often someone will go directly into 'heavy religion' or 'higher consciousness' without first having done the necessary suffering and growing up and the demythologizing that is part of going through the stages of growth and maturity in recovery.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH EACH OTHER FOR QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS WE MAY HAVE AND FOR SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER.

Therefore, you may want to consider a Twelve Step Program Of Recovery such as:

Recoveries Anonymous; the Solution Focused Twelve Step Fellowship

And Always Keep In Mind The Most Important Factor

"What we live with we learn,
and what we learn
we practice, and what we
practice, we become...
and what we become
has consequences"...
AND almost always, I have
found, who we become
has little to do with who
we were meant to be.

If you're visiting here for the first time, please check out the other links and come back often. Follow the links and remember...

THIS SITE IS LIKE RECOVERY—ALWAYS OPEN AND LEARNING!

(Est. 4.15.96)

DISCLAMER: Before you start to look at the material that I have assembled for you I want to make clear that I claim very little original authorship here. Even where I don't give credit I probably should because there are very few original words of wisdom left in recovery. I want to especially thank Terry Kellogg, whom I do believe has a lot of original stuff, John Bradshaw whom I believe has the ability to synthesize others material better that anyone I know, and I guess if we wanted to be completely accurate we should not quote the serenity prayer out of content nor without giving credit to the author. I also want to give permission to anyone to use anything on this site for the benefit of recovery as long as they do not make any more money off of it. This offer only extends to what I have the right to give.

This web site is not a part of, nor endorsed by, any 12 step group or recovery program. The opinions here are strictly personal. The logos, concepts, and ideas have the full protection as allowed by the Copyright laws.

If this web site has been helpful we would appreciate your contribution so that we may continue to keep this information on the web.
Contributions are used to register, host, and maintain this web site.
All contributions are tax-exempt.

If you are looking for a Twelve Step Program, please consider:
Recoveries Anonymous; the Solution Focused Twelve Step Fellowship

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