Addiction recovery programs such as the Twelve Step programs encourage us to take moral inventory of ourselves and our lives as part of our healing. The thought of this can be daunting and overwhelming for us, so much so that we can feel it’s impossible. We’ve been resisting this process for much of our lives because we’re afraid to confront all of the complex issues that we’ve been suppressing and burying deep within us. When we take a moral inventory of ourselves, we summon our courage and inner strength in order to look at ourselves honestly, openly and objectively. We make the decision to no longer be controlled and directed by our fears and to reclaim our power. How can we take a moral inventory of ourselves, our lives and our health?
We can begin by making the commitment to be as honest with ourselves as possible, no matter what comes up for us in the process. This means making the decision not to let our fears, our shame and our sadness to deter us from doing the important work we need to do in order to heal. When we’re able to make this choice for ourselves, it’s often because we’ve gotten to a point where we know we can no longer sustain our lives as they are. We’ve hit rock bottom, and our lives have become unmanageable. We can no longer live with this pain, and we know that taking a moral inventory of ourselves is a necessary part of the solution. When we’re able to be courageous in the face of our pain, undertaking the process of taking a moral inventory of ourselves becomes less scary and overwhelming. We become more accepting of the work we have to do and less resistant towards it.
Our moral inventory invites us to make an inward journey, into our deepest thoughts and feelings. We’re being asked to look at our choices, our intentions, our behaviors and our patterns. We’ll want to look at the mistakes we feel we’ve made, our regrets and shortcomings, and all of the ways in which we want to improve upon ourselves and develop ourselves. We’ll want to look at the times in our lives when we didn’t act with integrity and respect. We’ll want to analyze the ways in which we’ve been self-destructive and hurtful. We’ll want to figure out which people we feel we should make amends to in our recovery. This process invites us to be thorough and comprehensive in our self-assessment. It allows us to become more self-aware, to grow and evolve, and to implement the changes we want to make in our lives.
The community of Riverside Recovery has personal experience with addiction and the feelings of hopelessness and disconnection that come with it. We’re here to help you reclaim the life you love. Call (800) 871-5440 today.