Practice, not Perfection on the Way to Recovery

Recovery from addiction as the experts say is not a destination; is in fact a life time journey. Expecting perfection in the process of recovery is a flawed opinion as perfection is unrealistic. We, the human beings are fallible, however saintly and stubborn we may seem. It’s just perseverance that keeps us going in the process of addiction recovery.

Those in recovery are actually discovering their character flaws and personal-defects, the very traits that make them human. The sub-conscious elements of an addict that make believe that his/her defects make him unworthy to recover are much more damaging than the addiction itself. Therefore, it is vital for the therapists to re-iterate to the addicts that flaws and defects way too common are to overcome in the process of addiction.

Why Practice and not Perfection?

• Perfection is unrealistic The idea of perfection in the process of recovery sets up an addict for failure. High expectations can result in disappointments. An addict’s mind is re-wired for pleasure and disappointments can prove to be a trigger.
• Mistakes happen during practice and mistakes are necessary Without mistakes we do not gain wisdom. Wisdom to handle one day at a time. Wisdom that people should rise from their mistakes and make a better-informed attempt the next time. Wisdom to be able to forgive oneself and not take mistakes seriously, Wisdom to learn from mistakes.
• Practice is comfortable Practice is done usually at an addict’s own pace. Therefor practice is comfortable for anyone who has a target laid and takes his own time to reach by falling and rising time and again. Comfort keeps up motivation and motivation is everything on the way to recovery.
• Becoming stuck Life becomes unsatisfactory for people who are stuck in recovery. They resort back to addiction because their life becomes disillusioned, they feel unworthy and eventually lose motivation.
• Perfection sets up for failure It is impossible for any human being to be perfect. However, determined one could be, now or then there shall be moments when cravings creep up and we either have to give in or let go. Either of the processes leaves pain behind. A person who yearns perfection treats pain as unworthy and eventually sets themselves up for failure. Therefore, the idea of perfection is not the right way to go about on the way to recovery.

Good things do not just come to people, they have to work towards them by practice.