"The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous are a progressive recovery process established in our daily living."
Basic Text, p. 99
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After some time in recovery, we may find we are faced with what seem like overwhelming personal problems, angry feelings, and despair. When we realize what's going on, we may wail, "But Ive been working so hard. I thought I was..." Recovered, maybe? Not hardly. Over and over, we hear that recovery is an ongoing process and that we are never cured. Yet we sometimes believe that if we just work our steps enough, pray enough, or go to enough meetings, we'll eventually... well, maybe not be cured, but be something!
And we are something. We're recovering--recovering from active addiction. No matter what we've dealt with through the process of the steps, there will always be more. What we didnt remember or didn't think was important in our first inventory will surely present itself later on. Again and again, well turn to the process of the steps to deal with whats bothering us. The more we use this process, the more well trust it, for we can see the results. We go from anger and resentment to forgiveness, from denial to honesty and acceptance, and from pain to serenity.
Recovery doesnt happen overnight, and ours will never be complete. But each day brings new healing and the hope for more tomorrow.
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Just for today: I will do what I can for my recovery today and maintain hope in the ongoing process of recovery.
