"The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is through applying the Twelve Steps of recovery."

IP No. 19, Self-Acceptance

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Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance.  We looked at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we loathed ourselves.  We had difficulty accepting our past and the self-image produced by it.

Self-acceptance comes more quickly when we first accept that we have a disease called addiction, because it's easier to accept ourselves as sick people than as bad people.  And the easier it is to accept ourselves, the easier it becomes to accept responsibility for ourselves.

We achieve self-acceptance through the process of ongoing recovery.  Working the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous teaches us to accept ourselves and our lives.  Spiritual principles like surrender, honesty, faith, and humility help relieve us of the burden of our past mistakes.  Our attitude changes with the application of these principles in our daily lives.  Self-acceptance grows as we grow in recovery.

Just for today:  Self-acceptance is a process set in motion by the Twelve Steps.  Today, I will trust the process, practice the steps, and learn to better accept myself.