When we used, each day that passed most of us knew exactly what we were going to feel. All we needed to do was look at the pill packaging or what was inside the bag. We planned our emotions with the goal of always feeling good.
In recovery, the emotions of a day can be many and varied and can change from moment to moment. We may feel happy and full of energy in the morning, and in the afternoon, for no particular reason, feel down and sad. Today, when we cannot control our emotions from morning to night, we may also feel uncomfortable, such as tired in the morning and overstimulated in the evening.
Of course, there is always the possibility of feeling good, but that is not the point. Today, our priority is not to feel good all the time, but to learn to recognize and manage our emotions, whatever they may be. We do this by working the Steps and talking to others about what we feel.
