<\/p>\n
We begin to understand that happiness is an inside job, a spiritual experience that can be strengthened with recovery. We find that no matter what happens on the outside, joy can still live within.<\/strong><\/p>\n Living Clean, Chapter 7, \u201cLove\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In terms of spiritual principles, joy is simple. However, it can be elusive. In active addiction, joy was an abstract concept that was often far removed from our reality. How can we position ourselves to experience it now? One drug addict wrote: \u201cRecovery from addiction is our path to joy. I invite her into me by removing the obstacles on this path, such as anxiety, fear and self-obsession". Another wrote: \u201cJoy is the result of my commitment to gratitude, service and simplicity. I never thought I could appreciate everyday things." A third wrote: \u201cThe greatest joy is bittersweet because I have experienced moments of it during my darkest hours. I cannot have joy without hope, and no pain can take it away from me."<\/p>\n Experiencing pain is part of our human condition, even when we do everything right. We can clean up, admit responsibility for past wrongs, make amends, learn to live according to spiritual principles, provide wonderful service in rooms, home and society \u2013 but pain will visit us again. We will lose people and relationships. Material goods come and go. Our health may decline. But can joy be taken from us? Is joy - like pain - an inevitable part of our experience?<\/p>\n Most of us would say that joy, like recovery, is available to all of us. Despite our hardships, when we enrich our situation with gratitude, we find hope for our future\u2014and create a place for joy at the table. We can choose to see our problems with humor and maybe even benefit from some laughter through our tears of anger or sadness. None of this is easy. However, through the inner work that is recovery, acceptance of this very moment is possible: Peace is possible. We can endure loss and claim joy again and again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Regardless of any current burdens, I will shine a light of gratitude on what is right in my life today and experience joy. Recovery has taught me that I can embrace multiple experiences at once.<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-11728","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/11728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/spad"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}